The overall objective of this work is to analyse certain medico-legal, criminological and criminal aspects of violence against women. In particular, we intend to examine the socio-demographic characteristics, identify the various forms of abuse and their context, and analyse the attitude of victims in the judicial process. To this end, we have selected information from 580 files from the Santiago de Compostela Public Prosecutor’s Office classified as ‘Gender-based Violence’, with a final judgment. We have verified various individual, family and social characteristics, highlighting the predominance of women of Spanish nationality, of reproductive age, of medium to low socio-economic status. The most prevalent offence is occasional mistreatment, and children are also affected in a relevant number of cases. Victims’ attitude to lodging a complaint is mediated by certain socio-demographic circumstances and their refusal to make a statement has a statistically significant impact on the final decision of the court.