Domestic Violence Lethality and Risk Assessment
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Scores indicate more severe future assaults, and current research has found that men who subsequently committed domestic murder ranked in the highest risk category. So, although the Lethality/Risk Assessment does not specifically predict the occurrence of lethal domestic violence, it can be used in cases where severe and potentially lethal assault is a concern.
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1. Nature of Most Recent Violence
Objects or Weapons Used Minor Physical Injury (cuts, bruises, ect) Serious Physical Injury (broken bones, internal injuries, ect.) Threats To Kill Sexual Assaultive Behavior Property Damage Verbal Conflict 2. Prior History and Frequency of Violence Previous Acts of Family Violence Violence Has Increased Over Time Arrest For Family Violence Previous Criminal Activities Involving Violence Offender Abused As A Child Offender Witnessed Violence Between Own Parents 3. Phyco/Social Factors Drug/Alcohol Abuse Suicide Threats or Attempts Offender Isolates (family, work, friends) Obvious Personality Disorder Life Stress Adding to Violence (money, job, health, etc.) |
No
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Yes
5 3 5 3 5 2 1 5 4 5 2 3 3 2 4 1 1 2 TOTAL |
Score
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ __________ |
Risk Assessment Classification |
The risk assessment scores rank domestic offenders on risk for repeated domestic violence. Thus, a male domestic offender can be placed into one of three categories of risk. For example, a score of 1-10 places a man in the lowest risk category; 7% of these men met the criteria for domestic recidivism within a follow up of about 5 years. A score of 10 to 35 places a man in the highest risk category; and 74% of these men met the criteria for domestic recidivism.
Higher scores on the Assessment 36+ also indicate that an accused assaulter will commit more assaults, commit them sooner, and cause more injury (in a range of injury from none to lethality) than an offender with a lower scores. |
At Serious Risk and Need Help? These Resources are Available...
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Calling The Hotline can be nerve-racking, especially if you haven’t reached out for help before. Our calls are completely confidential and anonymous and our advocates have extensive training in domestic violence matters. Reaching out for help is the first step to improving your situation, whatever that may be. We say this line to let you know how happy we are that you’re taking the first step toward getting the help you deserve.
"We transitioned the hotline into a helpline with the idea that we want to continue filling that gap of what other organizations don’t do,” Kristen Paruginog, founder of BTS, said. “We [BTS] are known to fill in the gap and provide unconventional services that other organizations don’t.” While most organizations offer a hotline where callers can get resources or get help in an emergency, BTS’ helpline allows people experiencing domestic violence to talk to a survivor.