How Do We Measure Victim Safety?

At the Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (DAIP), we have developed a risk assessment questionnaire based on current research and years of interviews with victims of domestic violence, police and probation officers, mental health workers, public health nurses, and victim advocates. These provided us with the questions we ask victims during risk assessments. Their answers to these questions give a profile of the dangers that victims face from their abusers. We cannot overemphasize the importance of obtaining this information directly from victims themselves. While we realize that many women do not acknowledge the danger they face in many cases, no one is in a better position to assess the threat abusers pose to them, and probably no one knows the abusers so well. Each question always leads to further and equally important questions to the victim. Simply answering yes or no to the question, e.g., Has he ever threatened to kill you? does not tell us how to interpret the danger posed by the abuser. The follow-up question is needed to address not only details (e.g., how did he threaten you?), but the meaning the victim assigns to that threat. Remember that the victim is not merely a data point or source of informationCshe is a key player in interpreting the meaning of an abuser=s actions.

Risk Assessment for Victim Safety

The questions have several uses: most importantly, they provide a tool to assess how the forms and procedures presently used within your system contribute to the safety of victims and the accountability of offenders. If you cannot answer the following questions about victims and offenders from the information entered on the forms and reports you currently use, then your system's ability to achieve these two goals is compromised. While it's not always possible to answer all of the following questions, it's best to build them into your documenting practices.

1. Has the abuser become increasingly more violent, brutal, and/or dangerous? Can you describe the incident? What do you think that change in behavior means?

2. Has the abuser ever injured you so badly you needed medical attention? Can you describe the injuries? Have they become increasingly more severe? Are you concerned about what will happen next?

3. Has the abuser ever choked you? Can you describe the incident? Did you lose consciousness?

4. Has the abuser ever injured or killed a pet? Can you describe the incident? Do you think he did it to threaten you?

5. Has the abuser ever threatened to kill you? Can you describe the incident? Do you believe he is willing and capable of carrying out that threat?

6. Has the abuser been sexually abusive to you?

7. Has the abuser used or threatened to use a weapon against you? Can you describe the incident/s? Do you think he may use a weapon against you?

8. Has the abuser seemed preoccupied or obsessed with you (e.g., following you, monitoring your whereabouts, stalking you, very jealous)? Can you describe the behavior?

9. Has the abuser increased the frequency of assaults on victim? Can you describe the pattern?

10. Has the abuser ever threatened or attempted to commit suicide? Can you describe the incident? How did that effect you?

11. Have you separated or tried to separate from the abuser in the past twelve months? Can you describe how that went?

12. Have you sought outside help (e.g., a protection order, police, shelter, counseling) during the past twelve months? Can you tell me how he responded to that?

13. Do you think you have been isolated from sources of help (car, phone, family, friends, etc.)? Can you give me an idea of how he responds to your efforts to reach out for help?

14. Has the abuser experienced any unusual high stress in the past twelve months (e.g., loss of job, death, financial crisis)? Do you think that has made him any more dangerous to you?

15. Does the abuser drink excessively/have an alcohol problem? What is the relationship of his drinking to his violence?

16. Has the abuser ever been treated for alcohol/drug abuse? How do you think that effects his use of violence?

17. Does the abuser own, carry, or have ready access to a gun? Specify.

18. Do you believe the abuser could seriously injure or kill you?

19. Have you felt a need to be protective of the abuser (e.g., tried to change or withdraw her statement to the police, reduce bail or charges)?

20. To the best of your knowledge, was the abuser abused as a child by a family member? Can you tell me more information about that?

21. To the best of your knowledge, did the abuser witness the physical abuse of his mother? Do you think that=s connected to his use of violence now?

22. Does the abuser show remorse or sadness about the incident?

23. Does the abuser have a history of violence to others (i.e., persons outside the family)? Can you describe this?