NCJ Number
200483
Date Published
January 2003
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This CD-ROM provides information on risk and lethality assessment for intimate partner violence (IPV).
Abstract
Any case of IPV has the potential for serious physical injury or death. Every intervention carries risks. Failure to intervene or inappropriate intervention creates more serious risks. The goal is to increase awareness of potential IPV risk and lethality factors and describe practical and effective risk assessment practices to promote safety and justice. The first topic area discussed is IPV Basics. Research offers no consensus on “psychological categories” of IPV perpetrators. Criminal justice-based typologies offer a more practical approach. Perpetrators are usually ordinary men that commit extraordinary acts. Best practices include increasing victim safety, reducing the risk of further harm, and reducing the risk of liability. Safety and best interests of children cannot be viewed as separate from that of mothers that are battered and manipulated. The second topic is Risk and Lethality Assessment. It is important to have reliable and accurate assessment of the situation, and to not under-predict or over-predict. The barriers and expectations of risk assessment are discussed. Caution indicators, high risk factors, and high profile perpetrators are also described. The third topic, Safety Planning, involves detailed, practical, practiced, and revised safety plans. IPV Risk Management focuses on the various ways to answer calls for service. Six video scenarios are presented and discussed.