A lethality assessment serves multiple functions. It is a way for the advocate to assess the most appropriate intervention or service to offer the victim. It is a way to help survivors see the subtle or hidden abuse within their relationships.
The advocate can also use it as a teaching tool to give the victim skills to protect themselves in the future. There are many different ways of approaching lethality assessments.
A simple assessment looks at nine characteristics of abusers. When these characteristics appear in a group, there is reason to believe that there is an increased risk to the victim. It is not predictive, but it does give advocates a baseline measure from which to work in determining safety plans.
EXAMPLE OF A LETHALITY ASSESSMENT
1. Is there a history of threats of attempted homicide or suicide? Has the abuser discussed murder/suicide pacts with the victim?
2. Is the abuser depressed? Are there particularly stressful life events going on -- unemployment, poverty, death of a loved one, or job changes? Does the abuser have a history
of mental illness?
3. Does the abuser have weapons or access to weapons?
4. Is the abuser obsessed with the victim? Does the abuser feel that they cannot live without the victim? Is the abuser socially isolated, and does the abuser feel hopeless
about a future without him/her?
5. Does the abuser express rage about her/him leaving?
6. Is the abuser involved with or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol?
7. Is the abuser stalking her/him? Does the abuser continually harass her/him? Does the abuser refuse to leave her/him alone?
8. Is there an escalation in the abusers threats and/or actual physical violence?
9. Does the abuser he have access to her/him? Does the abuser know her/him location? Can the abuser get to the victim?
There is not a magic number of "yes" answers that creates a highly lethal situation. However, these components (when found together) do warrant concern. In some cases it takes all nine characteristics to create a high-risk situation. In others, only one or two are sufficient to believe that the victim is at risk. Together, the victim and the advocate can decide when there is reason to believe that they are in danger and need to look for shelter, call the police, or take other corrective action to ensure safety.
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