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WHAT IS A LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM? The following is excerpted from the "Lethality Assessment Program for First Responders" Report, from the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), currently a program for frst responders, represents an opportunity born of three bodies of signifcant research over 25 years by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, of The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. First, only 4 percent of domestic violence murder victims nationwide had ever availed themselves of domestic-violence program services. Second, in 50 percent of domestic violence-related homicides, offcers had previously responded to a call there. Third, re-assault of domestic violence victims in high danger was reduced by 60 percent if they went into shelter. The goal of the LAP is to prevent domestic violence homicides, serious injury, and re-assault by encouraging more victims to utilize the support and shelter services of domestic violence programs. The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) is the state domestic violence coalition that brings together victim service providers, allied professionals, and concerned individuals for the common purpose of reducing intimate partner and family violence and its harmful effects on our citizens. The Network accomplishes this goal by providing education, training, Washington County Sheriff William Hutton said despite its simplicity, the protocol made a difference in his offce's work. "I've responded to my share of domestic violence calls in 29 years of law enforcement, and I absolutely see a beneft to it," he said. "It's asking the right questions, making the right referrals, and provides a beneft to the victims and us. Just that someone would ask them these questions allows victims to see it's not normal behavior, it's not right, and it needs to be dealt with." In addition to aiding referrals, Hutton said the questionnaire helps standardize report writing for his deputies. Answers to the assessments are also sent to the judge when charges are fled, to help determine risk when setting bond. Johnson County law enforcement agencies follow up the questionnaire with a follow-up visit a few days later. Since the system's implementation, Fisher said, Johnson County's partner domestic violence organization has seen a twofold increase in use. She said that the year and a half the system has been in place has been too little time to accurately study its effect on recidivism, but the focus on domestic violence has brought together law enforcement and victims' advocates, two groups she said that don't necessarily see eye to eye. The protocol has also been used elsewhere, including Clackmas County, Ore.; Strafford County, N.H. and Montgomery County, Md. Charlie Ban is a Staff Writer with NACRF's County News and may be reached at cban@naco.org. Reprinted with permission, County News, National Association of Counties Research Foundation Inc., Washington, D.C. LaO resources, and advocacy to advance victim safety and abuser accountability. Tips for the Lethality Assessment Program For law enforcement offcers: The Lethality Assessment should be administered to patients who screen positive for domestic violence in order to determine the level of danger and severity of the situation. There is no fxed score for this assessment that indicates one woman will be murdered and another will not. Providers should use their judgment to interpret the information, which the victim provides. Roughly, more yes answers to the Lethality Assessment questions indicate the patient is more likely to be killed or severely injured. It is important to use the results of this assessment in a constructive way, to develop a safety plan that will address the specifc circumstances of the victim's situation. For the victim of domestic violence: "Several risk factors have been associated with homicides (murder) of both batterers and battered women/men. We cannot predict what will happen in your case, but we would like you to be aware of the danger of homicide in situations of severe battering and to see how many of the risk factors apply to your situation. The "she/he" in the questions refers to husband, wife, life partner, ex-husband, exwife, ex-partner, or whoever is physically hurting you." LETHALITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL The Lethality Assessment Protocol typically consists of 11 questions, though law enforcement agencies are free to include additional questions. Answering "yes" to any one of the following questions triggers referral to a domestic abuse support group: 1. Has he/she ever used a weapon against you/threatened you with a weapon? 2. Has he/she threatened to kill you or your children? 3. Do you think he/she might try to kill you? Answering "yes" to four or more of the following questions triggers referral to a domestic abuse support group: 4. Does he/she have a gun or can he/she get one easily? 5. Has he/she ever tried to choke you? 6. Is he/she violently or constantly jealous or does he/she control most of your daily activities? 7. Have you left him/her or separated after living together or being married? 8. Is he/she unemployed? 9. Has he/she ever tried to kill himself/herself? 10. Do you have a child that he/she knows is not his/hers? 11. Does he/she follow or spy on you or leave threatening messages? Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com www.lawandordermag.com 49