Assessing domestic violence dangers
In an effort to help prevent domestic violence deaths, law enforcement agencies in North Carolina and around the country are increasingly turning to what's called a "lethality assessment" questionnaire to help determine someone's risk of being killed.
Posted — UpdatedQuestions cover violent tendencies, weapons, threats and questions about what a victim’s concerns.
If a victim or potential victim is considered “high danger,” he or she is referred to domestic violence prevention organizations, such as Interact of Wake County
The Cary Police Department began its Lethality Assessment Program in 2013, and as of December 2014, had completed nearly 500 assessments.
Statistics from the first year of the program (from May 2013 to May 2014) show that officers completed 324 assessments – 169 of which victims were classified as being in “high danger.”
Of those, 125 victims spoke on the phone with Interact, and 46 sought services Seven sought emergency shelter as a result of the assessment.
The Raleigh Police Department and Morrisville Police Department are among other local law enforcement agencies that use similar assessments. Nonprofit groups also employ the questionnaire.
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