RISK ASSESSMENT
Below is a Danger Assessment developed by Jacquelyn Campbell, Ph.D., R.N., and reprinted with permission.
Use & Scoring:
Today, individuals may become certified in use and scoring of this assessment based upon the new updated and validated scoring system. More information about this certification is available at www.dangerassessment.org. Originally, however, the tool was designed in 1986 to be used with battered women by advocates or other professionals as a means of raising awareness in victims of the risk of lethality in their abusive relationships.1 Prior to the creation of the new certification and scoring system for this instrument, there was no cut-off score for reference; the number of “yes” responses were indicative of increased danger, which could be used to facilitate a discussion between the victim and advocate as part of the safety planning process.2 It is with this objective in mind that Panhandle Crisis Center utilizes the risk assessment with victims of intimate partner violence. The first part of the assessment consists of utilizing an annual calendar is used to assist victims in recalling abusive behaviors experienced. The calendar may be downloaded at the Danger Assessment website: www.dangerassessment.org/WebApplication1/pages/da/. According to research by Campbell, use of the calendar has been shown to be helpful in increasing accurate recall of how the violence may have increased in frequency and severity overtime and may assist in addressing the minimization and denial frequently utilized by victims.3
1Praxis International, “‘Risk and Lethality Assessment in the Field of Intimate Partner Violence.” 2002. pg. 8. Developed by Praxis in partnership with the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, for recipients of grants under the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program. Website: http://www.praxisinternational.org/files/pdf/riskleth.pdf. 2Ibid.
3J. C. Campbell. Assessing dangerousness, Newbury Park: Sage, 1995.
Below is a Danger Assessment developed by Jacquelyn Campbell, Ph.D., R.N., and reprinted with permission.
Use & Scoring:
Today, individuals may become certified in use and scoring of this assessment based upon the new updated and validated scoring system. More information about this certification is available at www.dangerassessment.org. Originally, however, the tool was designed in 1986 to be used with battered women by advocates or other professionals as a means of raising awareness in victims of the risk of lethality in their abusive relationships.1 Prior to the creation of the new certification and scoring system for this instrument, there was no cut-off score for reference; the number of “yes” responses were indicative of increased danger, which could be used to facilitate a discussion between the victim and advocate as part of the safety planning process.2 It is with this objective in mind that Panhandle Crisis Center utilizes the risk assessment with victims of intimate partner violence. The first part of the assessment consists of utilizing an annual calendar is used to assist victims in recalling abusive behaviors experienced. The calendar may be downloaded at the Danger Assessment website: www.dangerassessment.org/WebApplication1/pages/da/. According to research by Campbell, use of the calendar has been shown to be helpful in increasing accurate recall of how the violence may have increased in frequency and severity overtime and may assist in addressing the minimization and denial frequently utilized by victims.3
1Praxis International, “‘Risk and Lethality Assessment in the Field of Intimate Partner Violence.” 2002. pg. 8. Developed by Praxis in partnership with the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, for recipients of grants under the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program. Website: http://www.praxisinternational.org/files/pdf/riskleth.pdf. 2Ibid.
3J. C. Campbell. Assessing dangerousness, Newbury Park: Sage, 1995.
DANGER
ASSESSMENT
Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Ph.D., R.N.
Copyright, 2003; www.dangerassessment.com
Several risk factors have been associated with increased risk of homicides (murders) of women and
men in violent relationships. 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 abuse and for you to see how many of the
risk factors apply to your situation.
Using the calendar, please mark the approximate dates during the past year when you were abused
by your partner or ex partner. Write on that date how bad the incident was according to the
following scale:
1. Slapping, pushing; no injuries and/or lasting pain
2. Punching, kicking; bruises, cuts, and/or continuing pain
3. "Beating up"; severe contusions, burns, broken bones
4. Threat to use weapon; head injury, internal injury, permanent injury
5. Use of weapon; wounds from weapon
(If any of the descriptions for the higher number apply, use the higher number.)
Mark Yes or No for each of the following. ("He" refers to your husband, partner, ex-husband, ex-partner, or whoever is currently physically hurting you.)
____ 1. Has the physical violence increased in severity or frequency over the past year?
____ 2. Does he own a gun?
____ 3. Have you left him after living together during the past year?
3a. (If have never lived with him, check here___)
____ 4. Is he unemployed?
____ 5. Has he ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a lethal weapon?
(If yes, was the weapon a gun?____)
____ 6. Does he threaten to kill you?
____ 7. Has he avoided being arrested for domestic violence?
____ 8. Do you have a child that is not his?
____ 9. Has he ever forced you to have sex when you did not wish to do so?
____ 10. Does he ever try to choke you?
____ 11. Does he use illegal drugs? By drugs, I mean "uppers" or amphetamines, “meth”,
speed, angel dust, cocaine, "crack", street drugs or mixtures.
____ 12. Is he an alcoholic or problem drinker?
____ 13. Does he control most or all of your daily activities? For instance: does he tell you who
you can be friends with, when you can see your family, how much money you can
use, or when you can take the car? (If he tries, but you do not let him, check here: ____)
____ 14. Is he violently and constantly jealous of you? (For instance, does he say "If I can't
have you, no one can.")
____ 15. Have you ever been beaten by him while you were pregnant? (If you have never been
pregnant by him, check here: ____)
____ 16. Has he ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
____ 17. Does he threaten to harm your children?
____ 18. Do you believe he is capable of killing you?
____ 19. Does he follow or spy on you, leave threatening notes or messages on answering
machine, destroy your property, or call you when you don’t want him to?
____ 20. Have you ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
_____ Total "Yes" Answers
Thank you. Please talk to your nurse, advocate or counselor about
what the Danger Assessment means in terms of your situation.
Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Ph.D., R.N.
Copyright, 2003; www.dangerassessment.com
Several risk factors have been associated with increased risk of homicides (murders) of women and
men in violent relationships. 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 abuse and for you to see how many of the
risk factors apply to your situation.
Using the calendar, please mark the approximate dates during the past year when you were abused
by your partner or ex partner. Write on that date how bad the incident was according to the
following scale:
1. Slapping, pushing; no injuries and/or lasting pain
2. Punching, kicking; bruises, cuts, and/or continuing pain
3. "Beating up"; severe contusions, burns, broken bones
4. Threat to use weapon; head injury, internal injury, permanent injury
5. Use of weapon; wounds from weapon
(If any of the descriptions for the higher number apply, use the higher number.)
Mark Yes or No for each of the following. ("He" refers to your husband, partner, ex-husband, ex-partner, or whoever is currently physically hurting you.)
____ 1. Has the physical violence increased in severity or frequency over the past year?
____ 2. Does he own a gun?
____ 3. Have you left him after living together during the past year?
3a. (If have never lived with him, check here___)
____ 4. Is he unemployed?
____ 5. Has he ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a lethal weapon?
(If yes, was the weapon a gun?____)
____ 6. Does he threaten to kill you?
____ 7. Has he avoided being arrested for domestic violence?
____ 8. Do you have a child that is not his?
____ 9. Has he ever forced you to have sex when you did not wish to do so?
____ 10. Does he ever try to choke you?
____ 11. Does he use illegal drugs? By drugs, I mean "uppers" or amphetamines, “meth”,
speed, angel dust, cocaine, "crack", street drugs or mixtures.
____ 12. Is he an alcoholic or problem drinker?
____ 13. Does he control most or all of your daily activities? For instance: does he tell you who
you can be friends with, when you can see your family, how much money you can
use, or when you can take the car? (If he tries, but you do not let him, check here: ____)
____ 14. Is he violently and constantly jealous of you? (For instance, does he say "If I can't
have you, no one can.")
____ 15. Have you ever been beaten by him while you were pregnant? (If you have never been
pregnant by him, check here: ____)
____ 16. Has he ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
____ 17. Does he threaten to harm your children?
____ 18. Do you believe he is capable of killing you?
____ 19. Does he follow or spy on you, leave threatening notes or messages on answering
machine, destroy your property, or call you when you don’t want him to?
____ 20. Have you ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
_____ Total "Yes" Answers
Thank you. Please talk to your nurse, advocate or counselor about
what the Danger Assessment means in terms of your situation.