High Risk Factors

Question 1

1 - Perpetrator was abused and/or witnessed domestic violence as a child

Answer 1

As a child/adolescent, the perpetrator was a victimized and/or exposed to any actual, attempted, or threatened forms of family violence/abuse/maltreatment

Question 2

2 - Perpetrator exposed to/witnessed suicidal behavior in family of origin

Answer 2

As a(n) child/adolescent, the perpetrator was exposed to and/or witnessed any actual, attempted or threatened forms of suicidal behavior in his family of origin. Or somebody close to the perpetrator (e.g. caregiver) attempted or committed suicide.

Question 3

3 - Youth of couple

Answer 3

Victim and perpetrator were between the age of 15 and 24

Question 4

4 - Age disparity of couple

Answer 4

Women in an intimate relationship with a partner who is significantly older or younger. The disparity is usually nine or more years.

Question 5

5 - Victim and perpetrator living common-law

Answer 5

The victim and perpetrator were cohabiting.

Question 6

6 - Actual or pending separation

Answer 6

The partner wanted to end the relationship. Or the perpetrator was separated from the victim but wanted to renew the relationship. Or there was a sudden and/or recent separation. Or the victim had contacted a lawyer and was seeking a separation and/or divorce.

Question 7

7 - New partner in victim’s life

Answer 7

There was a new intimate partner in the victim’s life or the perpetrator perceived there to be a new intimate partner in the victim’s life

Question 8

8 - Child custody or access disputes

Answer 8

Any dispute in regards to the custody, contact, primary care or control of children, including formal legal proceedings or any third parties having knowledge of such arguments.

Question 9

9 - Presence of step children in the home

Answer 9

Any child(ren) that is(are) not biologically related to the perpetrator.

Question 10

10 - Perpetrator unemployed

Answer 10

Employed means having full-time or near full-time employment (including self-employment). Unemployed means experiencing frequent job changes or significant periods of lacking a source of income. Please consider government income assisted programs (e.g., O.D.S.P..; Worker’s Compensation; E.I..; etc.) as unemployment.

Question 11

11 - Excessive alcohol and/or drug use by perpetrator

Answer 11

Within the past year, and regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment, substance abuse that appeared to be characteristic of the perpetrator’s dependence on, and/or addiction to, the substance. An increase in the pattern of use and/or change of character or behaviour that is directly related to the alcohol and/or drug use can indicate excessive use by the perpetrator. For example, people described the perpetrator as constantly drunk or claim that they never saw him without a beer in his hand. This dependence on a particular substance may have impaired the perpetrator’s health or social functioning (e.g., overdose, job loss, arrest, etc.). Please include comments by family, friend, and acquaintances that are indicative of annoyance or concern with a drinking or drug problem and any attempts to convince the perpetrator to terminate his substance use.

Question 12

12 - Depression – in the opinion of family/friend/acquaintance

Answer 12

In the opinion of any family, friends, or acquaintances, and regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment, the perpetrator displayed symptoms characteristic of depression.

Question 13

13 - Depression – professionally diagnosed

Answer 13

A diagnosis of depression by any mental health professional (e.g., family doctor; psychiatrist; psychologist; nurse practitioner) with symptoms recognized by the DSM-IV, regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment.

Question 14

14 - Other mental health or psychiatric problems – perpetrator

Answer 14

For example: psychosis; schizophrenia; bi-polar disorder; mania; obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.

Question 15

15 - Prior threats to commit suicide by perpetrator

Answer 15

Any recent (past 6 months) act or comment made by the perpetrator that was intended to convey the perpetrator’s idea or intent of committing suicide, even if the act or comment was not taken seriously. These comments could have been made verbally, or delivered in letter format, or left on an answering machine. These comments can range from explicit (e.g., “If you ever leave me, then I’m going to kill myself” or “I can’t live without you”) to implicit (“The world would be better off without me”). Acts can include, for example, giving away prized possessions.

Question 16

16 - Prior suicide attempts by perpetrator

Answer 16

Any recent (past six months) suicidal behaviour (e.g., swallowing pills, holding a knife to one’s throat, etc.), even if the behaviour was not taken seriously or did not require arrest, medical attention, or psychiatric committal. Behaviour can range in severity from superficially cutting the wrists to actually shooting or hanging oneself.

Question 17

17 - Obsessive behavior displayed by perpetrator

Answer 17

Any actions or behaviours by the perpetrator that indicate an intense preoccupation with the victim. For example, stalking behaviours, such as following the victim, spying on the victim, making repeated phone calls to the victim, or excessive gift giving, etc.

Question 18

18 - Failure to comply with authority

Answer 18

The perpetrator has violated any family, civil, or criminal court orders, conditional releases, community supervision orders, or “No Contact” orders, etc. This includes bail, probation, or restraining orders, and bonds, etc.

Question 19

19 - Sexual jealousy

Answer 19

The perpetrator continuously accuses the victim of infidelity, repeatedly interrogates the victim, searches for evidence, tests the victim’s fidelity, and sometimes stalks the victim.

Question 20

20 - Misogynistic attitudes – perpetrator

Answer 20

Hating or having a strong prejudice against women. This attitude can be overtly expressed with hate statements, or can be more subtle with beliefs that women are only good for domestic work or that all women are “whores.”

Question 21

21 - Prior destruction or deprivation of victim’s property

Answer 21

Any incident in which the perpetrator intended to damage any form of property that was owned, or partially owned, by the victim or formerly owned by the perpetrator. This could include slashing the tires of the car that the victim uses. It could also include breaking windows or throwing items at a place of residence. Please include any incident, regardless of charges being laid or those resulting in convictions.

Question 22

22 - History of violence outside of the family by perpetrator

Answer 22

Any actual or attempted assault on any person who is not, or has not been, in an intimate relationship with the perpetrator. This could include friends, acquaintances, or strangers. This incident did not have to necessarily result in charges or convictions and can be verified by any record (e.g., police reports; medical records) or witness e.g., family members; friends; neighbours; co-workers; counsellors; medical personnel, etc.).

Question 23

23 - History of domestic violence - Previous partners

Answer 23

Any actual, attempted, or threatened abuse/maltreatment (physical; emotional; psychological; financial; sexual, etc.) toward a person who has been in an intimate relationship with the perpetrator. This incident did not have to necessarily result in charges or convictions and can be verified by any record (e.g., police reports; medical records) or witness (e.g., family members; friends; neighbours; co-workers; counsellors; medical personnel,etc.). It could be as simple as a neighbour hearing the perpetrator screaming at the victim or include a co-worker noticing bruises consistent with physical abuse on the victim while at work.

Question 24

24 - History of domestic violence - Current partner/victim

Answer 24

Any actual, attempted, or threatened abuse/maltreatment (physical; emotional; psychological; financial; sexual, etc.) toward a person who is in an intimate relationship with the perpetrator. This incident did not have to necessarily result in charges or convictions and can be verified by any record (e.g., police reports; medical records) or witness (e.g., family members; friends; neighbours; co-workers; counsellors; medical personnel, etc.). It could be as simple as a neighbour hearing the perpetrator screaming at the victim or include a co-worker noticing bruises consistent with physical abuse on the victim while at work.

Question 25

25 - Prior threats to kill victim

Answer 25

Any comment made to the victim, or others, that was intended to instill fear for the safety of the victim’s life. These comments could have been delivered verbally, in the form of a letter, or left on an answering machine. Threats can range in degree of explicitness from “I’m going to kill you” to “You’re going to pay for what you did” or “If I can’t have you, then nobody can” or “I’m going to get you.”

Question 26

26 - Prior threats with a weapon

Answer 26

Any incident in which the perpetrator threatened to use a weapon (e.g., gun; knife; etc.) or other object intended to be used as a weapon (e.g., bat, branch, garden tool, vehicle, etc.) for the purpose of instilling fear in the victim. This threat could have been explicit (e.g. “I’m going to shoot you” or “I’m going to run you over with my car”) or implicit (e.g., brandished a knife at the victim or commented “I bought a gun today”). Note: This item is separate from threats using body parts (e.g., raising a fist).

Question 27

27 - Prior assault with a weapon

Answer 27

Any actual or attempted assault on the victim in which a weapon (e.g., gun; knife; etc.), or other object intended to be used as a weapon (e.g.., bat, branch, garden tool, vehicle, etc.), was used. Note: This item is separate from violence inflicted using body parts (e.g., fists, feet, elbows, head, etc.).

Question 28

28 - Prior attempts to isolate the victim

Answer 28

Any non-physical behaviour, whether successful or not, that was intended to keep the victim from associating with others. The perpetrator could have used various psychological tactics (e.g., guilt trips) to discourage the victim from associating with family, friends, or other acquaintances in the community (e.g., “if you leave, then don’t even think about coming back” or “I never like it when your parents come over” or “I’m leaving if you invite your friends here”).

Question 29

29 - Controlled most or all of victim’s daily activities

Answer 29

Any actual or attempted behaviour on the part of the perpetrator, whether successful or not, intended to exert full power over the victim. For example, when the victim was allowed in public, the perpetrator made her account for where she was at all times and who she was with. Another example could include not allowing the victim to have control over any finances (e.g., giving her an allowance, not letting get a job, etc.).

Question 30

30 - Prior hostage-taking and/or forcible confinement

Answer 30

Any actual or attempted behaviour, whether successful or not, in which the perpetrator physically attempted to limit the mobility of the victim. For example, any incidents of forcible confinement (e.g., locking the victim in a room) or not allowing the victim to use the telephone (e.g., unplugging the phone when the victim attempted to use it). Attempts to withhold access to transportation should also be included (e.g., taking or hiding car keys). The perpetrator may have used violence (e.g., grabbing; hitting; etc.) to gain compliance or may have been passive (e.g., stood in the way of an exit).

Question 31

31 - Prior forced sexual acts and/or assaults during sex

Answer 31

Any actual, attempted, or threatened behaviour, whether successful or not, used to engage the victim in sexual acts (of whatever kind) against the victim’s will. Or any assault on the victim, of whatever kind (e.g., biting; scratching, punching, choking, etc.), during the course of any sexual act.

Question 32

32 - Choked/strangled victim in past

Answer 32

Any attempt (separate from the incident leading to death) to strangle the victim. The perpetrator could have used various things to accomplish this task (e.g., hands, arms, rope, etc.). Note: Do not include attempts to smother the victim (e.g., suffocation with a pillow).

Question 33

33 - Prior violence against family pets

Answer 33

Any action directed toward a pet of the victim, or a former pet of the perpetrator, with the intention of causing distress to the victim or instilling fear in the victim. This could range in severity from killing the victim’s pet to abducting it or torturing it. Do not confuse this factor with correcting a pet for its undesirable behaviour.

Question 34

34 - Prior assault on victim while pregnant

Answer 34

Any actual or attempted form physical violence, ranging in severity from a push or slap to the face, to punching or kicking the victim in the stomach. The key difference with this item is that the victim was pregnant at the time of the assault and the perpetrator was aware of this fact.

Question 35

35 - Escalation of violence

Answer 35

The abuse/maltreatment (physical; psychological; emotional; sexual; etc.) inflicted upon the victim by the perpetrator was increasing in frequency and/or severity. For example, this can be evidenced by more regular trips for medical attention or include an increase in complaints of abuse to/by family, friends, or other acquaintances.

Question 36

36 - Perpetrator threatened and/or harmed children

Answer 36

Any actual, attempted, or threatened abuse/maltreatment (physical; emotional; psychological; financial; sexual; etc.) towards children in the family. This incident did not have to necessarily result in charges or convictions and can be verified by any record (e.g., police reports; medical records) or witness (e.g., family; friends; neighbours; co-workers; counselors; medical personnel, etc.).

Question 37

37 - Extreme minimization and/or denial of spousal assault history:

Answer 37

At some point the perpetrator was confronted, either by the victim, a family member, friend, or other acquaintance, and the perpetrator displayed an unwillingness to end assaultive behaviour or enter/comply with any form of treatment (e.g., batterer intervention programs). Or the perpetrator denied many or all past assaults, denied personal responsibility for the assaults (i.e., blamed the victim), or denied the serious consequences of the assault e.g., she wasn’t really hurt).

Question 38

38 - Access to or possession of any firearms

Answer 38

The perpetrator stored firearms in his place of residence, place of employment, or in some other nearby location (e.g., friend’s place of residence, or shooting gallery). Please include the perpetrator’s purchase of any firearm within the past year, regardless of the reason for purchase.

Question 39

39 - After risk assessment, perpetrator had access to victim

Answer 39

After a formal (e.g., performed by a forensic mental health professional before the court) or informal (e.g., performed by a victim services worker in a shelter) risk assessment was completed, the perpetrator still had access to the victim.

Question 40

40 - Victim’s intuitive sense of fear of perpetrator

Answer 40

The victim is one that knows the perpetrator best and can accurately gauge his level of risk. If the women discloses to anyone her fear of the perpetrator harming herself or her children, for example statements such as, “I fear for my life”, “I think he will hurt me”, “I need to protect my children”, this is a definite indication of serious risk.

Question 41

41 - Victim Vulnerability

Answer 41

A victim may be considered vulnerable due to problems and life circumstances which make reaching out for help more difficult. This may include: mental health issues and/or addictions, disability, language and/or cultural barriers (e.g., new immigrant or isolated cultural community), economic dependence, and living in rural or remote locations. Vulnerability may also be related to lifestyle choices that place victims at risk (e.g., sex trade worker or escort). Vulnerability is not defined by issues common to many people such as problems in self-esteem, youth, poverty or any one cultural group (e.g. Indigenous).