Transcript The Idaho Risk Assessment Of Dangerousness In Domestic Violence

The Idaho Risk Assessment Of
Dangerousness In Domestic Violence:
Expanding Beyond The Criminal Justice
System To Promote Early Intervention
Lisa Growette Bostaph, Ph.D.
Jennifer Landhuis
Idaho Summit, October 2010
Idaho Coordinated Response to
Domestic & Sexual Violence
A state-level committee of governmental and
non-governmental organizations to stimulate a
more coordinated response to domestic and
sexual violence to enhance safety for victims,
increase offender accountability, improve interagency collaboration and to look for broader
system outcomes.
Usefulness of Risk Assessments
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Powerful indicators of dangerousness to victim or
public
Organize case information and assess the likelihood of
escalation
Provide a touchstone for victims on their own risk
Potential to educate everyone along the continuum
Improve consistency of decisions
Improve agency accountability and a higher degree of
care and caution – risk management system
Encourage a shared language of risk for everyone in
the criminal and non-criminal justice response
Supporting Research
National Research:
Neil Websdale, Ph.D.; Death by Intimacy: Risk Factors for Domestic
Violence (2000)
Jacqueline Campbell, R.N. Assessing Risk Factors for Intimate Partner
Homicide (2003)
Dr. Philip Resnick
Dr. Michael Johnson
Dr. George McClane and Dr. Dean Hawley
Idaho Fatalities
Idaho Case Law
Most Prominent Antecedents
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Relationship variables, such as:
 Prior history of domestic violence or police contact
 Obsessive-possessiveness; morbid jealousy
 Use of weapon in prior abusive incidents
 Threats with weapons, threats of suicide, and threats to
kill the victim and/or children
 Serious injury in prior abusive incidents
 Forced sex of partner
 Attempted strangulation
 Abusive incidents while victim is/was pregnant
 Violence increases in severity & frequency
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Offender variables, such as:
 Perpetrator is familiar with the use of violence
and sometimes has a prior criminal history of
violence
 Drug or alcohol abuse
 Access to/ownership of guns
Victim variables, such as:
 Victim has a civil protection order
 Victim has separated or attempted to separate
from the relationship or filed for divorce
 Victim is afraid that she might die
Idaho Fatalities
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May 10, 2007, Calder, ID - Ricky Turner shot his
wife (not fatal), shot and killed his wife’s mother
and father, then was fatally shot by his wife
 History
of Domestic Violence
 Prior Police Contact
 Separation
 Obsessive/Coercive Controlling Behavior
 Threats to kill
 Threats of Suicide/Mental Illness/Recent Stress
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May 19, 2007, Moscow, ID – Crystal Ann
Hamilton, Officer Lee Newbill, and Paul Bauer
were shot to death by Jason Hamilton who then
committed suicide
 History
of Domestic Violence
 Prior Police Contact
 Threats to Kill
 Threats of Suicide/Mental Illness
 Alcohol and Drug Use/Abuse
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May 13, 2007, Meridian, ID – Ricardo Benitez
was fatally shot by a Meridian Police Officer
who was responding to a report that Benitez
threatened the family with a knife and was in
violation of a protection order
 History
of Domestic Violence
 Prior Police Contact
 Separation
 Threats to Kill
 Threats of Suicide/Mental Illness
Idaho Case Law
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State v. Charboneau, 116 Idaho 129 (1989) –
Husband shot wife to death
 History
of Domestic Violence
 Prior Police Contact
 Separation
 Obsessive or Controlling Behavior
 Threats to Harm or Kill
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State v. Jensen, 137 Idaho 240 (2002) – Wife
murdered husband’s new girlfriend
 History
of Domestic Violence
 Separation
 Obsessive or Controlling Behavior
 Threats to Harm or Kill
 Threats of Suicide
Other Research
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A USDOJ five-year study ending in 2007 reports
that instruments designed to help professionals
organize case information and assess the
likelihood of escalation, including homicide, were
more sensitive than other instruments (more likely
to correctly classify most of the women that were
re-assaulted.)
Seven Idaho Risk Factors
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History of Domestic Violence
Prior Police Contact
Separation
Obsessive/ Coercive Controlling Behavior
Threats to Kill Victim or Children
Threats of Suicide
Alcohol or Drug Abuse
Non Criminal Justice Continuum
Family
Physician/ ER
DV Shelter Program DV Advocate
Friends
Daycare/Headstart
Neighbors Preschool/Elementary/Secondary SchoolsHigher Education Social Service
Agencies H&W/Disability Advocacy /Child Protective Services/ APS
Faith-based
MH Counselor
DV Shelter Counselor/Group
Drug & Alcohol Treatment Batterer Treatment
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Civil Attorneys– Protection Order/Divorce
Custody/DV Evaluators Judiciary - Civil Court
Offender Attorney
(ILAS, IVLP, Attorneys, Pro Bono/ISC Court Assistance Office)
Employers
Landlords
Disability or Specialized Advocacy Organizations
Jack & Amanda
Amanda arrives at the emergency room with injuries related to an
assault. ER records indicate that this is the second time that
Amanda has been seen at the hospital for similar injuries. On this
occasion Amanda is accompanied by her children who provide
additional details regarding the fights Amanda and their father
have had over the years. Amanda’s oldest daughter tells the nurse
that usually her father will just hit and shove her Mom, occasionally
causing bruising. Amanda’s daughter says that on this particular
occasion she awoke to the sounds of fighting and then the arguing
stopped all of a sudden. When she went to the living room she
found Amanda unconscious on the floor with her dad hovering over
her. The kids all helped carry their mom to the car to take her to the
hospital.
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What if later in the examination you found out:
 Amanda’s
husband was laid off from work about six
months ago and ever since he has been going out to
the bars regularly by himself? He comes home really
drunk and takes everything out on Amanda?
 While Amanda demanded that she was fine and
that she had just fainted while she was at the
hospital, at a follow-up visit the next day bruising
around her neck has begun to appear and it is
obvious that she had been strangled?
What to do when the risk of
dangerousness is high?
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In the law enforcement field, officers reviewing the
cases would make a determination of the next step
based on their internal policy.
ICRDSV drafted a recommended policy for law
enforcement agencies.
ICRDSV would like to assist in drafting a
recommended policy for health care professionals.
Revisions for Health Care
Professionals
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Includes questions on each of the seven Idaho
areas of risk
Takes into account same sex relationships
What revisions can we undertake to make this
form more applicable to the health care
environment?
Is there an existing common form used for intake
that we could incorporate the risk assessment
into?
Keep in Mind:
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Abuser’s control results in:
 Limited
access to routine or emergency medical care
 Noncompliance with treatment regimens
 Not being allowed to obtain/take medications
 Missed appointments
 Lack of transportation, access to finances/phone
 Failure to use contraceptives
Behavioral Indicators of Domestic Violence
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Partner accompanies patient, insists on staying close,
or answers questions for her
Reluctance of patient to speak in front of partner
Denial or minimization of violence by patient or
partner
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Exaggerated sense of responsibility for relationship
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Patient overly-apologetic for taking up your time
Having the Conversation
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Appropriate time/place
Routine screening- asking every patient
Appropriate referrals
Framing Questions:
I don’t know if this is a problem for you, but
many of the women I see are dealing with
abusive relationships. Some are too afraid or
uncomfortable to bring it up themselves, so I’ve
started asking about it routinely.
 Because so many women I see are involved
with someone who hits them, threatens them,
continually puts them down or tries to control
them, I now ask all my patients about abuse.
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Sample Screening Questions
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Do you feel safe at home?
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How are things going in your relationship/marriage?
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Tell me what happens when you and your partner argue.
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Does your partner share in the parenting responsibilities?
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Are you in a relationship where you have been hurt or
threatened?
Are you afraid of your partner or anyone else in your family?
Questions and Responses
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Patient says “no”: “I’ve seen people who are afraid
or embarrassed to tell me they have been hit. I
understand. I want you to know that if you are ever
hurt, it’s okay to tell me about it. This is a safe place
to come and talk.”
Patient says “yes”: “I’m glad you told me. Let’s talk
about your options.”
Patient appears offended: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
offend you. It’s a routine screening we do.”
The 6 Fs Keeping Victims with Abusers
Fear
Finances
Family
Faith
Father
Fantasy
Contact Information
Lisa Growette Bostaph, Ph.D.
Boise State University
[email protected]
(208) 426-3886