ASSESSING WHETHER BATTERERS WILL KILL

Assessment is tricky and never fool-proof. It is important to conduct an assessment at intake and periodically throughout program participation. Staff can utilize the indicators described below in making an assessment of the batter's potential to inflict aggravated violence. Considering these factors may or may not reveal actual potential for homicidal assault. But, the likelihood of a homicide is greater when these factors are present. The greater the number of indicators that the batter demonstrates or the greater the intensity of indicators, the greater the likelihood of a life-threatening attack.

1. Threats of homicide or suicide.
The batter who has threatened to kill himself, his partner, the children, her relatives or family pets must be considered extremely dangerous.

2. Fantasies of homicide or suicide.
The more the batter has developed a fantasy about how, who, when and / or where to kill, the more dangerous he may be. The batter who has previously acted out a part of a homicide or suicide fantasy may be invested in killing as a viable "solution" to his problem. As in suicide assessment, the more detailed the plan and the more available the method, the greater the risk.

3. Weapons.
Where the batter possesses weapons and has used them or has threatened to use them in the past is his assaults on the bettered woman, the children or himself, his access to those weapons increases his potential for lethal assault. The use of guns is a strong predictor of homicide. If a batter has a history of arson or the threat of arson, fire should be considered a weapon.

4. Ownership of the battered partner.
The batter who says "Death before Divorce!" or "You belong to me and will never belong to another!" may be stating his fundamental belief that the woman has no right to life separate from him. A batter who believes he is absolutely entitled to his female partner, her services, her obedience and her loyalty, no matter what, is likely to be life-threatening.

5. Centrality of the partner.
A man who idolizes his female partner, or who depends heavily on her to organize and sustain his life, or who has isolated himself from all other community, may retaliate against a partner who decides to end the relationship.

6. Separation Violence.
When a batter believes that he is about to lose or has permanently lost his partner, if he cannot envision life without her or if the separation causes him great despair or rage, he may choose to kill.

7. Depression.
Where a batter has been acutely depressed and sees little hope for moving beyond the depression, he may be a candidate for homicide or suicide. Research shows that many men who are hospitalized for depression have homicidal fantasies directed at family members.

8. Access to the battered woman and/or to family members.
If the Batter cannot find her, he cannot kill her. If he does not have access to the children, he cannot use them as a means of access to the battered woman. Careful safety planning and police assistance are required for those times when contact is required, e.g. court appearances and custody exchanges.

9. Repeated outreach to law enforcement.
Partner or spousal homicide almost always occurs in a context of historical violence. Prior calls to the police indicate elevated risk of life-threatening conduct.

10. Escalation of batterer risk.
A less obvious indicator of increasing danger may be the sharp escalation of personal risk undertaken by a batterer; when a batterer begins to act without regard to the legal or social consequences that previously constrained his violence, chances of lethal assault increases significantly.

11. Hostage-taking.
A hostage-taker is at high risk for inflicting homicide. Between 75% and 90% of all hostage taking in the US are related to domestic violence situations.

Barbara Hart