a violent relationship is to identify it as such. For many victims,
identifying oneself as a victim of battering is an extremely difficult
step. To assist judges in identifying victims, the following Physical
Abuse Indicators and Lethality Assessment can be applied:
Physical Abuse Indicators
The following is a list of Physical Abuse Indicators in the order of less to
more severe on a lethality or injury scale. Most ongoing abuse escalates in more
or less this order, so that the presence of an action identified below
is indicative of probable past abuse, even if there have been no serious physical
injuries or prior police or court involvement. In addition, even if the abuse
has not reached a certain danger level, it does not mean that the situation is
not dangerous or physically abusive. A person can be severely injured as a result
of "minor abuse".
It is crucial when using the Physical Abuse Indicators, that the judge include
the victim's opinion about the level of danger in order to help assess a situation.
- Verbal abuse, humiliation, isolation from family and friends.
- Throwing things, punching walls, hurting pets, not letting the victim leave, demanding sex.
- Pushing, shoving, grabbing, shaking, throwing things at the victim.
- Slapping with open or back of hand, twisting arms, legs and fingers.
- Kicking, biting, hair pulling, banging or shaking head.
- Choking, attempted strangulation, smothering
- Beating up (pinned to the wall/floor,repeated kicks and punches).
- Threatening with weapons, knives, guns, autos, poisons.
- Assult with a wepon.
- Forced sex.
Research has found that there are certain factors that are important in assessing the lethality potential in a particular situation. However, predicting lethality is difficult, as all serious battering relationships can be unpredictable and have the potential to flare up quickly. Nonetheless, the reported presence of some of these factors can be used to assist you in making judgments about the level of protection necessary at any particular moment:
- Increased violent episodes.
- Severity of violence is escalating.
- Intoxication and drug abuse
- Threats to harm the children.
- Forced or threatened sex acts.
- Suicide threats or attempts.
- Access to weapons.
- Psychiatric impairment of the victim or abuser.
- Proximity of victim and abuser.
- Abuser's need or control of contact around children.
- Current life stress.
- Previous criminal history.
- Defiance of Court Orders and judicial system.
- Presence of new relationship.
