Here's how some local police help identify domestic violence survivors, and warning signs you should look for
Erik S. Hanley
Many police officers in southeast Wisconsin use an 11-question Lethality Assessment Program to help them identify domestic violence survivors.
If a victim answers "yes" to any of the first three questions, officers automatically refer that person for additional services.
1. Has he/she ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a weapon?
2. Has he/she threatened to kill you or your children?
3. Do you think he/she might try to kill you?
Even if the answers to the first three questions are all negative, a positive response to at least four of the remaining questions also triggers a referral. The remaining questions are:
4. Does he/she have a gun or can he/she get one easily?
5. Has he/she ever tried to choke you?
6. Is he/she violently or constantly jealous or does he/she control most of your daily activities?
7. Have you left him/her or separated after living together or being married?
8. Is he/she unemployed?
9. Has he/she ever tried to kill himself/herself?
10. Do you have a child that he/she knows is not his/hers?
11. Does he/she follow or spy on you or leave threatening messages?
The LAP assessment is included on the Domestic Violence Supplementary Incident Report form used by all law enforcement agencies in Milwaukee County, according to Cudahy Police Chief Thomas Poellot. The assessment is also used by some police departments in Waukesha County and elsewhere.
Helping your friends or family
Police aren’t the only ones that encounter people facing domestic violence; friends and family sometimes suspect someone they care about could be in a harmful relationship.
The Women’s Center in Waukesha created a list of common warning signs to help people determine whether they or someone they know is in an abusive relationship. The complete list can be found on the center's website but some of those signs include:
- Feels he/she has the right to dictate your behavior, privileges or responses/opinions.
- Demonstrates ownership of you or extreme possessiveness.
- Blames you for her/his problems or behavior.
- Isolates you — doesn’t allow you to see your family or friends.
- Needs to constantly know your whereabouts, expects you to spend all of your free time with him/her.
- Humiliates you in public.
- Forces you to have sex or perform sexual acts, and more.
If you find yourself in a domestic violence situation, or feel you are in danger of such a situation, reach out to the 24/7 helpline in your respective community for assistance:
Sojourner Family Peace Center (Milwaukee County): 414-933-2722
The Women’s Center (Waukesha County): 262-542-3828
Advocates of Ozaukee (Ozaukee County): 262-284-6902 or 877-375-4034
If you’re in immediate danger, call 911.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or erik.hanley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
