Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessments & Models
Which one is right for your community?
There are a wide variety of risk assessment tools and models that help with identifying, assessing and reducing intimate partner violence risk. However, not all of them measure the same thing or serve the same function.
For example, some specifically measure recidivism (the likelihood of abuse occurring again), while others measure lethality (the likelihood of abuse escalating to homicide). Some focus on sexual and domestic violence, while others focus on stalking. Some were developed to be used by first responders and law enforcement, while others were created to be used by confidential victim advocates. And some are used within criminal legal proceedings, while others are used in community-based settings. And all of them require some level of training and planning for effective implementation.
Before implementing any of these, it’s important to identify which one or combination of ones may be the best fit for your community. The chart below can help you learn more.
It is also recommended that jurisdictions complete some community readiness activities before implementing any chosen risk assessment or model, in order to better identify which one will meet the needs and resources of your community.
Assessments At a Glance
This chart provides brief overviews of prominent IPV risk assessments and models. The details and list of assessments featured are not exhaustive, but are most commonly used. You can use the chart to learn more about these featured assessments, and utilize the left column to compare selected assessments at the same time. For more information on any of these assessments or others, you can contact us using the link displayed below the chart.
| Compare? | Assessment acronym | Assessment full name | Who uses it and with whom or when? | For what purpose? | Recidivism or lethality? * | Validated? ** For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APRAIS | Arizona intimate Partner Risk Assessment Instrument System | Law enforcement officers administer APRAIS on IPV scenes after the initial investigation is completed. Victim advocates and allied professionals can also use the tool | Creates a standardized, evidence-based tool to inform criminal justice system decision making, and assists victims in assessing risk and engaging in protective actions | Recidivism and Lethality | Validated and recommended for use by the Arizona Supreme Court. APRAIS is part of the AZPOST mandated DV training curriculum at all police academies | |
B-SAFER | Brief Spousal Assault Form for Evaluation of Risk | Shorter version of the SARA V-3 used by professionals such as law enforcement, corrections, mental health, and victim service providers. Administered on IPV perpetrators but can also be used with victims for safety planning. | To determine perpetrator risk of recidivism and victim risk of lethality. It can be used to inform criminal legal proceedings. | Recidivism and lethality | Appropriate for use with all genders and relationship types | |
BIRAM | Batterer Intervention Risk Assessment and Management | Intervention programs for offenders. Consists of risk factors that are assessed at different stages, and risk management strategies | Early identification of risk of partner re-assault, and guidelines and strategies to reduce the level of threat | Recidivism and Lethality | Data analysis by MA Department of Public Health found suitable face and content validity, as well as good inter-rater reliability for abuser intervention staff | |
DA (versions for specific groups): DA-I: Immigrant women | Danger Assessment | Victim advocates & shelter systems, healthcare workers, housing authorities, court systems; ideally in collaboration with DV advocates. It can also be self-administered by survivors | Assess level of life-threatening violence or homicide; educate survivors about their level of danger; engage in risk-informed safety planning; & align services to level of danger | Lethality | Yes, for the following (cisgender) groups | |
DA-LE | Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement | Law enforcement officers at the scene when responding to a domestic violence call | To inform victims of their level of risk, to connect high risk victims to DV services, and to use in court to inform decision-making in criminal proceedings | Lethality | Pending validation | |
DVHRT | Domestic Violence High Risk Team Model | Multidisciplinary teams of advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, probation, corrections, batterer intervention, and community organizations | To identify and intervene in the most dangerous cases through enhanced information sharing and risk informed collaborative interventions, to reduce domestic violence homicides | Lethality | Not applicable | |
DVRAG | Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide | Professionals in threat assessment, correctional, and forensic settings; use for relatively high risk cases; when the PCL-R is scored or can be accessed | To assess the likelihood that the male offender will commit a new IPV assault, and how his risk compares with others; and to inform risk management decisions | Recidivism | DVRAG items and PCL-R can be scored with excellent reliability. Validation studies report large effects for predictive accuracy for men who assault female partners | |
DVRNA | Domestic Violence Risk and Needs Assessment | Clinicians trained in mental health, substance abuse, and who are credentialed in anti-domestic violence programming score the DVRNA as part of an evaluation before treatment | The DVRNA is a structured actuarial assessment of 14 domains and serves basis for designating the initial classification of offender risk and designated level of treatment | Recidivism and Lethality | Development relied heavily on research based on males age 18+ who are white in the criminal legal system. Early analyses suggest that individuals are being appropriately classified | |
DVSI-R | Domestic Violence Screening Instrument- Revised | Family Relations Counselors at pre-adjudication arraignment with the accused. And Probation Officers at post-adjudication with those placed on probation | Assess level of recidivism and make recommendations for placement & protective orders at arraignment. And to inform level of supervision and other conditions required by probation | Recidivism | Validated for those arrested for DV (pre-adjudication) and those placed on probation (post-adjudication) | |
IPVI | Intimate Partner Violence Intervention/ Focused Deterrence (also colloquially known as ‘High Point Model’) | Multidisciplinary teams use tailored approaches to respond to individuals within the criminal legal system accused of IPV. They also engage victims with safety and support measures | To respond to all individuals accused of IPV from low-high risk to deter and prevent IPV, offer support to address behavior, and, when necessary, sanction individuals causing harm | Recidivism | Validated for all relationship types | |
LAP 2.0 | Lethality Assessment Program– Maryland Model | Law enforcement and other first responders with IPV victims. Once a high-risk case is identified, the victim is connected with a local DVSP advocate | Assess level of lethality Increase victim access to services Reduction of IPV related homicide | Lethality | Tool has been validated for cis-gendered women in heterosexual relationships | |
MOSAIC | Method for Objectively Selecting Areas of Inquiry Consistently | Anyone, including the victim, can log in online and complete an assessment | Assess risk factors and determine level of current risk based on research, expert opinion, and comparison with other known cases | Recidivism and Lethality | DOJ validated, with more accurate results if law enforcement is involved | |
ODARA | Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment | Commonly used by law enforcement, courts, and victim advocates. Questions are based on risk factors such as the accused’s criminal history and victim’s personal circumstances | Determine likelihood of partner re-assault, and how an individual’s risk compares with other domestic offenders. Information can be used to inform bail and supervision for the accused | Recidivism and Lethality | Validated for men who assault their female partner and for women who assault their partner (however, interpretation of likelihood of assault is based on men) | |
SARA-V3 | Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide, Version 3 | Trained evaluators gather information about risk factors via interviews (when possible) and review relevant documents (e.g., police reports, psychological assessments) | Assess the presence and relevance of risk factors, develop a case formulation, and detail scenarios of future violence to inform case-specific management strategies to prevent harm | Recidivism & Lethality | Appropriate for use with all genders and relationship types | |
SHARP | Stalking and Harassment Assessment and Risk Profile | Victim advocates can assist victims to complete a web-based assessment | Examine and assess stalking and the level of risk to the victim | Recidivism | Validated anecdotally by professionals and victims, for all stalking victims |
Arizona intimate Partner Risk Assessment Instrument System
Assessment acronym
APRAIS
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Law enforcement officers administer APRAIS on IPV scenes after the initial investigation is completed. Victim advocates and allied professionals can also use the tool
For what purpose?
Creates a standardized, evidence-based tool to inform criminal justice system decision making, and assists victims in assessing risk and engaging in protective actions
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Validated and recommended for use by the Arizona Supreme Court. APRAIS is part of the AZPOST mandated DV training curriculum at all police academies
Brief Spousal Assault Form for Evaluation of Risk
Assessment acronym
B-SAFER
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Shorter version of the SARA V-3 used by professionals such as law enforcement, corrections, mental health, and victim service providers. Administered on IPV perpetrators but can also be used with victims for safety planning.
For what purpose?
To determine perpetrator risk of recidivism and victim risk of lethality. It can be used to inform criminal legal proceedings.
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Appropriate for use with all genders and relationship types
Batterer Intervention Risk Assessment and Management
Assessment acronym
BIRAM
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Intervention programs for offenders. Consists of risk factors that are assessed at different stages, and risk management strategies
For what purpose?
Early identification of risk of partner re-assault, and guidelines and strategies to reduce the level of threat
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Data analysis by MA Department of Public Health found suitable face and content validity, as well as good inter-rater reliability for abuser intervention staff
Danger Assessment
Assessment acronym
DA
(versions for specific groups):
DA-I: Immigrant women
DA-Circle: Indigenous women
DA-5: Health care providers
DA-R: Women in same-sex relationships
DA Bench Guide: Judges
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Victim advocates & shelter systems, healthcare workers, housing authorities, court systems; ideally in collaboration with DV advocates. It can also be self-administered by survivors
For what purpose?
Assess level of life-threatening violence or homicide; educate survivors about their level of danger; engage in risk-informed safety planning; & align services to level of danger
Recidivism or lethality? *
Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Yes, for the following (cisgender) groups
DA: Women (specific validation with Black, White, Latina women)
DA-I: Immigrant women
DA-Circle: Indigenous women
DA-5: Female survivors
DA-R: Pending validation
Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement
Assessment acronym
DA-LE
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Law enforcement officers at the scene when responding to a domestic violence call
For what purpose?
To inform victims of their level of risk, to connect high risk victims to DV services, and to use in court to inform decision-making in criminal proceedings
Recidivism or lethality? *
Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Pending validation
Domestic Violence High Risk Team Model
Assessment acronym
DVHRT
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Multidisciplinary teams of advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, probation, corrections, batterer intervention, and community organizations
For what purpose?
To identify and intervene in the most dangerous cases through enhanced information sharing and risk informed collaborative interventions, to reduce domestic violence homicides
Recidivism or lethality? *
Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Not applicable
Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide
Assessment acronym
DVRAG
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Professionals in threat assessment, correctional, and forensic settings; use for relatively high risk cases; when the PCL-R is scored or can be accessed
For what purpose?
To assess the likelihood that the male offender will commit a new IPV assault, and how his risk compares with others; and to inform risk management decisions
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism
Validated? **
For whom?
DVRAG items and PCL-R can be scored with excellent reliability. Validation studies report large effects for predictive accuracy for men who assault female partners
Domestic Violence Risk and Needs Assessment
Assessment acronym
DVRNA
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Clinicians trained in mental health, substance abuse, and who are credentialed in anti-domestic violence programming score the DVRNA as part of an evaluation before treatment
For what purpose?
The DVRNA is a structured actuarial assessment of 14 domains and serves basis for designating the initial classification of offender risk and designated level of treatment
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Development relied heavily on research based on males age 18+ who are white in the criminal legal system. Early analyses suggest that individuals are being appropriately classified
Domestic Violence Screening Instrument- Revised
Assessment acronym
DVSI-R
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Family Relations Counselors at pre-adjudication arraignment with the accused. And Probation Officers at post-adjudication with those placed on probation
For what purpose?
Assess level of recidivism and make recommendations for placement & protective orders at arraignment. And to inform level of supervision and other conditions required by probation
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism
Validated? **
For whom?
Validated for those arrested for DV (pre-adjudication) and those placed on probation (post-adjudication)
Intimate Partner Violence Intervention/ Focused Deterrence (also colloquially known as ‘High Point Model’)
Assessment acronym
IPVI
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Multidisciplinary teams use tailored approaches to respond to individuals within the criminal legal system accused of IPV. They also engage victims with safety and support measures
For what purpose?
To respond to all individuals accused of IPV from low-high risk to deter and prevent IPV, offer support to address behavior, and, when necessary, sanction individuals causing harm
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism
Validated? **
For whom?
Validated for all relationship types
Lethality Assessment Program– Maryland Model
Assessment acronym
LAP 2.0
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Law enforcement and other first responders with IPV victims. Once a high-risk case is identified, the victim is connected with a local DVSP advocate
For what purpose?
Assess level of lethality Increase victim access to services Reduction of IPV related homicide
Recidivism or lethality? *
Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Tool has been validated for cis-gendered women in heterosexual relationships
Method for Objectively Selecting Areas of Inquiry Consistently
Assessment acronym
MOSAIC
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Anyone, including the victim, can log in online and complete an assessment
For what purpose?
Assess risk factors and determine level of current risk based on research, expert opinion, and comparison with other known cases
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
DOJ validated, with more accurate results if law enforcement is involved
Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment
Assessment acronym
ODARA
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Commonly used by law enforcement, courts, and victim advocates. Questions are based on risk factors such as the accused’s criminal history and victim’s personal circumstances
For what purpose?
Determine likelihood of partner re-assault, and how an individual’s risk compares with other domestic offenders. Information can be used to inform bail and supervision for the accused
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism and Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Validated for men who assault their female partner and for women who assault their partner (however, interpretation of likelihood of assault is based on men)
Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide, Version 3
Assessment acronym
SARA-V3
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Trained evaluators gather information about risk factors via interviews (when possible) and review relevant documents (e.g., police reports, psychological assessments)
For what purpose?
Assess the presence and relevance of risk factors, develop a case formulation, and detail scenarios of future violence to inform case-specific management strategies to prevent harm
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism & Lethality
Validated? **
For whom?
Appropriate for use with all genders and relationship types
Stalking and Harassment Assessment and Risk Profile
Assessment acronym
SHARP
Who uses it and with whom or when?
Victim advocates can assist victims to complete a web-based assessment
For what purpose?
Examine and assess stalking and the level of risk to the victim
Recidivism or lethality? *
Recidivism
Validated? **
For whom?
Validated anecdotally by professionals and victims, for all stalking victims
*Recidivism refers to the assessment/strategy assessing the likelihood of abuse occurring again. Lethality refers to the assessment/strategy assessing the likelihood of abuse escalating to near-death or homicide.
**Validated refers to whether the assessment has been independently evaluated for usability and effectiveness. It does not refer to validation and/or promotion from CCI or OVW.
***The authors recognize that many different terms such as the accused, the offender, the defendant, person who causes harm, and abusive partner are used, and are sometimes used interchangeably.