1. History of violence outside of the family by perpetrator
Any actual or attempted assault on any person who is not, or has not been, in an intimate relationship with the perpetrator.
2. History of domestic violence
Any actual, attempted, or threatened abuse/maltreatment (physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, etc) toward a person who has been in, or is in, an intimate relationship with the perpetrator. This incident did not have to necessarily result in charges or convictions
3. Prior threats to kill victim
Any comment made to the victim, or others, that was intended to instil fear for the safety of the victim’s life. These comments could have been delivered verbally, in the form of a letter, or left on an answering machine.
Threats can range in degree of explicitness from ‘I’m going to kill you’ to ‘You’re going to pay for what you did’ or ‘If I can’t have you, then nobody can’ or ‘I’m going to get you.’
4. Prior threats with a weapon
Any incident in which the perpetrator threatened to use a weapon (eg gun, knife etc) or other object intended to be used as a weapon (eg bat, branch, garden tool, vehicle, etc) for the purpose of instilling fear in the victim.
5. Prior assault with a weapon
Any actual or attempted assault on the victim in which a weapon (eg gun, knife, etc), or other object intended to be used as a weapon (eg bat, branch, garden tool, vehicle etc) was used.
6. Prior threats to commit suicide by perpetrator
Any recent act or comment in the past six months made by the perpetrator that was intended to convey the perpetrator’s idea or intent of committing suicide, even if the act or comment was not taken seriously.
These comments could have been made verbally, or delivered in letter format, or left on an answering machine
7. Prior suicide attempts by perpetrator
Any recent suicidal behaviour (eg swallowing pills, holding a knife to one’s throat etc), even if the behaviour was not taken seriously or did not require arrest, medical attention, or psychiatric committal.
8. Prior attempts to isolate the victim
Any non-physical behaviour, whether successful or not, that was intended to keep the victim from associating with others.
The perpetrator could have used various psychological tactics (eg guilt trips) to discourage the victim from associating with family, friends, or other acquaintances in the community (e.g., ‘if you leave, then don’t even think about coming back’ or ‘I never like it when your parents come over’ or ‘I’m leaving if you invite your friends here’)
9. Controlled most or all of victim’s daily activities
Any actual or attempted behaviour on the part of the perpetrator, whether successful or not, intended to exert full power over the victim.
For example, when the victim was allowed in public, the perpetrator made her account for where she was at all times and who she was with.
Another example could include not allowing the victim to have control over any finances (eg giving her an allowance, not letting get a job.)
10. Prior hostage-taking and/or forcible confinement
Any actual or attempted behaviour, whether successful or not, in which the perpetrator physically attempted to limit the mobility of the victim.
For example, any incidents of forcible confinement (eg locking the victim in a room) or not allowing the victim to use the telephone.
Attempts to withhold access to transportation should also be included (eg taking or hiding car keys).
The perpetrator may have used violence (eg grabbing, hitting, etc) to gain compliance or may have been passive (eg stood in the way of an exit).
11. Prior forced sexual acts and/or assaults during sex
Any actual, attempted, or threatened behaviour, whether successful or not, used to engage the victim in sexual acts (of whatever kind) against the victim’s will.
Or any assault on the victim, of whatever kind (eg biting, scratching, punching, choking, etc), during the course of any sexual act.
12. Child custody or access disputes
Any dispute in regards to the custody, contact, primary care or control of children, including formal legal proceedings or any third parties having knowledge of such arguments.
13. Prior destruction or deprivation of victim’s property
Any incident in which the perpetrator intended to damage any form of property that was owned, or partially owned, by the victim or formerly owned by the perpetrator.
This could include slashing the tyres of the car that the victim uses. It could also include breaking windows or throwing items at a place of residence
14. Prior violence against family pets
Any action directed toward a pet of the victim, or a former pet of the perpetrator, with the intention of causing distress to the victim or instilling fear in the victim. This could range in severity from killing the victim’s pet to abducting it or torturing it.
15. Prior assault on victim while pregnant
Any actual or attempted form physical violence, ranging in severity from a push or slap to the face, to punching or kicking the victim in the stomach while pregnant.
16. Choked/Strangled victim in the past
Any attempt (separate from the incident leading to death) to strangle the victim. The perpetrator could have used various things to accomplish this task (eg hands, arms, rope etc)
17. Perpetrator was abused and/or witnessed domestic violence as a child
As a child/adolescent, the perpetrator was victimised and/or exposed to any actual, attempted, or threatened family violence/abuse/maltreatment.
18. Escalation of violence
The abuse/maltreatment (physical, psychological, emotional, sexual etc) inflicted upon the victim by the perpetrator was increasing in frequency and/or severity.
For example, this can be evidenced by more regular trips for medical attention or include an increase in complaints of abuse to/by family, friends, or other acquaintances.
19. Obsessive behaviour displayed by perpetrator
Any actions or behaviours by the perpetrator that indicate an intense preoccupation with the victim.
For example, stalking, such as following the victim, spying on the victim, making repeated phone calls to the victim, or excessive gift giving etc.
20. Perpetrator unemployed
Employed means having full-time or near full-time employment (including self-employment). Unemployed means experiencing frequent job changes or significant periods of lacking a source of income.
21. Victim and perpetrator living common-law
The victim and perpetrator were cohabiting.
22. Presence of stepchildren in the home
Any children that are not biologically related to the perpetrator.
23. Extreme minimisation and/or denial of spousal assault history
At some point the perpetrator was confronted, either by the victim, a family member, friend, or other acquaintance, and the perpetrator displayed an unwillingness to end assaultive behaviour or enter/comply with any form of treatment.
Or the perpetrator denied many or all past assaults, denied personal responsibility for the assaults (ie blamed the victim), or denied the serious consequences of the assault (eg ‘she wasn’t really hurt’).
24. Actual or pending separation
The partner wanted to end the relationship. Or the perpetrator was separated from the victim but wanted to renew the relationship.
Or there was a sudden and/or recent separation. Or the victim had contacted a lawyer and was seeking a separation and/or divorce.
25. Excessive alcohol and/or drug use by perpetrator
Within the past year, substance abuse that appeared to be characteristic of the perpetrator’s dependence on, and/or addiction to the substance.
An increase in the pattern of use and/or change of character or behaviour that is directly related to the alcohol and/or drug use can indicate excessive use by the perpetrator.
For example, people described the perpetrator as constantly drunk or claim that they never saw him without a beer in his hand.
26. Depression – in the opinion of family/friend/acquaintance – perpetrator
In the opinion of any family, friends, or acquaintances, the perpetrator displayed symptoms characteristic of depression.
27. Depression – professionally diagnosed – perpetrator
A diagnosis of depression by any mental health professional, regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment.
28. Other mental health or psychiatric problems – perpetrator
For example: psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania; obsessive compulsive disorder etc.
29. Access to or possession of any firearms
The perpetrator stored firearms in his place of residence, place of employment, or in some other nearby location (eg friend’s place of residence, or shooting gallery).
30. New partner in victim’s life
There was a new intimate partner in the victim’s life or the perpetrator perceived there to be a new intimate partner in the victim’s life.
31. Failure to comply with authority – perpetrator
The perpetrator has violated any family, civil, or criminal court orders, conditional releases, community supervision orders, or ‘No Contact’ orders, etc. This includes bail, probation, or restraining orders etc.
32. Perpetrator exposed to/witnessed suicidal behaviour in family of origin
As a child or adolescent, the perpetrator was exposed to and/or witnessed any actual, attempted or threatened forms of suicidal behaviour in his family, or somebody close to the perpetrator attempted or committed suicide.
33. After risk assessment, perpetrator had access to victim
After a formal or informal risk assessment was completed, the perpetrator still had access to the victim.
34. Youth of couple
Victim and perpetrator were between the ages of 15 and 24.
35. Sexual jealousy – perpetrator
The perpetrator continuously accuses the victim of infidelity, repeatedly interrogates the victim, searches for evidence, tests the victim’s fidelity, and sometimes stalks the victim.
36. Misogynistic attitudes – perpetrator
Hating or having a strong prejudice against women. This attitude can be overtly expressed with hate statements, or can be more subtle with beliefs that women are only good for domestic work or that all women are ‘whores.’
37. Age disparity of couple
Women in an intimate relationship with a partner who is significantly older or younger. The disparity is usually nine years or more.
38. Victim’s intuitive sense of fear of perpetrator
The victim is one that knows the perpetrator best and can accurately gauge his level of risk.
If the women discloses to anyone her fear of the perpetrator harming herself or her children, for example statements such as, ‘I fear for my life’, ‘I think he will hurt me’, ‘I need to protect my children’, this is a definite indication of serious risk.
39. Perpetrator threatened and/or harmed children
Any actual, attempted, or threatened abuse/maltreatment (physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual etc.) towards children in the family.
Source: Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee
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