How the Lethality Assessment Protocol Helps Survivors
What is the Lethality Assessment Protocol?
The Lethality Assessment is an 11-item questionnaire that is used for intimate partner violence. When officers respond to a domestic violence call, they use this assessment to determine if someone is in immediate, life-threatening danger. If so, they then refer this person to CAPSA where we can offer them immediate shelter and resources.
CAPSA’s Partnership with Local Law Enforcement
Research done by Jacqueline Campbell found that only 4% of DV murder victims nationwide had ever accessed domestic violence program services. Because of this, CAPSA, Cache County Sherriff’s Office and Logan City Police Department piloted LAP for Utah with Utah Domestic Violence Coalition in 2015. Now, 13 other community based DV agencies have partnered with over 60 law enforcement Agencies with additional jurisdictions joining every year.
CAPSA partners with local law enforcement to ensure that survivors who are in dangerous situations are referred immediately to CAPSA. The screening of certain risk factors allows us to predict lethality and take the necessary steps to help survivors in these situations.
How the Lethality Assessment Protocol Helped a Survivor
Law enforcement recently referred a victim of domestic violence to Capsa through the Lethality Assessment Protocol. The officer had concern that there was more going on in the situation than was disclosed and expressed his concern for the victim’s safety. After learning about confidentiality and building rapport with her caseworker, she ended up disclosing much more serious abuse than she had initially shared with the officer. She had concerns about what would happen with her kids and her financial situation if her spouse was to be arrested. The caseworker was able to work through an action plan to address those concerns and provided her with the option of making another police report. With the support of the caseworker and the officer she was able to see the dangerousness of her situation and receive support to start a life free from abuse.