Lethality Assessment Program– Maryland Model (LAP) In-Service Curriculum for Domestic Violence Service Providers This project was supported by Grant No. 2011-TA-AX-K057 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 1

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV Learning Objectives To understand how to use the LAP protocol. To understand why and how officer-initiated LAP hotline calls are different than regular hotline calls. To feel ready to answer officer-initiated LAP hotline calls. To know how to respond to High-Danger victims seeking services. Slide 2 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

What is the Lethality Assessment Program– Maryland Model (LAP)? Identifying victims at the greatest risk of being killed, and Encouraging them to go into domestic violence services Slide 3 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV Lisa’s 9-11 Call Slide 4 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV The Evidence Tells Us Predictable For 28-33% of victims, the first incident of violence was the homicide More than 44% of perpetrators were arrested in the year prior to the homicide. Only 4% of abused victims had used a DV hotline or shelter within the year prior to being killed by an intimate partner. Women who went to shelter were significantly less likely to experience re-assault than those who did not go to shelter. Preventable Nicolaidis, C., et. al, 2003, Could we have known? A qualitative analysis of data from women who survived an attempted homicide by an intimate partner. Journal of General Internal Medicine 18, 788-794. Campbell, et. al, 2001, Missed opportunities for prevention of femicide by health care providers. Preventive Medicine 33, 373-80 Slide 5 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

Counting the Differences For the hotline advocate, the conversation is different because in this conversation, as opposed to most hotline conversations: The situation is volatile and dynamic, not static. The police are in the home. The offender is lurking or under arrest. The victim is not “ready” to talk, and thus may not listen. Increased pressure to get victims into services quicker. The victim may not be “able” to listen given the situation. The conversation must be BRIEF! Slide 6 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV Stages of Change Slide 7 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

How the LAP Works: Video “Lethality Assessment Program: ‘Something’s gonna happen’” Slide 8 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

When to Initiate the Lethality Screen Only in cases of intimate relationships and a manifestation of danger: When you believe there’s been an assault or act of domestic violence, When you believe the victim faces danger when you leave, When the home or parties are repeats, or When your gut tells you that the situation is dangerous. Slide 9 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV Lethality Screen Slide 10 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

Hotline Calls and Cutoffs Call the hotline Call the hotline Call the hotline “No” to all OR “Yes” to no more than 3 of Q. #4-11, but officer believes it is appropriate Victim “does not answer” (DNA) the Screen b/c she/he needs immediate medical attention “Yes” to Q. #1, 2 or 3 OR “No” to Q. #1, 2 or 3, but “Yes” to at least four of Q. #4-11 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 11

Gather Information from Officer Introduce yourself. Find out which questions the victim answered “yes” to and which questions the victim declined to answer. Ask the officer for a brief description of the incident that called them to the scene. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 12

Build Rapport with Victim Gather Information from Officer Build Rapport with Victim Introduce yourself and thank the victim for speaking with you. Briefly explain your program’s confidentiality policy and services the victim may be interested in. Empathize with the victim’s situation, express your admiration of the victim’s courage, express your appreciation of the victim’s willingness to speak with you, emphasize that you support and believe the victim (and so does the law enforcement officer) © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 13

Reiterate Danger of Victim’s Situation Gather Information from Officer Build Rapport with Victim Reiterate Danger of Victim’s Situation Express concern for the victim’s safety and well-being. Reinforce what the law enforcement officer has said: this is a dangerous situation and people in the victim’s situation have been killed. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 14

Educate and Safety Plan Gather Information from Officer Build Rapport with Victim Reiterate Danger of Victim’s Situation Educate and Safety Plan Explain that abuse is about control and it often escalates. If the victim minimizes the abuser’s actions, explain that abuse is never the victim’s fault. Safety plan for the next 24 hours. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 15

Encourage Victim to Go Into Services Gather Information from Officer Build Rapport with Victim Reiterate Danger of Victim’s Situation Educate and Safety Plan Encourage Victim to Go Into Services Suggest services that are specific to the victim’s unique lethality predictors and safety concerns. Encourage the victim to come in for services and try to set up an appointment time. Ask the victim for a safe phone number to follow-up with them. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 16

Role Play #1: Elizabeth Gregory agrees to speak to the advocate Slide 17 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

When the Victim Declines to Speak With You First, request that the officer encourage the victim again to speak with you. Then, if the victim declines a second time, safety plan through the officer. Keep in mind the specific situation and Lethality Screen responses. Have the officer obtain a safe phone number to follow up with the victim. Slide 18 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

Role Play #2: Elizabeth Gregory declines to speak to the advocate Slide 19 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

Activity: LAP Case Study What barriers does this victim face? What services do we offer that the victim could use to be safer? If the victim does not get on the phone with us, what immediate safety planning advice can we offer through the officer? Slide 20 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

Activity: Program Services in Your Own Words Which programs are best for victims in each stage of change? What programs might be especially enticing for someone who does not believe she/he is in an abusive relationship (or is generally not ready to leave yet)? Which services would give the victim the best impression of your program? What community resources might be valuable? Slide 21 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV “You took the time when no one else did. If you hadn’t I am sure me and my children would be dead.” Slide 22 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV QUESTIONS Slide 23 © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org

© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV Contact Information Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 4601 Presidents Drive Suite 370 Lanham, MD 20706 Phone: 301-429-3601 Email: LAPInfo@mnadv.org Web: www.mnadv.org © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV www.lethalityassessmentprogram.org Slide 24