1. Lethality Assessment Program– Maryland Model (LAP)
In-Service Curriculum for Domestic Violence Service Providers
This project was supported by Grant No 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
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2. © 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.
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© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV

3. 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
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4. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
Lisa’s 9-11 Call
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5. © 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,
Campbell, et. al, 2001, Missed opportunities for prevention of femicide by health care providers. Preventive Medicine 33,
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6. 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!
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7. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
Stages of Change
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8. How the LAP Works: Video
“Lethality Assessment Program: ‘Something’s gonna happen’”
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9. 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.
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10. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
Lethality Screen
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11. 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
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12. 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.
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13. 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)
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. Role Play #1: Elizabeth Gregory agrees to speak to the advocate
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18. 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.
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19. Role Play #2: Elizabeth Gregory declines to speak to the advocate
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20. 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?
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21. 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?
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22. © 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.”
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23. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
QUESTIONS
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24. © Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
Contact Information
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 4601 Presidents Drive Suite 370 Lanham, MD Phone: Web:
© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
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