Lethality Factors

Identifying and understanding lethality factors is crucial for developing safety plans and interventions that effectively address the immediate risks faced by survivors. By recognizing and addressing these factors, advocates and service providers can enhance their ability to protect and support those at risk, striving to create environments where individuals can break free from cycles of violence and find safety and healing.

Lethality factors in the context of domestic violence refer to elements that may increase the risk of harm or danger to a victim or survivor. Adapted by Jackie Campbell’s Danger Assessment, these factors can include:

the presence of firearms or other weapons
a history of escalating violence
an increase in the severity of the violence
substance abuse by the person causing harm
threats of homicide or suicide
recent separation
sexual assault
strangulation
threats of homicide and/or suicide
specific threats
the person causing harm is current or former military or police
harm to a pregnant person
harm to animals or pets
if the person causing harm is depressed or has mental health concerns
a person who causes harm is unemployed or otherwise isolated
fire setting
extreme jealousy
stalking
and/or an Innate fear of the person causing harm