RISK MARKERS INDICATIVE OF HOMICIDE
Excerpted from Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee
Annual Report to the Chief Coroner:
Case Review of
Domestic Violence Deaths 2002
PRIMARY RISK MARKERS
§ Prior history of domestic violence
§ Pending or actual separation/estrangement
§ Escalation of violence
§ Threats to kill/threats with a weapon
§ Threats of suicide or attempted suicide
§ Obsessive behaviour, including stalking
§ Access to or possession of firearms
§ Excessive alcohol or drug use
OTHER COMMON RISK MARKERS
§ Depression or other acute mental health or psychological problems
§ Common-law unions
§ Isolation of victim
§ Child custody and access issues
§ New partner in victim’s life
§ Perpetrator’s unemployment
§ Presence of stepchildren in the home
§ Forced sexual acts
LESS COMMONLY CITED, BUT POTENTIAL RISK MARKERS
§ Hostage-taking
§ Destruction of victim’s property
§ Violence against family pets
§ Extreme minimization or denial of spousal assault history
§ Attempts to isolate the victim
§ Controls most or all of victim’s daily activities
§ Assaulted victim while pregnant
§ Chokes victim
§ Youth of couple
§ Perpetrator witnessed domestic violence as a child
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