Potential Risk Factors for DV: Help Prevent DV, by Identifying Risk Factors that Might Be Relevant to Your DV Troubles

  We know from research that certain things in our lives and things that we think and do can put as at risk of a DV Offense, or even a DV Re-Offense.  Yes, hopefully we are making progress in our DV Treatment.  One can click here to get an idea of what one has learned thus far in DV Treatment.  So it's good to learn about these things now:  Many things can put us at risk of a DV Offense or a Re-Offense.  Trying to be in control of another person is a big one.  It can be really educative and helpful to ponder what puts us at risk of DV.  Click Here!.

  A Risk factor in Domestic Violence is Something that increases a person's chances of committing Domestic Violence. For example, alcohol abuse is a risk factor for Domestic Violence.  If one drinks more alcohol under certain circumstances, he or she might be more likely to commit Domestic Violence than if he or she were not drinking alcohol. 

  According to the Standards for Domestic Violence Offender Treatment (2020) by the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board of Colorado (D V O M B), "the literature demonstrates that there are significant risk factors that should be considered in working with people  who have domestic violence offenses."  And, "the following are some of the risk factors identified in the literature that shall be considered in treatment planning and ongoing Treatment Plan Review. These risk factors may not be present at the initial evaluation, but may become evident during treatment resulting in a need for a change in treatment planning and intensity of treatment." (Colorado D V O M B Standards, 2020, p. 24-26) 

  As also noted on the Domestic Violence Risk Needs Assessment (D V R N A), a General List of Risk Factors for DV includes.  (Some of the Risk Factors below even have links to substantive articles about them): 

• Substance Abuse issues or history, 

• Mental Health Issues, 

• Suicidal/Homicidal History, 

• Use of Weapons during an Offense, 

• Criminal History, 

• Obsession with the Victim, 

• Safety Concerns for the Victim and/or look up effects of DV on Children,

• Violence / or Threatened Violence against the Family of the Victim, 

• Attitudes that Support or Condone Spousal Assault, (Versus Good Boundaries),

• History of Starting and/or Completing DV-Related Treatment, 

• Unemployment, and

• Involvement with Pro-Criminal Influences.

  There are different ways of looking for and/or measuring Risk Factors in DV.

  This is important because if we can better measure and understand a person's Risk Factors, we can start to help prevent DV.  By learning about who is at risk of what and under which conditions; we can then more readily address those items with that individual.

  We each should learn about what our potential Risk Factors are.  It is good for us humans to know about our weak spots, right?

  We also should learn about our Strengths -- particularly the Strengths that might help us prevent or eliminate the negative influence(s) of our Risk Factors in the future.

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(Originally Posted, 4/27/2020).