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Inventory of Spousal Violence Risk Assessment Tools Used in Canada
5. Description of Tools, Investigative Checklists and Protocols (continued)
5.25 Spousal/Partner Abuse, Assault Court Package Supplement
The RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador complete this form for Prosecution Services in the province. It includes relevant factors relating to previous incidents of violence and history of court orders. It is attached to case files and used in bail hearings.
5.26 Stalking Assessment and Management (SAM)
The Stalking Assessment and Management Guidelines manual was created by P. Randall Kropp, Ph.D., Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D., and David R. Lyon, Ph.D. It is based on structured professional guidelines for assessing stalking. This tool includes a number of assessment items which are categorized under three main areas: the nature of stalking, the perpetrator’s risk factors and the victim’s vulnerability factors.
The administration of the SAM includes a number of steps including: identifying information, factors present, scenarios of stalking, case management plan and case prioritization.
In the province of Alberta, the SAM is used by police, the RCMP and the ARTAMI Threat Assessment Unit. In British Columbia, the SAM is used by the Domestic Violence and Criminal Harassment Unit of the Vancouver Police Department and by the Behavioural Sciences Unit of the RCMP in Surrey, British Columbia.
For more information on this tool, please refer to the following website: http://www.proactive-resolutions.com/ (date accessed April 10, 2009.)
5.27 Threat Assessment Questions for Field Personnel
The Threat Assessment Questions for Field Personnel was recently created by the Domestic Violence and Criminal Harassment Unit of the Vancouver Police Department. Thirteen (13) risk factors[18] are included in this investigative guide.
Threat Assessment Questions for Field Personnel
5.28 Victim’s Statement of Risk
The Victim’s Statement of Risk is a risk indicators checklist developed by the Joint Committee on Domestic Violence in Ontario and is used by police agencies in the province. Victims answer the questions when they provide their initial statement to the investigating police officer. This brief form contains a list of questions that may indicate a degree of risk to the victim’s safety. Although not a risk assessment, the form was developed to provide useful information to Crown attorneys and the Courts.
5.29 Violence in Relationship Investigative Checklist
This checklist is used by RCMP investigators in Newfoundland and Labrador to assist in determining heightened risk to victims. It is attached to all spousal/relationship files and is used to help inform the case history of any previous incidents of violence. It is also used to develop integrated and cooperative community partner strategies with victim services in order to manage the risk to victims.
5.30 Woman Abuse Protocols
The Coalition for Woman Abuse Policy and Protocol in Prince Edward Island was formed in 1998 to address the need for a comprehensive woman abuse policy. It is a partnership of the Premier’s Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention, Victim Services, the PEI Medical Society, Woman Abuse and the PEI Legal System Research Team of the Muriel McQueen Ferguson Centre for Family Vioence Research, the Aboriginal Women’s Association, the PEI Nurses Association, RCMP, The Learning Center, The Family Violence Consultant for the province of PEI, the PEI Inter-Ministerial Women’s Secretariat and the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women.
For more information on the Woman Abuse Protocols in Prince Edward Island, please refer to the following website: http://www.cliapei.ca/womanabuse/ (date accessed: April 10, 2009.)
5.31 Yellowknife Interagency Family Violence Protocol
This interagency protocol outlines how individuals or organizations can work together when they investigate a family violence incident in the Northwest Territories. The eight agencies involved in the protocol include the: YWCA Alison McAteer House (local family violence shelter), Centre for Northern Families, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, NWT Regional Office, Yellowknife RCMP Detachment, Stanton Territorial Health Authority, Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, Canada/NWT Service Centre, Income Security Programs and Yellowknife Victim Services.
The protocol increases information-sharing and interagency collaboration with the goal of increasing victim safety. The implementation of this protocol is in its early stages. However, it is working towards contributing to the development of models and strategies to improve the criminal justice system response to family violence.
6. Conclusion
During the course of this project, respondents from all provinces and territories have expressed different challenges, needs and levels of resources in their jurisdictions regarding spousal violence risk assessments and other types of tools. Based on these comments and concerns, it was evident that there are wide variations in terms of how jurisdictions across Canada are able or are structured to respond to the complexity of spousal violence cases.
Despite these differences, a consistent message became quite clear. According to our respondents, the level of effectiveness in reducing risk in spousal violence and improving subsequent safety plans for victims is inextricably linked to the following issues:
- Developing or improving the coordination of services and information-sharing through protocols;
- Making interdisciplinary training available to all stakeholders; and,
- Coordinating risk assessments, practices and operations among all criminal justice personnel and social/victim services.
There is a notable overlap in terms of the use of specific tools across the country. At the same time, many jurisdictions have expressed interest in developing and eventually implementing standard practices across the country with regards to spousal violence risk assessment tools. This report will contribute to further discussions at the federal, provincial and territorial levels on the issue of risk assessment tools and maximizing safety for victims of spousal violence.
[18] Reprinted with permission.
