Domestic Violence Risk Assessment and Case Documentation

Abstract

Risk assessment is a cornerstone of domestic violence prevention and intervention. From the front-line responders' perspective, risk assessment constitutes a process that starts from identifying the factors increasing the likelihood of violence and then continues to plan safety measures to manage the sources of risks and prevent the recurrence of violence. To address some of the shortcomings related to the risk assessment of domestic violence, the IMPRODOVA project developed a Risk Assessment Integration Module, RAIMO. The overall purpose of RAIMO is to bridge the gaps between different risk assessment tools and professional perspectives and thereby to generate a shared understanding of risk assessment in multiprofessional and cooperative contexts. While RAIMO can be utilised in learning, teaching and as a databank, in this chapter, we focus on the key aspects and findings in risk assessment research. The chapter also aims to equip front-line responders with applicable information to revise or remodel the existing risk assessment procedures, networks, and tools.