About Our Homicide Prevention Work
Extensive research into domestic violence homicides has revealed certain indicators that are predictive of experiencing future lethal or near-lethal domestic violence. For the past several years, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has received funding from the Wisconsin Department of Justice to provide training, support, and assistance to Wisconsin communities with the goal of preventing and reducing domestic violence homicides.
Part of this work is through implementation of the Lethality Assessment Program – Maryland Model, or LAP. This program involves law enforcement officers utilizing an 11-item evidence-based questionnaire to gauge the level of danger in intimate partner violence cases. Officers then follow a referral protocol to connect survivors assessed to be in high danger to domestic violence programs immediately, before leaving the scene. The LAP process also helps survivors know what to look out for should their situation begin to escalate, and it improves coordination and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and domestic violence programs.
More information about this program can be found on the LAP website, https://lethalityassessmentprogram.org, or by downloading this LAP Overview.
LAP Implementers in Wisconsin
Shaded in purple are the Wisconsin counties with a domestic violence program and at least one law enforcement agency trained in the Lethality Assessment Program, by either the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence or End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin. Current as of May 2021.
Submit an application for cost-free LAP training and technical assistance!
If your agency or community is interested in receiving training and implementing the LAP, please download and submit the End Abuse LAP Application.
Contact End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin’s Homicide Prevention Program Director Sara Krall with questions: sarak@endabusewi.org.
DV Homicide Support Group
GRACE: Growing Resilience Among the Circle of Empowerment
End Abuse recently launched a free, virtual support group to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for WI adults to be with others who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one due to domestic violence homicide. It meets the 2nd Thursday of each month from 7pm – 8:30pm, and follows a peer-to-peer support rather than therapeutic/clinical approach. Learn more and register here.
Housing as Homicide Prevention
While law enforcement are important partners in responding to and intervening in dangerous domestic violence situations, we know that for many survivors calling law enforcement is not considered a viable solution. A perpetual barrier and challenge we know survivors face is the difficulty of achieving long-term economic stability, an aspect of which includes access to safe, affordable housing. Another facet of our homicide prevention work involves developing and enhancing relationships between domestic violence programs and housing and homelessness service providers in partnership with the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care.
Domestic violence advocacy services have been shown to lead to survivors experiencing less violence over time, less difficulty accessing community resources, increased social support, and higher quality of life[1]. Widening the range of service providers who are both knowledgeable about lethality risk factors and who have established relationships with domestic violence advocates will improve survivor access to individualized crisis intervention and long-term support.
[1] Allen NE, Bybee DI, Sullivan CM. Battered women’s multitude of needs: Evidence supporting the need for comprehensive advocacy. Violence Against Women. 2004;10:1015–1035. doi: 10.1177/1077801204267658.