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.

 

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.

Homicide Response Plan

End Abuse facilitates connections with domestic violence programs in Wisconsin prior to and in the wake of a domestic violence homicide. Our Domestic Violence Homicide Response Plan: A Toolkit for Domestic Violence Programs provides a framework for domestic violence programs and their community partners to guide their collective response to domestic violence-related homicide incidents. This resource outlines some of the important things to consider both in preparation for, and in the aftermath of, experiencing a domestic violence-related homicide in your community.

Homicide Reports

Since 2000, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (WCADV) has been researching, documenting and publishing an annual report detailing domestic violence-related homicides in Wisconsin. In doing so, our intent is to honor the victims and survivors of domestic violence homicide. We also want to support Wisconsin communities to create opportunities for intervention and prevention of homicide. We hope to expand the understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence among Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Teams, Elder Abuse Interdisciplinary Teams, and other critical systems where those living with domestic violence, whether as the primary target of the violence or the perpetrator, might seek help, assistance, support and opportunities to change. Through our annual reporting, we hope to inspire community members to get involved in efforts to prevent domestic violence.

2018 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This is the seventeenth edition of the Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has been tracking and analyzing all incidents of domestic violence homicide that occurred in Wisconsin since 2000. This report documents fatalities from 2018.

2017 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This is the sixteenth edition of the Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has been tracking and analyzing all incidents of domestic violence homicide that occurred in Wisconsin since 2000. This report documents fatalities from 2017.

2016 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This is the fifteenth edition of the Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has been tracking and analyzing all incidents of domestic violence homicide that occurred in Wisconsin since 2000. This report documents fatalities from 2016.

2015 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This is the fourteenth edition of the Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has been tracking and analyzing all incidents of domestic violence homicide that occurred in Wisconsin since 2000. This report documents fatalities from 2015.

2014 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This is the thirteenth edition of the Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has been tracking and analyzing all incidents of domestic violence homicide that occurred in Wisconsin since 2000. This report documents fatalities from 2014.

2013 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

The Report documents and analyzes all of the domestic violence homicide incidents that occurred in 2013 in Wisconsin. The 2013 report is significantly different than previous editions because, in addition to the descriptions of individual homicide incidents, it includes interviews and contributions from a diverse group of leaders and stakeholders, such as legislators, law enforcement officers, advocates and surviving family members.

2009 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

Continuing the work launched in 2000 with publication of the first Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report, this edition details domestic violence-related homicides in the calendar year 2009. This brief accounting in no way represents the victims’ full lives. Within the limitations of readily available public information, we have endeavored to construct as accurate a description as possible of key events and circumstances related to each homicide.

2008 Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report

This edition details domestic violence-related homicides in the calendar year 2008. This brief accounting in no way represents the victims’ full lives. That would require a far more detailed inquiry, in-depth study of official case records, and conversations with family and friends left behind. Within the limitations of readily available public information we have endeavored to construct as accurate a description as possible of key events and circumstances related to each homicide.

Other pages in this section

Education
End Abuse provides a variety of educational opportunities to advocates, law enforcement, legislators, and community members to enable them to better serve survivors throughout WI.
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Public Policy Advocacy
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin mobilizes advocates, survivors, and concerned individuals to make policy changes that will support survivors and help end domestic violence.
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Prevention
We envision promising prevention strategies that work with people and systems to challenge gender, race, and class stereotypes and oppressive norms while defining new ways to be a more positive, equitable, and just society.
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Outreach to Underserved Communities
End Domestic Abuse WI has a long history of supporting underserved and under-represented communities - including communities of color, those in later life, the LQBTQI+ community, people with disabilities, children and youth, immigrants and refugees, and tribal communities - in...
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Legal Services
Our legal team is a leader in educating advocates, attorneys, judges and others on the best responses to domestic abuse. In addition, we advocate for changes in laws and legal practices to improve the legal system for survivors.
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Human Trafficking Awareness
End Abuse provides resources, training and technical assistance to programs serving domestic violence survivors, including survivors of human trafficking. Sex trafficking survivors face unique challenges to recovery and safety.
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Engaging Youth
The children and youth program offers training, information, and resources for those working with youth. Also providing leadership opportunities for teens to develop skills they can use to educate their peers.
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Economic Empowerment
Financial independence is key to domestic abuse survivors’ ability to live successful, violence-free lives. In partnership with local programs, we address economic needs and challenges so survivors can break free of violence.
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Coordinated Community Response
For CCR and other DV/SA-focused multidisciplinary teams seeking to improve their community's response to domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of oppression.
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