What factors should be included in a risk assessment tool for domestic violence victims?

• A. Past violence, threats, weapon access, escalation, stalking, prior police contact, mental health issues, substance use, protective factors.
• B. No factors; risk assessment is optional.
• C. Only mental health history.
• D. Only past violence and location.

Answer: (A)

Assessing risk in domestic violence cases relies on a broad set of indicators because danger can come from a mix of past behavior and current dynamics. The best answer reflects a comprehensive approach: it considers what has happened before (past violence), what is currently being done or threatened (threats, escalation), how the person might obtain means to harm (weapon access), ongoing pursuit or monitoring (stalking), prior interactions with law enforcement, and the victim’s context and resilience (mental health issues, substance use, protective factors). This combination helps identify static risk factors that exist over time and dynamic factors that can change, guiding effective safety planning and timely responses. The other options fall short because risk assessment should be grounded in multiple factors rather than being optional or overly narrow; focusing only on mental health history or only on past violence and location misses important signals and resources that influence actual risk.