Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Asking yourself these questions can help determine the likelyhool of a lethal response from an abusive person
Threats of homicide or suicide: Did he or does he ever talk about killing himself, killing you, the kids, family members?
Fantasies of homicide or suicide: Has he ever talked "specifically" about how he would kill himself or others, including method, weapon(s) or location? Does he make reference to how it would feel to die or how it would feel to you to be killed?
Depression: Does he work, have outside activities, have hobbies, have some way to deal with stress? Or does he stay home or have a routine he cannot or will not deviate from? Does he talk in terms of being a loser and having little reason to "go on"?
Weapons: Does he carry, own or have access to firearms of any kind? Is he a "gun nut"? Has he ever threatened you with a weapon of any kind? The only difference between a battered woman and a dead woman is a gun!
Obsessiveness about partner and/or family: Has he made statements to you such as, "There is no one else for me, I cannot go on without you in my life, if I can't have you, no one else will"?
Centrality of battered woman: Has he made statements about the only "thing" in his life is you? Does he have anything else that means anything to him - a job, career goals, hobbies, children, friends, etc.?
Rage: Has the suspect exhibited extreme rage toward you, whether the incident was reported to police or not? Has he exhibited rage toward others at any time? Has he overreacted to minor problems? Does he have a history of violent behavior toward anyone else?
Drug or alcohol consumption: Does he use drugs of any kind? Does he drink and get drunk? What is his behavior toward you? Does it change when he uses drugs or drinks? Has he physically abused you while he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, whether or not the incident was reported to police?
Pet abuse: Has he ever mutilated, thrown or killed your pet(s) or threatened to do so?
Access to the battered woman and/or family members: Is the suspect in custody? Can the bail be raised? What can the system do to keep him in custody? Is there a protective order of some kind? Is the victim in a safe place, a shelter, a relative's or friend's (unknown to the suspect) home?
