11 Red Flags Police Spot in DV Cases

Understanding How Police Screen for Domestic Violence

Do you know how police officers screen for domestic violence? Hi, my name is Aaron Grubb, I’m a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney at Wirth Law Office, and in this video, we’re going to talk about the lethality assessment protocol that police officers or other law enforcement use whenever they’re talking to a victim of alleged domestic violence. This process allows them to gauge how serious or potentially lethal the situation may be.

There are 11 key questions that law enforcement officers use in domestic violence cases, as defined by statute. While there may be slight variations in wording, these questions are designed to assess the level of danger a victim faces. If at least four of these questions are answered affirmatively—or at the officer’s discretion—the Lethality Assessment Protocol is triggered, requiring officers to contact a domestic violence hotline and connect the victim with resources.

The 11 Key Questions Used by Officers

Here are the 11 questions officers ask:

1. 1. Has the perpetrator used or threatened to use a weapon against the victim?

 

1. 1. Has the perpetrator threatened to kill the victim or their children?

 

1. 1. Does the victim believe the perpetrator will try to kill them again?

 

1. 1. Has the perpetrator ever choked the victim? (Choking can be particularly dangerous and may leave little visible evidence.)

 

1. 1. Is the perpetrator extremely jealous or controlling over the victim’s daily activities?

 

1. 1. Has the victim recently left or separated from the perpetrator after living together?

 

1. 1. Is the perpetrator unemployed?

 

1. 1. Has the perpetrator ever attempted suicide?

 

1. 1. Does the victim have children that the perpetrator knows are not biologically theirs?

 

1. 1. Does the perpetrator follow, spy on, or leave threatening messages for the victim?

 

1. 1. Are there any other specific threats the victim fears for their safety?

 

These questions help officers determine the severity of a situation and take immediate action to protect victims. If you find yourself in a situation involving law enforcement due to domestic violence allegations, it’s critical to understand your rights and options.

Need Legal Guidance?

Contact Wirth Law Office — we can help guide you through the legal process. Again, I’m the Tahlequah Criminal Defense Attorney Aaron Grubb, and we can help. For a low-cost initial strategy session, call us at (918) 458-2677.