The City of Sparks this week said it will start using a so-called “danger assessment form” for domestic violence cases.
“The Danger Assessment Law Enforcement (DA-LE) form is a questionnaire for victims to assess the danger posed to them by an abuser. Police ask a series of eleven questions at the scene and based on the victim’s response; a lethality score is calculated. The higher the tabulation of the score the greater the risk of potential harm to the victim. Prosecutors will then use that risk score to argue appropriate bail and conditions to better protect victims from potential escalating violence in the community,” a press release from the City Attorney’s office indicates.
Here are some of the questions on the list: “Has the physical violence increased in severity or frequency over the past year?
• Does he/she control most or all of your daily activities?
• Has he/she tried to kill you?
• Has he/she choked (strangled) you multiple times?
• Has he/she ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?
• Do you believe he/she is capable of killing you?”
Yes to seven of the 11 questions means there is a high risk of lethality.
The press release indicates there were at least three known domestic related homicides in Washoe County in 2023.
“The implementation of the DA-LE is the most recent effort in the City Attorney’s “End the Silence of Domestic Violence” campaign,” the press release goes on to say.
This comes as a recent report from the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic Violence indicates the Silver State is second in the nation for domestic violence, and worst 10 for highest female homicide rates.
