1 - CASE HISTORY
Social worker should look for the following when reviewing case history (taken from Spousal
Assault Risk Assessment SARA v3: Randall Kropp & Stephen D. Hart 2015):
1. History of DV incidents
Is there a history of DV in this relationship or previous relationships?
• Nature of the DV- physical violence, sexual violence, emotional/verbal abuse,
financial, psychological and/or virtual abuse and coercive control
• Has there been an escalation in frequency or severity of DV as this can be
associated with imminent risk of recidivism.
• Escalation can be linked to the perpetrator's history of use of DV, which he has
normalised as a means of managing conflict or coping with stress.
• Has the perpetrator demonstrated capacity for severe violence in the past? - Severe
violence including use of weapons, assaults during pregnancy can be a risk marker for
recurrent, severe DV
• Stabbing, strangulation and asphyxiation are all common causes of intimate partner
femicide and likely are relevant risk factors if they have occurred in the past.
• Does the victim have a history of DV relationships?
• Do we have an individual who is vulnerable within intimate relationships, has come to
normalise DV within relationships, lacks self-confidence / assertiveness to protect herself
and children.
• Have the children been exposed to a number of incidents of DV between parents /
carers?
• Where were they when the DV occurred? Children can be effected by DV even if
they are not in the same room as the incident. They may see it, hear it or see the injuries
and distress experienced by a parent or get hurt trying to intervene.
Research shows a high correlation between domestic violence and child physical abuse.
Children exposed to DV may experience developmental delay, lower academic performance,
delinquency, inability to maintain peer friendships, sleep disturbance, regressive behaviours
(toileting), increased aggression, self-harm, substance misuse, running away from home,
increased risk of dating violence.