What Is Abuse? > Indicators of Lethality

Indicators of lethality

The following are indicators of lethality. When anyone of these factors are present in the abusive relationship, it increases the level of danger and possibility of homicide. If any of these factors are present in your relationship, please consider a safety plan to increase your safety and decrease harm of you and/or your children by calling our hotline 800-547-1649.

• Access to/ownership of weapons
• Strangulation or suffocation
• Hostage-taking, Abduction or Stalking
• Threats of suicide/homicide
• Abuse of drugs or alcohol
• Forced sex
• Children from a previous relationship residing in the home
• Threats to harm children
• obsessive/extreme jealousy
• Dominance/ownership/entitlement
• Escalation of severity and frequency of violence
• Recent separation
• Partner's unemployment
• Belief that partner may might kill her/him