title: The Lethality Screen: The Predictive Validity of an Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment for Use by First Responders.
abstract: This research is an examination of the predictive validity of the Lethality Screen, a tool used in conjunction with the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). This intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessment is an 11-item version of the Danger Assessment (DA) that was designed to be user-friendly for first responders and to maximize sensitivity. Participants ( N = 254) were recruited into the study at the scene of police-involved IPV incidents in one Southwestern state and subsequently participated in two structured telephone interviews approximately 7 months apart. These analyses provide evidence that the Lethality Screen has considerable sensitivity (92%-93%) and a high negative predictive value (93%-96%) for near lethal and severe violence. However, specificity was low (21%). The Lethality Screen also has good agreement with the DA and IPV survivors' perception of risk. The high sensitivity and low specificity should be considered carefully when determining whether the Lethality Screen is appropriate for particular areas of practice with IPV survivors and/or perpetrators.
authors.affiliation: 1 Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jill Theresa
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Messing
authors.affiliation: 2 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan Wilson
authors.affiliation: 4 Oklahoma State Health Department, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryll
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: 5 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patchell
keywords: Lethality Assessment Program; domestic violence; predictive validity; risk assessment