The Development of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER): A Tool for Criminal Justice Professionals

1. Serious Physical/Sexual Violence

• Actual or attempted physical assault, including sexual assault and use of weapons
• "Serious" includes such things as life threatening violence and violence resulting
  in injuries that require medical attention, coded as "Y"
• Less serious violence coded as "P"

Currently
(O, N, P, Y)  

In the Past
(O, N, P, Y)

2. Serious Violent Threats, Ideation, or Intent

• Homicidal or aggressive thoughts, urges, plans, or behavior
• "Serious" includes such things as threats of injury or death and threats with weapons,
  stalking, persistent and intrusive aggressive thoughts, and explicit plans, coded as "Y"
• Less serious threats, ideation, or intent coded as "P"

3. Escalation of Physical/Sexual Violence or Threats/Ideation/Intent

Physical/sexual violence or threats/ideation/intent have increased in frequency or severity over time

4. Violations of Civil or Criminal Court Orders

• Includes such things as conditions of restraining orders, parole, probation,
  and bail imposed because of spousal assault or to prevent spousal assault
• Arrest(s) pertaining to current or previous offense(s) coded as "Y"
• Violation(s) not resulting in arrest(s) coded as "P"

5. Negative Attitudes About Spousal Assault

• Expresses socio-political, religious, cultural, sub-cultural, or personal beliefs and
  values that encourage, excuse, justify, or minimize abusive, controlling, and violent behavior
• Includes sexual jealousy and possessiveness
• Includes minimization/denial of many or all past acts of violence; minimization/denial of
  personal responsibility for many or all past acts (e.g., blames the victim or others); or
  minimization/denial of serious consequences of many or all past acts
  (e.g., says the victim did not suffer physical injuries)

6. Other Serious Criminality

• Sentenced for or suspected of other criminality NOT related to spousal assault
• Includes actual or attempted physical violence or sexual assault, including use of weapons,
  against family members (other than intimate partners), acquaintances, and strangers
• Includes property offenses, public disorder, alcohol/drug offenses, and violations of
  conditional release (e.g., parole, probation, bail, etc.)
• Less serious criminality coded as "P"

7. Relationship Problems

• Separation from partner or extreme conflict regarding relationships status
• Code regardless of whether the conflict results from the index offense

8. Employment and/or Financial Problems

Chronic unemployment, unstable work pattern, or significant financial difficulties

9. Substance Abuse

Serious problems with the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, or prescription drugs
that leads to impairment in social functioning (e.g., health, relationships, work, or legal problems)

10. Mental Disorder

• Irrational (e.g., strange, bizarrre) beliefs or perceptions
• Serious disturbance of mood
• Long-standing problems with anger, impulsivity, or instability
• Suicidal threats, ideation, or intent

Definite

Coded from current or past mental health evaluation

Provisional

Refer for confirmation by mental health evaluation