Spousal Assault Risk Assessment

What is the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment?

The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) is a structured tool used to evaluate risk factors associated with intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and family violence (Kropp & Hart, 2000). It is designed to help criminal justice professionals, victim advocates, and other practitioners assess the likelihood of spousal violence and develop effective risk management strategies.

The SARA now has 3 versions, with SARA Version 3 being the most recent. However, as this is copyrighted and unavailable for public use, our template is based on SARA Version 2. SARA-V2 includes 20 items that address general and specific risk factors, such as past assaults, violations of conditional release, substance abuse, and escalation of violence. It is particularly useful in criminal justice settings, where it supports decision-making related to protective orders, parole assessments, and interventions involving adult male offenders or others at risk of committing intimate partner homicide.

This tool is not limited to legal contexts. It also aids those working with victims of intimate partner violence or any person involved in situations of potential spousal assault. By identifying patterns of risk, the spousal assault form enables practitioners to take proactive steps to protect the family member or partner at risk.

The SARA enhances professional judgment in addressing domestic violence, promoting safety and accountability within criminal justice and advocacy contexts.

How to conduct the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment?

You can follow these steps to use SARA in your practice:

Step 1: Download the template

Begin by downloading the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment template from this guide. Click on "Use template" or "Download" to access the full PDF template.

Step 2: Collect background information

Allow the test taker to fill in the required background information before beginning the assessment. This includes details such as the individual's full name, date of birth, gender, and date of assessment. These data points are critical for properly contextualizing the risk factors in the assessment.

Step 3: Conduct the assessment

Instruct the test taker to review each of the 20 items listed in the template. For each factor, use the provided scale to rate its presence:

• Absent (0): The risk factor does not apply.
• Possibly or Partially Present (1): There is some indication of the risk factor.
• Present (2): The risk factor is clearly present.

Step 4: Interpret results

Once the assessment is complete, sum the scores for all 20 items to get the total score. The total will range from 0 to 40, which helps determine the individual’s risk level. Higher scores indicate a higher risk of spousal assault.

Scoring and interpretation

Each item in the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment is assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2, reflecting the severity or presence of the risk factor. Once all 20 items are scored, add the results to obtain a total score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of recidivism and more severe risk factors.

The score should be interpreted within the broader context of the individual’s history, current mental state, and external stressors. It is essential to consider other available assessments and professional judgment in formulating a comprehensive risk management plan.

Next steps after the assessment

Once the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment is completed, following up with appropriate next steps is crucial based on the findings. The results help determine the risk level associated with the person involved and provide insights into potential spousal violence or intimate partner violence.

Risk management and safety planning

If the spousal assault risk is high or very high, implement immediate risk management strategies. This may include safety planning for victims and family members, ensuring they have access to support services such as victim advocates and family violence specialists.

Referral to support services

Depending on the severity of the assessment, refer the individual to relevant services, including criminal justice professionals, victim rights advocates, or mental health professionals who specialize in intimate partner violence. For individuals identified as high-risk, ensure that any criminal justice settings are informed, as they may be involved in monitoring or intervention.

Further risk assessment

For individuals with moderate or high risk, consider conducting further assessments to better understand the likelihood of future assault. Assess the family-related assault history and risk factors that might influence the severity of future spousal assault or intimate partner homicide.

Ongoing monitoring

Continue to monitor the person to assess any changes in their behavior or external circumstances that might affect the risk of spousal assault. Implement other measures, such as no-contact orders or supervised visitation if children or other family members are involved.

These steps ensure a thorough and holistic approach to managing the risk and protecting potential victims from harm.

Reference

Kropp, P. R., & Hart, S. D. (2000). The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) guide: Reliability and validity in adult male offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 24(1), 101-118. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005430904495

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