1. (a) All abuser treatment programs shall establish and comply with written policies and procedures regarding abuser intake and assessment.

2. (b) Intake: A comprehensive intake and assessment shall be administered to all participants. The intake shall include:

   1. (1) family and social history;
   2. (2) medical health history;
   3. (3) relationship history;
   4. (4) history of violent, abusive, and controlling behavior;
   5. (5) history of past criminal behavior;
   6. (6) substance abuse history and screening;
   7. (7) assessment of participant's cognitive or social skills;
   8. (8) any other factors that might interfere with the participation in a group program; and
   9. (9) lethality assessment.

3. (c) Lethality Assessment: Because of the severity of injuries and the number of deaths caused by domestic violence, lethality assessment shall be ongoing and not limited to intake. A lethality assessment shall include the following indicators of increased lethality risk:

   1. (1) violence that increases in severity, frequency, and specificity;
   2. (2) a high degree of ownership that the abuser expresses regarding the victim;
   3. (3) violation of court orders and conditions of probation;
   4. (4) change in access to and relationship with victim;
   5. (5) accessibility to weapons, especially firearms;
   6. (6) life stressors (e.g., divorce, chronic illness, death of loved one, and unemployment);
   7. (7) frequent or severe intoxication from alcohol or other drugs;
   8. (8) threatened or attempted homicide or suicide;
   9. (9) stalking behavior;
   10. (10) history of holding victim captive;
   11. (11) pet abuse;
   12. (12) victim making plans to leave or has already left;
   13. (13) extreme isolation of the victim;
   14. (14) increased level of risk-taking by the abuser;
   15. (15) history of sexual assault;
   16. (16) acute mental health problems, including depression and anti-social behavior;
   17. (17) past use of weapons or objects;
   18. (18) strangulation behaviors; and
   19. (19) violence in the family of origin.
4. (d) Abuser treatment programs shall also provide initial and ongoing referral services for participants who have concurrent substance abuse, medical, or mental health problems.

History Note: Authority G.S. 50B-3(a)(12); 143B-394.16;
Eff. October 1, 2004;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 3, 2017