Today the Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a Family Court issuance of a Domestic Violence Order based upon the accused’s behavior falling under 9 of 12 “lethality factors.”  What are those lethality factors?
The Batterer’s history/behavior:

• Police involvement for domestic violence within the year
• An increase in the frequency or severity of violence
• Stalking
• The abuser threatens of homicide or suicide
• The abuser speaks of fantasies of suicide or homicide
• The abuser has used weapons in prior incidents
• The abuser has caused life-threatening injuries in prior incidents
• The abuser threatens to use weapons on victim
• The abuser threatens to or actually harming or killing pets
• The abuser raping the victim
• The abuser harming the victim during pregnancy
• The abuser abused as a child
• The abuser destroys property (especially that of the victim)
• The abuser abuses drugs or Alcohol
• The abuser obsesses over the victim (“If I can’t have you no one will.”)
• Depression or other mental illness
• The abuser witnessed domestic violence between the abuser’s parents
• The abuser recently purchased a weapon

The Victim’s behavior as it relates to the abuser:

• Victim initiates an unwanted separation or divorce
• Victim initiates a change in custody arrangements
• Victime threatens suicide
• Victim enters a new relationship