What percentage range of intimate partner homicide victims were abused prior to the event?

• A. 40% to 50%
• B. 70% to 80%
• C. 60% to 70%
• D. 20% to 30%

Answer: (B)

Recognizing prior abuse as a major risk factor in intimate partner homicide: research consistently shows that a large majority of victims have experienced some form of abuse before the fatal event. About seven to eight in ten victims have a history of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by the partner. That prevalence is why the range of seventy to eighty percent is the best choice; it reflects the well-established pattern that prior abuse signals heightened danger and potential escalation to homicide. The other ranges understate how often abuse has occurred, which could lead to underestimating risk and missing crucial protective measures. In practice, treat a history of abuse as a critical red flag when assessing risk in domestic violence situations, even if the abuse was non-fatal previously.