Victim Services
Victim Services provides assistance and support for victims of crime.
Fall/Winter 2009: Training for Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA)
Free one-day training sessions are available. ODARA is a risk-assessment tool that helps service providers with safety planning for victims of family violence.
ODARA calculates how the man’s risk compares with that of other known wife assaulters. It is based on 13 items including:
- Domestic and non-domestic criminal history
- Threats and confinement during index incident
- Children in the relationship
- Substance abuse
- Barriers to victim support
Each item is scored 0 or 1 and the total score is simply the sum of the 13 items.
This tool can be used for:
- Cases of wife assault where the perpetrator is male and the victim is female; and
- The victim and perpetrator are living together or have lived together in the past.
Who can use the ODARA?
- Shelter workers
- Victim services workers
- RCMP officers
- Crown Attorney’s
- Health Care Professionals
- Social workers
When can the ODARA be used?
- Bail Hearings
- Court Process
- Safety planning with victims
What are the benefits of using the ODARA?
- The ODARA is more valid than other risk assessment tools.
- The ODARA gives the most accurate tool currently available in calculating recidivism.
For more information, please contact:
Coordinator, NWT Victim Services
Phone: 867-920-6244
Fax: 867-873-0199
e-mail: clarinda_spijkerman@gov.nt.ca
This page last updated: November 2009
