RateYourRisk.org

Evaluate Risks in Your Life

©1995 Ken Pence
Crime exists. Your vulnerability cannot be ignored. Threat assessment is a means for you to calmly evaluate your risks. The following tests will let you realistically determine your chances. No one but the person looking over your shoulder will have access to any information you temporarily use to determine your risks. Close the door when you take the rape, robbery, stabbed, shot, beaten test so you give yourself a fair assessment. These tests give you a "ballpark estimates" on your risk and are meant to entertain while educating

Take this test alone so your answers will be unbiased (and you can answer honestly -- also try wrong answers to see the changes). Tests are securely delivered.

Risk Tests

Click on a test tab below to start

Risk of Serious Assault Test

Risk of Murder Test

Risk of Burglary Test

Educator Assault Intervention Test

• The following test lets you rate your actual risk of being Assaulted on the Street. This test uses known risk factors taken from executive security courses, police detectives and security consultants. This test gives you an easy (and free) way to determine what lifestyle actions, habits or associations will raise or lower your risks.

  Some of the questions may seem pretty weird but they are all factors that impact aggravated assault statistics.

  Instructions: Read the question. Click on the ones that you would answer yes and leave the answer boxes blank when you would answer no or the question doesn't apply.

  Okay. Here we go...answer as many as you can

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  How much do you travel outside of the city where you live in one year?

  You travel under 1,000 miles (1,600Km) total. You travel about 1,000 to 5,000 miles in U.S. You travel in the U.S. more than 5,000 miles. You travel worldwide.

  When you fly, do you...

  fly by commercial US carrier ...not an independent? regularly fly using foreign owned carriers? travel (fly, drive, etc.) with more than one suitcase and one carry-on type bag - checked baggage?

  Security Techniques

  You go to conventions or seminars in other cities even occasionally. You wear a convention badge while out of the meeting room itself on such a trip. You regularly wear your last name visible when you work. You ( or other family members ) open the door on your home for visitors without positive identification. You ever open your door to strangers when you are unarmed. You only open a door when armed. Your mailbox doesn't lock. You have a solid door without a 'peephole' or way to view who is outside. You have a lock on your bedroom door.

  How much cash do you carry?

  You rarely carry any cash. You carry $20 to $50. You carry $50 to $500. You carry over $500. You separate the money you need from other large denomination bills.

  How many credit cards do you carry?

  How many major oil credit cards do you carry? 0 or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 & up How many major credit cards do you carry (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, etc.)? 0 - 1 2 3 4 5 & up You carry one or more ATM cards. You carry secret code numbers to cards written down (even though you might hide them). You ever use outside ATM after dark. (Leave this blank if the ATM is at a police sub-station).

  Sundry Habits

  How many acts of adultery have you committed (in the last two years).
  Count each meeting for this marriage. 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up You are unmarried and you have dated a married person in the last year.
  How many dates with this married person? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 & up You are unmarried and you steadily cohabit with one person but you have dated on the sly in the last year.
  Indicate your total the number of partners. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 & up You go to nightclubs and take home partners or go somewhere with them.

  If so, are you: male, or female?

  You ever use prostitutes. You ever hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers. You walk in public more than five times per month. You generally walk at night with one or more companions. Do you ever use cocaine, crack, uppers, downers or narcotics away from home on any occasion? Do you ever get drunk in public to the point where your speech is even slightly slurred or your balance is affected?

  On The Street:

  You visibly wear lots of gold chains when in public. You wear rings, bracelets, or other jewelry worth over $2,000. while in public. You wear an overcoat or full length rain suit over a suit jacket in public. You wear a natural fur in public. Do you carry an umbrella or cane without necessity? Do you walk with young children (age 8 or under) or a dog?

  Outings:

  Do you drive with any car door unlocked You have a remote starting device on your car You regularly commute by bus or subway You cannot change a car tire yourself -- and you drive? You drive (more than once a month) with 1/8 tank of gas or less (or under 5 miles charge) You carry a tire inflator/puncture sealant screw-on cannister in your car You frequent the same gas station You work at a gas station, bar, fast food restaurant, or drive-in market You are going camping or partying in a boat in the next year There is no controlled access in and out of your work

  Other factors:

  You are a black male between the ages of 14 and 26 You are over sixty (60) years old You can run over three hundred meters (300 M) without stopping to walk You are a first (1st) degree black belt or higher in any martial art (Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, etc.) You speak quietly when you talk You are considered calm but assertive when you talk You are afraid of guns and can't stand to touch one You are commissioned or otherwise legally carry a handgun You always carry a handgun and you aren't commissioned or registered You know others illegally carry firearms where you drink or gamble

• The following test lets you rate your actual risk of being murdered. This test uses known risk factors taken from executive security courses, police detectives, crime stats and security consultants.

  Other Rate Your Risk tests are more accurate and give you an easy way to determine what life style actions, habits or associations will raise or lower your risks. Some of the questions may seem odd but these factors impact murder statistics.

  Read each question. Click on the ones that you would answer yes and leave the answer boxes blank when you would answer no or if the question doesn't apply.

  Take it to see if there are safety tips you haven't considered...don't be overly concerned about scores. None of these tests are accurate for countries outside the United States (though they can be interesting). Most people find they have little risk but may find tips to reduce even those risks. These tests are a means to evaluate the risks in your lifestyle without a lecture. Don't panic if you have a high score... evaluate those factors that increase or decrease your risk.

  What is your yearly net-takehome salary?

  $35,000 per year or less $35,001 to $99,000 per year $99,001 to $200,000 per year If you have assets convertible to cash in a week that exceed $1,000,000

  What is your job or position?

  Fast Food or corner market owner or employee Liquor store owner or employee Federal foreign official (civilian or military) Any business where you close up late at night Corporate executive

  If foreign assignment in unstable country, check here.

  Doctor (from general practitioner to vet) Employee in bank, pharmacy, etc. where you have access to money, drugs, nuclear material, or any other strategic material or sensitive documents Law enforcement positions Upper management in any company or bureau that you consider high stress None of the above

  What is the population of the closest city where you work or live?

  Less than 2,500 people 2,501 to 10,000 10,001 to 50,000 50,001 to 150,000 More than 150,000 people

  How much public exposure do you get?

  How many times have you appeared on television in the last year? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up How many times was there a media (blog, news, or magazine article about you in the last three years (society page, etc.)? articles without photographs? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up articles with photographs? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up How many public speaking engagements have you had in the last year? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up

  Family status:

  Are you married? How many times have you been separated or divorced in the past? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many children do you have from age 0 to 5? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many children do you have over 16? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many times have your parents been separated or divorced in the past? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many brothers and sisters do you have 16 and younger? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many brothers and sisters do you have older than 16? 0 1 2 3 4 & up

  Recreational drugs:

  How many alcoholic drinks do you have in a bar or public place on an average weekend? 0 1-2 3 4 5 6 & up How many alcoholic drinks do you have at a social gathering on an average weekend? 0 1-2 3 4 5 6 & up Do you use marijuana away from home or at a social gathering on any occasion? Do you use marijuana at home (not a social gathering)? Do you EVER use cocaine, crack, uppers, downers or narcotics away from home on any occasion? Do you ever use these drugs at home on any occasion (non-prescription use)?

  Personal habits:

  Do you regularly jog? Is it the same route at the same time each day? Do you generally drive the same route to work each day? Do you purposely vary your routes to work each day? Do you ever use a chauffeur? Do you have a parking spot with your name or title on it? At work, do you park in an unfenced or unsupervised lot or do you park more than a block from work? Do you drive a car worth more than $60,000 (Tesla, Lexus, Mercedes, BMW)? Do you keep more than $2000 in cash in your home? Do you do anything on a regular basis at the same time each week (dance, cards, fishing, golf, tennis, gym, etc.)? Do you regularly practice martial arts? Do you use any police risk reduction techniques not previously listed?

  Association factors:

  Do you know any gang members? Are you friends with, associated with (hang out) or related (family) to any gang member? Are you a gang member?

  What is the law enforcement response time to your home?

  Would two local police arrive in 15 minutes or less in an emergency? Would two local police take 30 minutes to arrive? Would it take more than 30 minutes for two police to arrive in an emergency? Would it take less than 30 minutes for a Federal Police agent to arrive in an emergency? Would it take one hour for a Federal Police agent to arrive in an emergency? Would it take more than one hour for a Federal Police agent to arrive in an emergency? Does your local police department have a Hostage Negotiation Team? Does your local police department have a SWAT Team?

  Other factors:

  Are you a black male between the ages of 14 and 26? Afro-American males in this age range have a particularly high murder rate if associated with other high risk behavior. Do you drive a company or corporate vehicle with the name on the side? Were you responsible for firing an employee in the last two years? Do you purposely vary family and work routines (not just occasionally or by chance)? Do you have communications in your car and house (OnStar, LOJAC)? Do you always have cell phone communications in your home (w/extra battry)? Do you screen and instruct babysitters and servants? Do you have a local alarm on your house? Do you have a dedicated phone line alarm on your house? No alarm? Are your children released from school only with prior arrangements? Have you taken an 8 hour (or more) executive security or self defense course in the last three years? Do your family members or employees use code words in times of distress? How many unloaded firearms are in your home and car? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up How many loaded firearms are in your home and car? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up Are all of your family members trained and do you have a loaded firearm within 15 feet of your person? Is the ambulance response time to your home less than fifteen minutes in an emergency? Is the ambulance response time to your home more than fifteen minutes in an emergency? Is the fire department response time to your home less than fifteen minutes? Is the fire department response time to your home more than fifteen minutes?

• The following test lets you rate your actual risk of being burglarized(i.e. - Someone breaking into your home or apartment to steal something).

  This test uses known risk factors taken from executive security courses, police detectives, crime stats and security consultants. Other Rate Your Risk tests are more accurate and give you an easy way to determine what life style actions, habits or associations will raise or lower your risks.

  Some of the questions may seem odd but these factors impact burglary statistics.

  Read each question. Click on the ones that you would answer yes and leave the answer boxes blank when you would answer no or if the question doesn't apply.

  Take it to see if there are safety tips you haven't considered...don't be overly concerned about scores. None of these tests are accurate for countries outside the United States (though they can be interesting). Most people find they have little risk but may find tips to reduce even those risks. These tests are a means to evaluate the risks in your lifestyle without a lecture. Don't panic if you have a high score... evaluate those factors that increase or decrease your risk.

  Outside doors and windows of your home:

  How many double hung windows (without keyed locks or pins) are reachable from ground level? 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up How many doors have glass within two feet of the lock? (Do not count doors with double cylinder locks) 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up Do you have a sliding glass door without an auxillary locking device? Does the sliding glass door have no screws in the upper track to prevent lifting the door out of the track? Do you have French (glass patio) doors? Do you have a wooden door with only a lock in the doorknob? Do you have a chainlock with screws smaller than 1.5 inches? Do you have the same locks that were in your house before you moved in? Are all of your outside doors steel-insulated with deadbolts or jimmy-resistant deadlocks?

  Details about your home:

  Do your power lines enter your house within reach of the ground? Are your power and phone lines buried? Do you have any exterior air conditioners/heat pumps that are turned off during hot weather when you are away for an extended period? Do you have an intercom near outside doors? Is your phone number in the phone book? Do you have an unlisted phone number?

  Alarms:

  I have a burglar alarm on my house or I have no alarm on my residence. Does your alarm have a 30-watt siren or louder? Does your home have a perimeter alarm with an interior alert? Do you have an alarm that lets you know when someone is in your driveway? Is your driveway alarm a magnetic inductance alarm or other unseen sensor? Does your local alarm have a 10 hour or more backup battery? Do you have a noisy or mean dog that hates strangers?

  Security Habits:

  Are your children untrained in answering the phone? Do you always pick up the phone and pause to listen for background noise before saying, "Hello"? Do you have caller ID on your phone? Do you have call trace on your phone? Do you regularly go to church? Do you ever leave exterior doors unlocked? Do you hide an extra key outside? Do you know the names of the people in all adjacent homes an apartments?

  Visitors:

  How many times per month do you have a babysitter in your home? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many different part-time cleaning or other servants do you have in your home in a year? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many full-time servants do you have in your home? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many workers have been in your home in the last year to do repairs or remodeling? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many teenage non-family members have visited or even stepped into your home in the last year? 0 1 2 3 4 & up

  Valuables:

  Do you or your spouse have a large coin, stamp, antique, or other valuable collection? Do you have an 8 piece or more silver service (solid, not plated)? How many small flatscreens do you have? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many Blu-Ray players do you own? 0 1 2 3 4 & up How many current video games do you own? 0 1-3 4-7 8-11 12 & up How many current laptops or tablets do you leave at home? 0 1 2 3 4 & up Do you have a current video game system (PlayStation, X-box, Wii, etc)? Do you have liquor bottles that are visible to the outside?

  Publicity:

  Has any newspaper/magazine/blog article pictured the interior of your home? Does any social media Facebook, Twitter, etc) or newspaper/magazine article tell of an upcoming trip you will take? Does any social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) or newspaper/magazine article tell of any future event, such as an awards ceremony, funeral, sports contest, etc. where you will attend? Do you or your spouse have your name and home address printed in a company directory, church directory or other publication? Do you have your name on your mailbox?

  More Security Habits:

  I use no voice mail? Does your voicemail say you are out? Does your voicemail unemotionally ask for messages? Do you get two or more hangup calls per week? Do you have call blocking on your phone service? Do you regularly use an unlighted entrance? Do you ever leave your house or apartment empty for an eight hour period more than once a week? Have you answered a detailed telephone survey or phone credit application in the last year? Are you a member of a neighborhood watch program? Do you have your state's abbreviation and owner applied number (OAN) on all your valuables - best with six digits and state ID first?

  Other Factors:

  Do you have your name or address on your keyring? Do you leave house keys on your key ring when attendants park your car? Do you ever leave notes to workmen? Have you or your family members lost entrance keys in the last year? Do you live in a corner house or a corner ground floor apartment? Do you use lights on timers? Do you leave a radio on during daily absences (audible on the outside of your house)? Do you leave mail in your car with the address visible?

  Site Factors:

  Do you live 1000 meters or more from your nearest neighbor? Do you live out of view of the road? Do you park outside your home or apartment (not in a garage)? If you have a remote garage door opener to an attached garage, does the garage door lock on closing? Do you live in or within a mile of what is considered a high crime area? Do you live in what is considered a low crime area? Have any of your neighbors been burglarized in the last six months?

• This risk assessment is designed to give guidance and insight to educators, adults and concerned students regarding individuals in school who may have tendencies to assault others (get into fights or strike others). Individuals already involved with non-sexual assaults in the criminal justice system or referred for counseling in non-weapon assaults had many similar characteristics.

  This test uses these combinations of significant risk factors and repetitive behaviors to produce intervention strategies wherever there are matching behaviors in the assessment. This test does not predict behavior (assault) but when a combination of behaviors and characteristics match the behaviors and characteristics of individuals who have already been incarcerated for assault or referred for counseling for assault -- the test response will make recommendations to lower specific risk factors. There may also be links showing research links to aid you further.

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  This test is NOT designed to replace a trained school or mental health counselor. Responses to the test depend on the quality and completeness of the input. Remember - inaccurate or incomplete information input will result in inaccurate output.

  The test responses may give suggestions for intervention or mitigation of problems. Students (individuals) who score high share most of the behaviors and risk factors of students who have ALREADY gotten into fights or hit other people (assault and battery or aggravated assault).

  This test uses warning indicators or factors from others who have already assaulted other students, teachers or peers. Please use any recommendations provided by the test as a proactive tool to provide support and services to students. Some individuals may rise above high risk factors and never threaten or assault another individual.

  The following Assault Risk Factors Assessment was developed through a School Based Partnership Grant. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, School Security, Metropolitan Juvenile Courts and Oasis Center, Inc. designed this test with funding and in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice - COPS Office.

  The Metropolitan Police Department, Metropolitan Public Schools, Metropolitan Juvenile Court, National Institute of Justice, and the Oasis Center Incorporated are not responsible for the actions of any individuals taking this test. Use this tool as a triage method for students needing help -- and help those who may be marginally at risk. This assessment only uses risk factors (behaviors/characteristics) for non-weapon, non-sexual assaults and is normalized for Nashville, Davidson County at this time.

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  Only use this tool as an aid to reduce risk factors for assaults and find resources to intervene with students who have a significant number of risk factors similar to others who have already committed simple or aggravated assault.

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  Take the Assault Intervention - Risk Reduction Assessment and answer as many questions as possible.

  You will be trying to find out if the person you are assessing has a pattern of risk factors similar to others who have ALREADY assaulted other people. This assessment will suggest what constitutes a risk factor and ways to reduce these risk factors.

  Be thorough and try to be as honest as possible. Try to avoid bias in your test or the results will not be helpful. Many people will find that they do not have enough facts to complete an evaluation. Don't make snap judgments about this youth as you may only see how they are responding to your perception of them.

  Have you spent more than five minutes with them? Look at the alternatives and helpful information in the test response. This test was developed on School Based Partnership Grant Methodology 98SBWX0127.

  Let's take the test.

  Who are you? (The person trying to assess someone else)

  Teacher assessing one of my students Teacher assessing another student Administrator assessing a student Parent assessing their own child Concerned adult assessing a student Student assessing another student Students assessing themselves Criminal Justice personnel assessing a youth or student

  The following parts of the test ask questions about the student being assessed. If you don't know an answer...leave it blank or click, don't know as indicated. Many questions require multi-part answers (Check all that apply). The more complete the test -- the more accurate the response.

  Gender of the student?

  Male Female

  Economic factors: Estimated family income per year

  Under federal poverty level Low standard of living compared to their peers Low to moderate family income Moderate income or better Don't know income information

  About the student?

  What approximate age is the student? 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Attends Public School Attends Private School At Home Schooling

  Dress Code:

  Enforced at school No dress code Uniforms required Don't know

  Student Teacher Ratio

  Ratio of students to teachers is above state guidelines (classrooms are crowded) Ratio of students to teachers is within the acceptable range of state guidelines (classrooms meet minimum staffing levels) Ratio of students to teachers is under the maximum (excellent teacher-student ratio -- classrooms are not crowded) Don't know about teacher student ratios

  Other School Factors: (Check all that apply)

  Student is in after-school program No extended care for this student Full-time School Resource Officers present (SROs). Part-time School Resource Officers present (SROs). No School Resource Officers present (SROs).

  Household dynamics: (Check all that apply)

  No parental figure - (lives with relatives or others) Little supervision at home (or weak supervision) Divorced family Blended family (student lives with children from other marriages) Youth wants to live with other parent Student is homeless Family is homeless Recent custody change Forced to leave previous residence

  School Education Issues: (Check all that apply)

  Student has below average grades Student can't read (or reads very poorly) Reads below their grade level Student has a learning disability. How severe is it? 1 to 5 with 1 as slight impairment. 0 1 2 3 4 5 & up Truancy? How many unexcused absences in one semester? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 & up

  Psychological Issues: (Check all that apply)

  Student acts depressed? Scale of 0 (not) to 5 (severely depressed) 0 1 2 3 4 5 Student has demonstrated acts of extreme rage for seemingly minor issues? How many times? 0 1 2 3 4 5 Student has intentionally caused over $100 damage to property...particularly smashing and throwing property. How many times? 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reputation for promiscuity Abandonment (Child abandoned by parents) Emotional abuse from family members Emotional abuse from non-family members Sex abuse from family member Sex abuse from non-family member Physical abuse from family member Physical abuse from non-family member Domestic violence in boyfriend-girlfriend relationship Domestic violence by former or current spouse of student Witness of regular domestic abuse at home Aquaintance rape as victim Aquaintance rape as perpetrator Student has witnessed violent crime other than domestic violence at home (has seen people raped, robbed, or beaten).
  Select the number of times this may have occurred 0 1 2 3 4 & up

  Student plays violent (M rated) games
  Select the frequency this person plays these games Almost never Occasionally Several times week Frequently Constantly

  Substance Abuse: (Check all that apply)

  Does this person drink any alcoholic beverages in an average week? Does this person use any tobacco products in an average week? Do they use marijuana? (Other than experimentation - regularly when available) Do they EVER use cocaine, crack, or other non-prescription drugs? Do they ever abuse prescription drugs on any occasion (non-prescription use)? Do they EVER use glue, paint, gasoline, correction fluid or other chemicals to get high ?

  Social Skills - Getting along with others: (Check all that apply)

  No interaction with peers (Student has withrawn from social activities and acts "friendless") Problems with peers Excellent social skills Do they know any gang members? Are their (his/her) friends, associated with (hang out) or related (family) to any gang member? Are they a gang member?

  Relationship to authority: (Check all that apply)

  Juvenile Citations or Arrests - How many encounters with Justice System? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 & up Don't know about arrests In-School Detentions? - How many days of suspension? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 & up Don't know about detentions

  After School Activities or Special Programs: (Check all that apply)

  Successfully completed D.A.R.E. Program Successfully completed Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program Member of Band/Chorus/Drama/Arts Member of Service Clubs (Community Services, FFA, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Scouts, Explorers, Church Groups) Athletics (Football, martial arts, basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, track, swimming, etc) Regularly employed Is the student involved in any hobbies or non-criminal after-school activities that are not listed above? How many hours per week? 0 1 to 2 hrs 3 to 4 hrs 5 to 8 9 & or more

  This project was supported by grant #98SBWX0127 awarded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.