Dominant aggressor is defined as which of the following?

• A. The person who initiates contact most recently
• B. The person who has the most prior offenses
• C. The person who poses the most serious ongoing threat in a family violence crime
• D. The person with the loudest voice in the dispute

Answer: (C)

The dominant aggressor is the person who poses the most serious ongoing threat in a family violence crime. In practice, investigators look at the overall situation and determine who presents the greatest risk to safety now and in the future, using evidence of ongoing coercive behavior, threats, injuries, and the pattern of abuse. This emphasis on ongoing threat helps protect victims and focuses on danger rather than just who started the incident or who has more past offenses. So, identifying the person whose conduct shows the most serious continuing danger is the key idea here.