Annotation: This report profiles and presents assessments of MOSAIC-20, a commercially developed computer program designed to assess whether abusive intimate relationships (heterosexual relationships in which men are the aggressors) have the features associated with continued violence, escalation, and homicide.
Abstract: MOSAIC not only offers a diagnosis but makes risk assessments more thorough and consistent across situations, while documenting the process. This report reflects the opinions and experiences of approximately 30 individuals who use MOSAIC regularly or who are familiar with it, namely, law enforcement officers, researchers, prosecutors, a nurse practitioner, probation officers, victim advocates, and a representative of the company (Gavin de Becker, Inc.) that developed MOSAIC. All MOSAIC programs present a series of multiple-choice questions. The questions, which have three or four possible answers, represent behaviors or attitudes that range from those assumed to be positive or neutral to those assumed to be negative or dangerous. Based on the answers selected, MOSAIC generates a narrative report that lists each question, followed by an explanation of the chosen response. Following a general assessment, the report presents a numerical risk assessment from 1 to 10. Issues discussed in this report are the technical environment for MOSAIC, cost, training and technical support, the core of the system, the database, and the development process. MOSAIC's usefulness is discussed in the context of research on risk assessment, and one section of the paper describes two other domestic violence risk-assessment instruments for purposes of comparison: the Danger Assessment and the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide. The report concludes with an examination of the claims of MOSAIC's effectiveness in risk assessment to aid in enforcement and prosecution in cases of domestic violence, as well as contrary opinions. Other issues associated with its use are also discussed. Guidelines that apply to using any risk-assessment tool are listed.