Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System Data Dashboards: Technical Notes

On this page you will find definitions of terms used in the Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System data dashboards.

Definitions

Suicide: A suicide is a death resulting from the intentional use of force against oneself. A preponderance of evidence should indicate that the use of force was intentional.
Homicide: Homicide is defined as a death resulting from the intentional use of force or power, threatened or actual, against another person, group, or community. A preponderance of evidence must indicate that the use of force was intentional.
Legal intervention: Legal intervention death is defined as a death in which the decedent was killed by or died as a result of a law enforcement officer or other peace officer (persons with specified legal authority to use deadly force), including military law enforcement, acting in the line of duty. The term legal intervention is a classification from ICD-10 codes and does not denote the lawfulness or legality of the circumstances surrounding the death
Undetermined manner of death: Undetermined death is a death resulting from the use of force or power against oneself or another person for which the evidence indicating one manner of death is no more compelling than the evidence indicating another manner of death, according to the judgment of death investigators.
Unintentional firearm injury death: Unintentional firearm death is defined as a death resulting from a penetrating injury or gunshot wound from a weapon that uses a powder charge to fire a projectile when there was a preponderance of evidence that the shooting was not intentionally directed at the victim.

Crude rates

The rates are calculated by dividing the number of resident deaths per year by the population. It is usually expressed as the number per 100,000 residents. For example, the overall suicide rate for Wisconsin is based on the following calculation: [number of suicide deaths ÷ total Wisconsin population]*100,000. If a rate is based on a sub-population, the calculation might look like this: [number of suicide deaths among males aged 25 to 34 ÷ total Wisconsin population of males aged 25 to 34]*100,000.

When making comparisons between populations, it is recommended to select rate instead of count as this accounts for differences in population size and age composition.

If a rate is based on a count of less than 20, it is considered unstable and an asterisk (*) will appear instead of a rate. Additionally, if the count for a specific age or racial category is less than five, an asterisk will appear instead of a number.

Population estimates are based on data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and are updated annually.

Age-adjusted rates

Age-adjusted rates are recommended when making comparisons between two different time periods (for example, 2018 rates compared to 2020). Age-adjustment accounts for differences in age composition across populations and time. The Standard U.S. Population for Year 2000 for age-adjustment is used in this dashboard.

Race and ethnicity

Race and ethnicity data are collected and reported on death records. This information is recorded by a funeral director or person serving in that role. Wisconsin law requires this information be obtained from next of kin or best qualified person or source available. Additionally, race and ethnicity are reported separately. This means that race information includes both Hispanic, Latino, Latina, and non-Hispanic ethnicity. Alternatively, classification as Hispanic, Latino, Latina includes all races, as does non-Hispanic.

Veteran status

Veteran status is collected and reported on death records. This information is recorded by a funeral director or person serving in that role. Wisconsin law requires this information be obtained from next of kin or best qualified person or source available.

Location

The location captures the type of place at which the fatal injury occurred. If the decedent was injured in various locations, the first injury location is recorded. Designations of specific buildings (such as “house, apartment, …” or “Bar, nightclub”) include both the building itself and the area directly outside, such as the driveway, porch, front walk, or garage. Incidents that occur on public sidewalks are coded as “Street,” with the exception of those occurring on sidewalks that are the private property of an adjacent building. Those incident locations are coded as the adjacent building.

At the top of the dashboards, you can filter by any of the location options, but only the top five locations are displayed in the location bar graphs.

The location types are as follows:

House, apartment: This includes a house, apartment, rooming house, including driveway, porch, yard, or garage.
Street or road, sidewalk, alley
Highway, freeway
Motor vehicle: This classification is regardless of where the motor vehicle is located (excluding school bus, and public transportation). This also includes motor homes.
Bar, nightclub
Service station: This refers to a gas station.
Bank, credit union, ATM location
Liquor store
Other commercial establishment (such as a grocery store, restaurants, retail outlet, or laundromat)
- The term commercial establishment: (A) means an establishment used for commercial purposes, such as a bar, restaurant, private office, fitness club, oil rig, retail store, bank or other financial institution, supermarket, automobile or boat dealership, or any other establishment with a common business area; and (B) does not include a multi-unit permanent or temporary dwelling where private home viewing occurs, such as a hotel, dormitory, hospital, apartment, condominium, or prison.
Industrial or construction areas (such as a factory or warehouse)
Office building
Parking lot or public parking garage (such as a public parking lot in a downtown area, or a parking lot shared by four or more households)
Abandoned house, building, or warehouse
Sports or athletic area (such as a stadium, baseball field, gymnasium, or recreation center)
School bus
Child care center, daycare, preschool
Elementary school, middle school (for example, K-8) including school dormitory or residential school
High school, including school dormitory or residential school
College or university, including dormitory, fraternity or sorority
Unspecified school
Public transportation or station (such as a bus, train, plane, airport, depot, or taxi)
Synagogue, church, temple, mosque, shrine, tabernacle, cathedral
Hospital or medical facility
Supervised residential facility (such as a shelter, halfway house, or group home)
Farm
Jail, prison, detention facility
Park, playground, public use area
Natural area (such as a field, river, beaches, or woods)
Hotel or motel
Railroad tracks (other than on public transportation or within station)
Bridge
Cemetery, graveyard, or other burial ground
Other: The fatal incident location does not fall into any of the current location categories.
Unknown: The location of the fatal incident is unknown.

Methods

The method is the type of weapon or means that was used to inflict the fatal injury. Objects (such as knives), actions (such as jumping from a height), hostile environments (such as fire or water), and even the lack of action (such as neglect of a child or disabled person) are all weapons in WVDRS. When multiple weapons are involved, the weapon that exerted the most force to the body or deprived it of essentials such as oxygen is the first (or primary) weapon entered. For the purposes of this dashboard, only the primary weapon is displayed. At the top of the dashboards, you can filter by any of the method options, but only the top five methods are displayed in the methods bar graphs.

The method options are as follows:

Firearm
Non-powder gun
Sharp instrument: This refers not only to knives but also to razors, machetes, or pointed instruments (such as a chisel, broken glass, or bow and arrow).
Blunt instrument: This refers to clubs, bats, rocks, etc. or a general statement of “blunt force trauma".
Poisoning
Hanging, strangulation, suffocation: Deaths involving asphyxiant (non-toxic) gases should be coded as suffocation.
Personal weapons: This includes fists, feet, and hands in actions such as punching, kicking, or hitting.
Fall: This covers both being pushed (homicide) or jumping (suicide) at a higher than standing height.
Explosive
Drowning
Fire or burns: This refers to fires that cause deaths by burns or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shaking (such as shaken baby syndrome)
Motor vehicle, including buses, motorcycles
Other transport vehicle (such as trains, planes, boats)
Intentional neglect (such as starving a baby or oneself)
Biological weapons
Other (such as taser, electrocution, nail gun, exposure to environment or weather): The weapon does not fall into any of the current weapon options.
Unknown: The weapon that caused the fatality is unknown.

Firearm type

Firearm type is only completed when the manner or weapon type is “Firearm.” There are over 20 firearm type options. These options were combined into five categories for the dashboard.

The firearm type categories are as follows:

Handgun: handgun, unknown type, handgun, pistol- bolt action, handgun, pistol- derringer, handgun, pistol- single shot, handgun, pistol- semi-automatic, handgun, revolver
Rifle: rifle, unknown type, rifle, automatic, rifle, bolt action, rifle, lever action, rifle, pump action, rifle, semi-automatic, rifle, single shot
Shotgun: shotgun, unknown type, shotgun, automatic, shotgun, bolt action, shotgun, double barrel (over or under, side by side), shotgun, pump action, shotgun, semi-automatic, shotgun, single shot
Other: submachine gun, rifle-shotgun combination, other (such as a handmade gun)
Unknown: long gun, unknown type, unknown firearm type

Decedent background and related circumstances

WVDRS uses a multisource approach (that is, death records, coroner or medical examiner reports, law enforcement records, and toxicology data) for analysis of violent deaths. Using these sources, abstractors collect data on the incident, victim(s), suspect(s), and weapon(s) used as well as the circumstances contributing to the death. Circumstance data is obtained from non-decedents, typically family members or close friends. However, others may be interviewed by the coroner, medical examiner, or law enforcement if this is determined pertinent.

Circumstances data is based on the information provided in a report including the coroner or medical examiner report, or law enforcement report. It is reliant on DHS receiving the requested records from these partners and the information they include in the report. There may be more than one circumstance that contributed to the death. If there is no circumstance information in the reports, it does not necessarily mean that no circumstances were present; it could mean that they were not known or not reported. Due to this method of collection by coroners or medical examiners and law enforcement, circumstance data may be underreported.

Since the WVDRS program began in 2004, it has recorded circumstances data each year for 90% or more of cases, on average. Due to issues related to the pandemic, these percentages dropped in 2020 (62%) and 2021 (69%). The percentage was back up to 89% in 2022. Therefore, the circumstances data in 2020 and 2021 should be considered more of an undercount than other years.

There are many different circumstance options in WVDRS, but only the top 10 are displayed in the circumstances bar graphs at the bottom of the dashboards.

Definitions of the circumstance variables are as follows:

Abuse or neglect: The deceased experienced abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) or neglect (physical, including medical or dental, emotional, or educational neglect; or exposure to violent environments; or inadequate supervision) by a caregiver that resulted in death. This identifies homicides where the decedent died as a result of injuries sustained due to abuse or neglect and suicides related to ongoing or past experiences of abuse or neglect. This includes all sources of abuse or neglect, including child abuse, elder abuse, and other abuse by a caretaker.
Argument or conflict: A specific argument or conflict prior to the death was perceived as related to the death.
Civil legal problem: Civil legal (non-criminal) problem(s) appear to have contributed to the death. At the time of the fatal incident the decedent was facing civil legal problems, such as divorce, custody dispute, civil lawsuit, etc., and these problems appear to have contributed to the fatal incident.
Criminal legal problem: Criminal legal problem(s) appear to have contributed to the death. At the time of the fatal incident, the decedent was facing criminal legal problems (recent or impending arrest, law enforcement pursuit, impending criminal court date, etc.) and this appears to have contributed to the death. Criminal legal problems are those resulting from conduct considered as harmful to society as a whole that it is prohibited by statute and prosecuted by the government. There must be evidence of negative legal or law enforcement consequences (for example, the decedent was about to enter jail, was facing a court date, or was on the run from law enforcement) that appear to be associated with the death.
Current alcohol use concern: The deceased was perceived by self or others to have an issue with, or be addicted to, alcohol at the time of death. This includes someone who was participating in an alcohol rehabilitation program or treatment, including self-help groups and 12-step programs.
Current depressed mood: The decedent was perceived by self or others to be depressed at the time of fatal injury. There does not need to be a clinical diagnosis, and there does not need to be any indication that the depression directly contributed to the death. Other words that can trigger coding this variable besides “depressed” are sad, despondent, down, blue, low, unhappy, etc. Words that should not trigger coding this variable are agitated, angry, mad, anxious, overwrought, etc.
Current mental health concern: The deceased had been identified as having a mental health concern at the time of fatal injury. Mental health concerns include those disorders and syndromes listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) except for alcohol and other substance use disorders which are noted in other variables (see alcohol use concern and substance use concern below).
Current mental health or substance use treatment: The deceased was in treatment for a mental health concern or substance use concern. For example, they had a current prescription for a psychiatric medication, saw a mental health professional within the two months prior to death, or participated in treatment for substance use at the time of the injury. Treatment can include: seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical doctor, therapist, or other counselor (including religious or spiritual counselors) for a mental health or substance use concern; receiving a prescription for an antidepressant or other psychiatric medicine; attending anger management classes; residing in an inpatient unit, group home, or halfway house facility for mental health or substance use disorder; or participating in Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous.
Current substance use concern: The deceased was perceived by self or others to have an issue with, or be addicted to, drugs other than alcohol at the time of death. This includes someone who was participating in a drug rehabilitation program or treatment, including self-help groups and 12-step programs.
Death of friend or family: The death of a family member or friend due to something other than suicide- appears to have contributed to the death. At the time of the fata incident the decedent was distraught over or reacting to a death of a friend or family member. The death could have been recent or many years ago.
Drive by shooting: The decedent was killed in a shooting where the suspect or group of suspects drives near the decedent or target and shoots while driving or uses a car to approach and flee the scene of a fatal incident but steps out of the car just long enough to use a weapon.
Drug involvement: Drug dealing, drug trade, or drug use is suspected to have played a role in precipitating the fatal incident. This is coded if the death was related to illegally trafficking a controlled substance (for example, a drug deal gone bad, drug market turf battle, theft of drugs or money from a dealer during a drug deal, etc.) or a drug habit (for example, the decedent committed robbery to obtain money for drugs, arguments over drugs, etc.).
Family problem: Problems with a family member other than an intimate partner (for example, a child, mother, or an in-law) appear to have contributed to the death.
Financial problem: Problems with finances, such as bankruptcy, overwhelming debts, or foreclosure of a home or business, appear to have contributed to the death.
Gang related: Definitions for gang-related fatal events can vary by law enforcement agency or coroner or medical examiner and tend to capture deaths that are classified as gang motivated (for example, motive of the incident was gang-related) or had suspected involvement of a gang member (for example, a gang member was a suspect or the decedent in the incident). This captures both types of gang-related deaths reported by agencies.
Hate crime: The fatal incident was a hate crime. A hate crime is an aggravated assault, arson, burglary, criminal homicide, motor vehicle theft, robbery, sexual assault, or crime involving bodily injury in which the decedent was intentionally selected because of his or her actual or perceived race, gender or gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Incidents motivated by immigration status and nation origin are also coded as hate crimes in NVDRS.
History of abuse or neglect as a child: The decedent had a history of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) or neglect (physical, including medical or dental, emotional, or educational neglect; or exposure to violent environments; or inadequate supervision) as a child. This captures a decedent’s experiences of abuse or neglect irrespective of its relationship to the violent death.
History of mental health or substance use treatment: The variable indicates whether the deceased was noted as ever having received treatment for a mental health concern (including alcohol and other substance use concern), either at the time of death or in the past. If the deceased is in current treatment, by definition, ever in treatment should be endorsed as well.
History of suicide attempts: The deceased had attempted to die by suicide at any time before the fatal incident, regardless of the severity of those attempts or whether those attempts resulted in injury. Evidence of a history of suicide attempts includes self-report, report or documentation from others including family, friends, or health professionals.
Housing problem: A recent eviction or other loss of the decedent’s housing, or the threat of it, appears to have contributed to the death. At the time of the fatal incident the decedent had recently been, was in the process of being evicted or foreclosed on, or was confronted with an eviction, foreclosure, or other loss of housing (for example, getting kicked out of house by a relative), and this appears to have contributed to the death.
Intimate partner problem: Problems with a current or former girlfriend or boyfriend, dating partner, ongoing sexual partner, or spouse, such as a divorce or break-up, argument, jealousy, or conflict, appear to have contributed to the death.
Intimate partner violence: The death is related to immediate or ongoing conflict or violence between current or former intimate partners. This includes all deaths where the decedent was killed by their current or former partner. Intimate partner is defined as a current or former girlfriend or boyfriend, dating partner, ongoing sexual partner, or spouse.
Jealousy: Identifies cases in which jealousy or distress over a current or former intimate partner’s relationship or suspected relationship with another person led to the fatal event. It is violence that is directed against any individual that is involved in the love triangle, such as the current or former intimate partner or the romantic interest, regardless of whom the jealous party is.
Job or employment problem: Problems at work (such as tensions with a co-worker or boss, poor performance reviews, increased pressure, feared layoff, or being demoted) or joblessness (for example, the deceased was recently laid off or fired or was having difficulty finding a job) appear to have contributed to the death. Unemployment is not considered a problem unless there was an indication that the deceased was having trouble finding or keeping a job.
Justifiable self-defense: The fatal incident was committed by a law enforcement officer in the line of duty or was committed by a civilian in legitimate self-defense or in defense of others. The code is used when law enforcement reports and prosecutors classify the case as a justifiable homicide. It is not enough that the records notes that the law enforcement officer or civilian claim that they acted in self-defense. Whether the fatal incident was truly justifiable is not something the NVDRS coder interprets.
Definition of self-defense:: The right of a civilian to repel by force, even to the taking of life, in defense of his person or property against anyone who attempts by violence or surprise to commit a forcible felony. Essential elements of self-defense are that the civilian does not provoke the difficulty and that there must be impending peril without a convenient or reasonable mode of escape.
Other relationship problem: Problems with a friend or associate (other than an intimate partner or family member) appear to have contributed to the fatal incident.
Physical fight between two people: Immediately before the death, there was a physical fight between two individuals which resulted in the death of individuals involved in the fight, bystanders, or individuals trying to stop the fight. It captures deaths that appear unplanned and occur in the heat of a physical confrontation (such as slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, or scratching).
Physical health problem: Problems with an actual or suspected physical health problems (such as terminal disease, debilitating condition, or chronic pain) appear to have contributed to the death. “Debilitating” conditions would leave the deceased confined to a bed, oxygen dependent, or requiring basic daily care from another person. Health problems are based on the deceased’s perception. If they believed they suffered from a physical health problem, and this belief contributed to their death, it does not matter if the health problem was ever treated or diagnosed.
Precipitated by another crime: The death was precipitated by another serious crime (such as drug trafficking, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, resisting arrest, and witness intimidation or elimination). Serious crimes are felonies and can carry a sentence of one or more years in prison.
Random violence: The decedent was killed by a random act of violence. A random act is one in which the suspect is not concerned with who is being harmed, just that someone is being harmed, such as a person who shoots randomly at passing cars from a highway bridge or opens fire in a crowded shopping mall.
Recent perpetrator of violence: The decedent was a perpetrator of violence within the past month that was distinct and occurred before the violence that killed the decedent. This includes all violence and there does not need to be a casual link between the earlier violence and the death itself.
Recent victim of violence: The decedent experienced violence in the past month that was distinct and occurred before the violence that killed the decedent. This includes all violence and there does not need to be a casual link between the earlier violence and the death itself.
School problem: Problems at, or related to, school (such as being upset over poor grades, difficulty with a teacher, bullying, social exclusion at school, school detention or suspension, or performance pressures) appear to have contributed to the death.
Stalking: Stalking behaviors precipitated the violent incident. Stalking involves a pattern of harassing or threatening tactics used by a perpetrator that is both unwanted and causes fear or safety concerns in the victim. A person may be considered a stalking victim if they experienced multiple stalking tactics or a single stalking tactic multiple times by the same perpetrator. Examples of stalking tactic include (but are not limited to): unwanted phone calls, voice or text messages, hangups, unwanted emails or messages through social media, unwanted cards, letters, flowers or presents, watching or following from a distance, approaching or showing up in places such as the victim’s home, workplace or school when it is unwanted, etc.
Suicidal ideation: The deceased had expressed suicidal thoughts or plans at any time before the fatal incident. Disclosure of suicidal thoughts or plans can be verbal, written, or electronic. Suicidal ideation can be expressed directly (for example, “I am thinking about killing myself”) or indirectly (for example, “I don’t know if I want to go on living”).
Suicidal intent recently disclosed: The deceased disclosed to another person their thoughts or plans to die by suicide within the month prior to death. Disclosure of suicidal thoughts or plan can be verbal, written, or electronic.
Suicide of friend or family: At the time of the fatal incident, the decedent was distraught over or reacting to a suicide of a family or friend or the anniversary Suicide of a family member or friend appears to have contributed to the death. There is no time limit for when the suicide of the family or friend occurred, except that it occurred during the decedent’s lifetime and that it is noted to have contributed to the decedent’s death.
Suicide note: The decedent left a suicide note (or other recorded communication). A suicide note can be any essentially durable message; it does not have to be on a piece of paper. Emails, text messages, voice mail, or writing on any object (such as a wall or table) all qualify. Phone calls do not qualify, as they are not considered durable (even 911 calls, because the decedent may or may not have known they were being recorded). A text or electronic message sent right before the suicide occurred should be labeled a suicide note, if there was no time between the sending or receipt of the message and the suicide. If there was time to intervene, this should be coded as “disclosed suicidal thought or intent.”
Victim was innocent bystander: The decedent was bystander, not the intended target or directly involved in the incident (for example, pedestrian walking past a gang fight, customer at a convenience store at the time of a robbery, or victim struck by stray bullet).
Victim used weapon: The decedent used a weapon during the course of the incident. This includes incidents where the decedent was armed with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or blunt instrument and used the weapon either to attack or to defend against the suspect or another person during the incident.
Walk by assault: A targeted attack, such as an ambush, where the suspect(s) approached and fled on foot. The attack should have been targeted such that there was no or minimal interaction between suspect and victim just prior to incident. Walk-up is the mechanism by which the decedent was shot.