WISH: Definitions - Violent Death Module

Definitions provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Program.

Age-adjusted rate:

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.

Blunt instrument:

Refers to clubs, bats, rocks, etc. or a general statement of "blunt force trauma."

Circumstances known:

Indicates if any information is available in the coroner/medical examiner report and/or law enforcement report about the circumstances, including other circumstances, associated with this violent death.

County of injury vs. county of residence:

County of injury refers to the county where the victim was injured, and county of residence refers to the county where the victim lives. All cases included in the module reflect deaths that occurred in Wisconsin.

Drowning:

A mechanism of death resulting from submersion in water or other liquid.

Fall:

A mechanism of death resulting from a fall, push, or jump from a high place.

Firearm:

A device that launches a projectile through a tube using energy from a spark or flame to ignite a powder charge. Definition includes handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and excludes BB guns, pellet guns, or air rifles.

Hanging, strangulation, suffocation:

Deaths involving asphyxiant (non-toxic) gases should be coded as suffocation. Asphyxiant gases are not normally harmful in the breathing air but become hazardous when elevated concentrations of these gases displace the normal oxygen concentration, occurring in either confined spaces (e.g., refrigerator) or direct, exclusive administration (e.g., inhaling contents of balloon filled with helium). Some common examples of asphyxiant gases are helium, nitrogen, argon, butane, propane.

Homicide:

Death resulting from the intentional use of force or power, threatened or actual, against another person, group, or community.

Legal intervention:

A death when the decedent was killed by a police officer or other peace officer (persons with specified legal authority to use deadly force), including military police, acting in the line of duty.

Motor vehicle/other transport vehicle:

Deaths involving any motorized vehicle.

Personal weapons:

Include fists, feet, and hands in actions such as punching, kicking, or hitting.

Poisoning:

A poison is a substance that can cause illness, injury, or death. Poisons can be swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Some substances are toxic in small doses, but other usually harmless substances can be poisonous if encountered in large enough quantities. A poisoning can occur in almost any setting, from any substance, and in any form (liquid, solid, or gas).

Rate (Crude):

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.

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

Some rates in this report are based on a small number of deaths (<20). Chance variation is a common problem when the numbers being used to calculate rates are extremely small. From year to year, large swings can occur in these rates, which do not reflect real changes. Rates based on small numbers (<20) may be unstable due to random chance factors and should be used with caution.

Sharp instrument:

Refers not only to knives but also to razors, machetes, or pointed instruments (e.g., chisel, broken glass, bow and arrow).

Suicide:

A death resulting from the intentional use of force against oneself.

Suspect:

Person(s) identified in law enforcement records as having a potential role in the commission of a homicide or an unintentional or of undetermined intent firearm-related death.

Undetermined manner of death:

Information available to investigating authorities is insufficient to determine the manner of death.

Unintentional firearm injury:

An injury by firearm that is deemed to have occurred without criminal negligence, recklessness, or other intent to harm.

Victim:

Person(s) fatally injured during a homicide, a suicide, an unintentional firearm incident, or an incident of undetermined intent.

Weapon type:

The weapon type indicates the broad category of weapon or means used to inflict the injury.

Weapon type - Other:

Explosives, fire or burns, shaking (e.g. shaken baby syndrome), intentional neglect, other (e.g. taser, electrocution, nail gun), non-powder gun

Wisconsin Department of Health Services public health regions:

(These regions include the following counties. Region titles are BOLD CAPPED. Urban counties are bold italic.)

• WESTERN
  Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn
• SOUTHERN
  Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland, Vernon, Rock, and Sauk
• SOUTHEASTERN
  Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha
• NORTHEASTERN
  Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago
• NORTHERN
  Ashland, Bayfield, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Price, Portage, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas, and Wood

Circumstances applicable to ALL violent deaths

Argument or conflict:

A specific argument or conflict led to the victim's death. (Note: Before 2012, this variable was not coded when "intimate partner violence" or "jealousy" were coded as "yes.")

Crisis in past two weeks or upcoming two weeks:

The victim experienced a crisis within two weeks of the incident, or a crisis was imminent within two weeks of the incident.

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/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.

Family problem:

The victim had relationship problems with a family member (other than an intimate partner) that appear to have contributed to the death. (Note: This variable was added in 2012 and replaced a variable called "family stressor." Before 2012, family relationship problems were captured in the variable for "other" relationship problems.)

History of abuse or neglect as a child:

The victim had a history of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) or neglect (physical, including medical/dental, emotional, or educational neglect; or exposure to violent environments or inadequate supervision) as a child. (Note: Before 2012, this variable was used to collect deaths related to abuse and deaths related to intimate partner violence that had a history of abuse. As of 2012, this variable captures any history of abuse as a child outside the fatal incident.)

History of mental health/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.

Other crime in progress:

The precipitating crime was in progress at the time of the incident.

Other relationship problem:

Problems with a friend or associate (other than an intimate partner or family member) appear to have contributed to the death. (Note: Before 2012, this included any relationship except intimate partners. After 2012, this includes any relationship except intimate partner or family relationships.)

Precipitated by another crime:

The death was precipitated by another serious crime (e.g., drug trafficking, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, resisting arrest, and witness intimidation/elimination). Serious crimes are felonies and can carry a sentence of one or more years in prison.

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 causal 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 causal link between the earlier violence and the death itself.