The proper assessment for determining if a client is dangerous involves two steps:

1. Speaking with the client (if this suitable) and asking if he/or she is considering harming someone
2. Determine if the client fits any of the factors that are commonly connected with violence

Factors associated with violence:

1. Intention - does the client have a carefully planned decision to hurt or kill a person and/or does the client own a gun?
2. History - does the client have a past history of violence, threatening people, antisocial behavior, abuse in childhood, or current provocation?
3. Demographic factors - the male gender is particularly more likely to be violent, as are people of low socioeconomic status
4. Diagnosis - is the client intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, experiencing withdrawal, in a manic state, diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder, suffering from Paranoid Personality Disorder, etc.?
5. Personality characteristics - inability to control violent impulses
6. Behavior - does the client exhibit signs of tension or distress such as pacing or engaging in loud, harsh, or odd manners of speaking?