To explore diversionary methods to change behaviours in domestic violence offenders

Prevention through intervention - Transforming the behaviour of intimate partner violence perpetrators.

I completed studies in applied criminology at the University of Cambridge, focussing on intimate partner violence perpetrators and predictors of future high-harm violence. This research revealed that a one-size-fits-all approach would not effectively prevent IPV, as a small group of perpetrators (11.80%) caused most of the crime harm (80%) to victim-survivors.

Extending on these findings, the objective of this Winston Churchill Fellowship was to showcase examples of international interventions directed at intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators, interventions which could be applied to IPV perpetrators, as well as the models used to coordinate these interventions, which could transform perpetrator behaviour. Additionally, it explored the potential to apply these interventions in Australia.

Travel to Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom was completed between 19 July – 23 August 2022.

Calgary, Canada was the first destination, to explore the Specialised Domestic Violence Court, the Indigenous Court, and the Drug Court and interview Judges who preside in these courts to learn how prevention efforts are integrated into court activities. Calgary also provided the opportunity to explore the domestic and family violence Coordinated Community Response (CCR) model driven by non-profit organisation HomeFront.

The next destination was Vancouver, Canada, to examine the Downtown Community Court, a collaborative and problem-solving court, and meet with multi-agency stakeholders.

The first destination in the USA was Anchorage, Alaska to meet with the Municipality of Anchorage, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Alaska State Troopers, and the University of Alaska to learn about the response to Indigenous domestic and family violence and an innovative restorative circle intervention which had been subject to an evaluation.

Fairbanks, Alaska, provided the opportunity to meet with non-profit organisations providing service to victim-survivors of intimate partner violence, and those delivering court mandated programs to perpetrators. It also provided the opportunity to observe the delivery of a perpetrator program and to travel to a remote Indigenous community with a Village Public Safety Officer to learn how domestic & family violence prevention efforts are provided.

A tour of the Family Advocacy Centre in Phoenix, Arizona allowed me to speak with the co-located personnel to identify how multi-agency interventions are provided to perpetrators, whilst a visit to the FBI field office in Phoenix provided an insight into how the FBI work closely with native communities to prevent domestic and family violence.

A meeting with the Dallas Police Department Special Victims Division and non-profit organisation The Family Place provided insight into the innovative Dallas Felony Domestic Violence Court. Nashville, Tennessee provided the opportunity to tour the purpose-built Family Safety Centre and learn how the prevention efforts of police are integrated with the multi-agency efforts of the co-located organisations.

Visits to Greensboro and High Point, North Carolina allowed me to speak with staff from the Guildford County Family Justice Center and learn about the High Point Offender Focused Domestic Violence initiative, the world’s first focused deterrence intervention targeting domestic violence perpetrators.

Darlington was the first stop in the United Kingdom and a meeting with staff from Durham Constabulary revealed how Operation Checkpoint – a diversionary intervention – was implemented using ‘navigators’ to guide perpetrators through prevention efforts.

A visit to Birmingham and meetings with the West Midlands Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and non-profit organisation Cranstoun provided the opportunity to visit the Sandwell Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Service, the West Midlands custody facility and learn about the DRIVE project, offender management processes and innovative diversion programs.

A visit to Oxford provided insights into the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit and the integrated elements of primary prevention, disruption and response which include intimate partner violence offences. A meeting in Southampton with the Hampton Trust and Hampshire Constabulary revealed Project CARA, a diversionary intervention for low-threat intimate partner violence perpetrators.

The last destination was London, to meet with staff from the London Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit and discuss this youth focused, integrated, data-sharing model which covers the entirety of London. I also met with the Metropolitan Police to discuss the Turning Point Deferred Prosecution Model, for low-level general (not IPV) perpetrators, and a representative from non-profit Make Time Count, who designed a digital tool to screen perpetrators, identify their needs, and monitor conditions.