Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Arrea
Domestic Domestic Violence Mini-site
Offenders
Contents
How many places are there on perpetrator programmes?
In 1999 the Probation Service in England and Wales began work to develop a perpetrator programme for domestic violence offenders which could meet the high standards required for it to be accredited by an independent panel as being effective.
As part of this project, two Probation areas (West- Yorkshire and London) have been running a pilot programme on various sites in their areas (seven in West-Yorkshire and five in London). Each programme takes approximately six to eight months to complete (24 weekly group sessions plus some pre-group and post-group sessions) consequently each site runs approximately two programmes per year. They are group programmes and the maximum group size is 12.
A recent NPD survey established that, in addition to the pilot sites, a further 18 Probation areas were running domestic violence perpetrator programmes, most of which had been developed locally. Through-put varied considerably although most would expect a group size of between 8-12 per programme.
Of the 34 areas that responded to the questionnaire, 20 were delivering some form of programme. However, indications are that budgetary constraints and delivery priorities have meant that programme provision for domestic violence perpetrators has been under threat in recent years.
In October 2003 the Correctional Services Accreditation panel (CSAP) accredited two domestic violence programmes-one for the Prison Service and one for the Probation Service to run in the community. The CSAP also approved a proposed pilot for a second domestic violence programme to be run by the Probation Service from April to September 2004 with an aim of accreditation in October 2004. Provided resources are available, the National Probation Service intends to roll out the accredited domestic violence programme to probation areas from April 2004.
Do these programmes work?
The information sought is not yet available. The reconviction rate is measured over a two-year period from completion of the programme. The first domestic violence pathfinder programmes were introduced in 2002. Reconviction data will not be available until 2004. No programme will be accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) unless it conforms to the most rigorous evaluation as to its effectiveness, based on the best current research. Certain characteristics of effective programmes can be identified and these must be present for programmes to be accredited .
Research into the effectiveness of programmes
The effectiveness of accredited community programmes in reducing
reconviction is subject to an independent study by Liverpool and
Leicester Universities commissioned by the Home Office RDSD. This
study, which is due for completion in October 2004, will assess the
overall effect of each accredited programme by comparing
reconviction rates for programme attendees with those of a matched
comparison group. It is the difference between the rates for
attendees and the comparison group that will demonstrate how
effective the programme has been.
International evidence
International evidence from domestic violence programmes was
reviewed by NPS in 1999 and found not to be robust. Some studies
suggested a reduction in recidivism of 20% but samples were small
and research methods often flawed. Other studies, not necessarily
better in method, suggested a smaller effect, others a significantly
larger The content of the programmes, programme deliverers and
methods of delivery and type of person accepted as a participant
also changed overtime-making comparisons difficult. More recent
evidence (Gondolph 2001) suggests that it is not just the programme
but the holistic approach to domestic violence that produces most
reduction. For example, prompt and consistent sentencing, monitoring
by probation staff through inter-agency approaches, work with
victims, addressing alcohol abuse, as well as attendance on
specialist programmes leads to the greatest impact. It has to be
borne in mind that domestic violence offenders are not a homogenous
group and no single programme is likely to work on its own with all
perpetrators.
Why are they not open to self-referrals?
Domestic Violence perpetrator programmes take convicted offenders subject to probation supervision, either as part of a community sentence or upon release from custody where there is a long enough period of supervision. Current estimates suggest that between 14% -20% of probation caseloads have issues which need to be addressed as perpetrators of domestic violence. International evidence suggests this may still be an underestimate.
Currently there are waiting lists for places on domestic Violence perpetrator programmes in each of the pathfinder areas. This is often the case in other probation areas. Probation areas have been unable to run more cycles of the programme due to resource constraints.
Even if more resources were available there are also potential problems arising from mixing convicted and un-convicted perpetrators in the same group where sanctions for non-attendance and participation differ. Some practitioners would also argue that voluntary attendance carries the risk of the perpetrator manipulating the criminal justice system to minimise accountability for their actions (e.g. arguing in the court that sentence should be minimal/reduced as a result of their voluntary attendance at a programme.
Some voluntary agencies provide groups for perpetrators and such provision could be funded under a range of mechanisms, e.g. through health funding, which would allow voluntary attendance. Those perpetrators who had a high motivation level would be likely to complete the course. However, there is the risk with voluntary attendance that some offenders may elect to attend as a way of averting a domestic crisis, but then not complete the programme.
There would almost certainly be different issues around disclosure of risk to a victim if the perpetrator attended voluntarily.
Can courts making civil orders demand that offenders attend these programmes?
Only the criminal courts are able to make orders compelling an offender to attend a programme which aims to modify their future behaviour. The civil courts are primarily concerned with providing protection in the immediate term. Under section 33 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing Act) 2000, the magistrates’ courts can make community penalty orders that could include any of the following:-
-
A curfew order
-
A probation order
-
A community service order
-
A combination order
-
A drug treatment/testing order
-
An attendance centre order
-
A supervision order
-
An action plan order.
The courts are only able to order someone to take part in a particular programme if such a programme is available in that area.
Last update: 14/07/02