High Risks for Family Violence Interventions Professor Cathy Humphreys The University of Melbourne Presentation for DVRCV Forum: Addressing high risk family violence through an integrated service response. 11 th September, 2014
Overview • The Victorian context • Risky issues to be addressed: i) actuarial tools ii) women’s representation iii) child protection issues iv) post separation violence v) risk management response • Cautions in the high risk focus
Victorian Context (1) • Prominent and tragic child deaths – Darcey Freeman (aged 4 in 2009); Jai (10), Bailey (2), Tyler, (7) Farquharson in 2005; Luke Batty (11), 2014; Savannah (4) and Indianna (3) 2014. • 8 children in Victoria killed in the past year in the context of FV • Of inquests held on child deaths reported to child protection in Victoria, the majority are children who have lived with family violence (AOD and MH also prominent).
Victorian Context (2) • Domestic homicide is being recalculated in Victoria. • 2011-2012 - 13 arrests for domestic homicide • 2012-13 - 45 arrests for domestic violence related deaths (includes manslaughter, culpable driving, incitement to murder) • 29 clear domestic murders • 579 rapes in the context of FV
The Victorian Context (3) 2013 • 60,000 incidents of family violence reported to the police in 2013 • Women's domestic Violence Crisis Service received more than 50,000 calls to its crisis hotline in Victoria. • 820 men breaching intervention orders more than 3 times. 200 men more than 5 times.
Victoria Context (4) • Visits from senior UK police members discussing homicide and crimes of (dis)honour • Statewide forums addressing high risk • UK practitioners from MARACS working in Australia
Critical role of information sharing • KPMG Benchmark data (2008) showed that in 2% of 886 incidents police identified 6 or more risk factors present. The NCARS data and the data from women’s family violence specialist agencies found 34% of women with 9 or more risk factors – to be expected BUT highlights information sharing • Risk assessment tools are inaccurate unless there is good information sharing
Victorian Context (5) • RAMP demonstration models established in 2 sites • Positive evaluation (Thomson and Goodhall, 2014) • Announcement of $30 million for FV intervention – some of this budget will support 17 RAMPs throughout Victoria
Risky issues (1): Actuarial tools • The CRAF is the foundation for fv risk assessment in Victoria • A wide range of actuarial tools available to inform and support clinical risk assessment judgements (Danger Assessment; ODARA; SARA; B-SAFER) • No actuarial tool developed for children and FV
Risky Issues (2): Women’s representation • A central discussion for the reference group for developing the model • Lack of presence of the victim a significant issue • Demands good practice re: briefing; representation; perpetrator focus; confidentiality
Risky issues (3): Child protection • Women at high risk equals children at high risk • Imperative to focus on the perpetrator at RAMPS • A major opportunity for supporting a positive shift in child protection intervention • What is child protection’s role in post - separation violence?
Risk Issues (4): post-separation violence • Unclear how many police FV incidents involve post-separation violence • 40% of police referrals to CP in the UK involved P-S violence (Stanley et al 2012) • How will information from RAMPS inform Family Law proceedings including para-legal proceedings?
Risky Issue (5): what about the men? • In the UK only a tiny proportion of MARACS involve male victims • Severity associated with male violence towards women • Cardiff MARAC highlighted couple violence as some of the most high risk – both man and woman the subject of the conference
Risky issue (6): Risk assessment without risk management Agreed responses to high risk management are needed: – Information sharing and co-ordinated action – Intervention Order + charging – High level evidence gathering – photos, witness statements, permission for medical information, follow up perpetrator who leaves the scene, timely follow up of arrest warrants, intelligence information about other crimes, action on breaches - every effort to apprehend – Evidence gathering on stalking – Increased security of the home; surveillance, alarms, victim support in court, intensive case management – Protective response for children – Sharing the risk assessment as the basis of safety planning
A note of caution • What about the other 90% of women? • Risk assessment misses many high risk women and their children • The RAMP is not a silver bullet – one step in the integrated FV response • Engagement with diverse communities will be critical • 14 key steps in the ‘Stop the Deaths’ campaign
Managing the risks • High risk forums – an opportunity and a risk for the FV sector • Represent a major step forward towards inter-agency working • Our memorial to Luke Batty and all the other women and children in Victoria who have died - to create a stronger and safer intervention.
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