Domestic abuse research helps shape and improve rehabilitation programmes

Published on : 5/30/19
  • A research project by Sodexo Justice CRC in Cumbria and Lancashire has challenged outdated theories on domestic abuse and provided valuable insights that are now being used to shape and improve rehabilitation programmes across the country.      

    Domestic abuse policy has traditionally treated perpetrators as a homogeneous group, and followed a one-fits-all programme alongside various one-to-one interventions. The CRC was keen to ensure it delivered effective, evidence-based services and conducted the research in order to develop a programme for those who did not meet the required risk levels for the nationally accredited Building Better Relationships scheme.

    Dan Molloy, a practice development manager at Cumbria and Lancashire CRC, was asked to write the programme and forged links with the School of Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire to ensure it was independently evaluated. 

    Dan then began to undertake research using data gathered from psychometric questionnaires delivered to programme participants, alongside qualitative data from eOASys assessments – an integral part of the work probation officers do in assessing offenders. 

    The findings uncovered some surprising results and delivered a deeper understanding of the emotional state of the perpetrators and their use of coercive control. 

    “Results showed nearly three quarters of the men in the sample were in bi-directionally abusive relationships - their partner was abusive also,” said Dan. “This is quite a significant finding because as well as challenging the dominant idea of the nature of domestic abuse, it demonstrates the need for bilateral interventions, providing an intervention for both the man and the woman. For example, on a basic level, if two people are kicking against each other in a relationship and we work with one person and not the other, once that person returns to the relationship it is likely to ignite the same issues.”

    The study examined the needs of both the victim and the perpetrator, to try and better equip individuals to learn the necessary skills to resolve conflicts. “If both parties are learning skills such as assertiveness, interpersonal problem solving and negotiation; they can both put them into practice,” explained Dan.

    The research has helped ensure abusers receive suitable intervention and crucially, responsible officers now have a more informed understanding of the nature of the perpetrators they work with. 

    The CRC has since developed a bilateral intervention programme for use with couples in mutually abusive relationships and will continue to use the research to shape the development of future programmes. 

    Training given to the Cumbria and Lancashire CRC team has now also been delivered to other bodies and agencies including HMPPS, Lancashire Police, Barnardo’s and the National Probation Service, providing them with up-to-date theory and practice.

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