UK research project reports on impact of perpetrator programmes
Wed 04 Mar 2015
A UK project has published research findings on domestic violence perpetrator programmes. Project Mirabal, initiated by Respect, a national umbrella ...
A UK project has published research findings on domestic violence perpetrator programmes.
Project Mirabal, initiated by Respect, a national umbrella organisation for perpetrator programmes and allied services, was conducted by Durham University's Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA) and London Metropolitan Universities. The project sought to investigate "the extent to which perpetrator programmes reduce violence and increase safety for women and children, and the routes by which they contribute to coordinated community responses to domestic violence."
The first of its kind in the UK, the project "entered a contested arena where questions of methodology and policy direction have reached something of an impasse." The five year study sought to re-cast the research question beyond "do they work?", address limitations of previous studies, and introduce innovative directions in analysis. The programmes in this study were community-based – meaning men were not mandated by a criminal court to attend – and had all been accredited by national organisation Respect.
The study operationalised six measures to determine the success of a DVPP:
- "An improved relationship underpinned by respect and effective communication
- Expanded 'space for action' for women which restores their voice and ability to make choices, whilst improving their well being.
- Safety and freedom from violence and abuse for women and children.
- Safe, positive and shared parenting.
- Enhanced awareness of self and others for men, including an understanding of the impact that domestic violence has had on their partner and children.
- For children, safer, healthier childhoods in which they feel heard and cared about."
Findings showed positive improvements against all six measures of success for men participating in Respect accredited programmes. They found the vast majority of men stopped their physical and sexual violence. However, less improvement was found in coercive and controlling behaviour, such as control of money.
Durham University's Professor Nicole Westmarland said "Our data shows that most men are able to take steps towards positive change with the help of a domestic violence perpetrator programme and although there is more work to be done, we are quite optimistic about the ability of these programmes to play a role in ending domestic violence."
London Metropolitan University Professor Liz Kelly said "One of our contributions is to explore change in a more rounded way, including for children. On virtually all of our measures and indicators movement was in a positive direction, and we found no evidence that men shift to more subtle forms of abuse."
The project formally launched the research findings in a final conference in January 2015. Study findings including the final report, executive summary and briefing notes are available on the Project Mirabal website. Other publications and selected research tools from the Project are also accessible from the website.
For further reading see the book chapter: Kelly, L. & Westmarland. N. (2014). New approaches to assessing effectiveness and outcomes of domestic violence perpetrator programs. In H. Johnson, B.S. Fisher, & V. Jaquier, (Eds.), Critical Issues on Violence Against Women: International Perspectives and Promising Strategies (Global Issues in Crime and Justice), (pp. 183-194). Oxford: Routledge.
Media
Mirabal perpetrator programme research launch a big success!, Respect, 21.01.2015
Respect Press Release Mirabal Research, Respect, 12.01.2015
Rehabilitation programmes for domestic violence perpetrators can work, Durham University, 12.01.2015
Image: Pixabay