Perpetrator programs Perpetrator programs aim to reduce the risk of known perpetrators committing further offences. They aim to prevent violence by changing attitudes and behaviour. A range of different approaches are employed in perpetrator programs including goal setting, solution focused approaches, counselling, behaviour change, narrative therapy, and anger management. Early Australian work in this area, such as the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Integrated Response (GCDVIR), has been heavily influenced by development work in Minnesota in the United States, commonly referred to as the Duluth Model.This model emphasises the importance of interagency cooperation, victim safety and offender accountability. The Australian Attorney-General’s Department asserts that approaches must be multi-pronged, integrated and collaborative and outlines the following factors as essential for the effectiveness of perpetrator programs: •systemic, integrated responses which are co-ordinated, appropriate and consistent and aimed at victim safety, reducing secondary victimisation and holding abusers accountable •therapeutic alliances between client and therapist that are collaborative and have agreement on goals •trust, respect and confidentiality •acceptance of responsibility and accountability to the needs of victims •adequate measurement of outcomes •acknowledgment of diversity and individuality of participants and •cross cultural competency and ability to work with interpreters. There is limited research into perpetrators of domestic violence in Australia. While perpetrator programs may be part of the prevention picture, the research evidence in this area is inconclusive. Without studying larger populations, comparing programs and following the respondents and their families over time, we lack evidence for the development of sound preventive programs. The NSW Domestic Abuse Program (DAP), which won a 2011 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award, is showing promising results.It is a 20 session rehabilitative group intervention program for offenders serving community-based orders or custodial sentences for domestic and family violence related offences which is run by the Department of Corrective Services. At the end of June 2011 more than 2 500 offenders throughout New South Wales had commenced a DAP. The program has a relatively low attrition rate, with close to 80 percent of participants completing treatment. Evaluation of the program has shown significant reductions in reoffending rates in the DAP treatment group and a longer time to reoffend, compared with a matched control group. It is also effective for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Some argue that services for perpetrators are actually services for perpetrators and their victims, all of whom may gain from services to perpetrators.[189] However, others contend that funding should be directed to victims of violence and that men’s violence prevention must be linked to the promotion of gender equality.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 03:14:10 +0000