An Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) report into patterns of domestic violence has suggested that a trial of “focused deterrence” by police could be the key to reducing repeat incidents of domestic violence in Australian communities.
The AIC said its paper, Policing Repeat Domestic Violence: Would Focused Deterrence Work in Australia? had been produced against a backdrop of persistently high rates of repeat domestic violence.
Deputy Director at the AIC, Rick Brown (pictured) said focused deterrence was a police-led intervention that increased offender accountability and ensured appropriately targeted responses to victims.
“This model has been shown in the United States to be effective in reducing serious forms of domestic violence, including homicide,” Dr Brown said.
“This paper is the culmination of three years of research by the AIC into patterns of domestic violence and policing strategies to reduce repeat victimisation.”
He said responses to domestic violence needed to be timely, targeted at individuals at the greatest risk of further violence, and graduated – meaning they increased in intensity when the risk of harm to the victim increased.
“Focused deterrence models could help to reduce repeat domestic violence in Australia,” Dr Brown said.
“By reducing repeat offending and shifting the burden of preventing violence away from the victim, the focused deterrence approach can deliver additional benefits to those provided by existing criminal justice responses.”
The paper recommended trialling focused deterrence to reduce domestic violence reoffending in an Australian pilot site.
Dr Brown said the model should be developed with the local community, supported by local partners and subject to rigorous evaluation and monitoring.
The Institute’s 20-page report is accessible at the AIC website at this PS News link.
