Pre-migration trauma and post-migration stress associated with immigrant perpetrators of domestic homicide

Abstract

Domestic homicide is the most extreme form of domestic violence. These deaths often appear to be predictable and preventable with hindsight, based on information from various death review process across the world. Prior research has identified citizenship status, length of stay, trauma and stress in the migration context as contributors to domestic violence. However, these factors have not been explored within the context of domestic homicide and the present study examined these factors among immigrant perpetrators. A retrospective case analysis approach was performed using domestic homicide cases that had been reviewed by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee in Ontario, Canada. Perpetrators with a history of pre-migration trauma had significantly more identified risk factors for domestic homicide. Additionally, they were more likely to engage in stalking behaviours and have more identified post-migration stressors. However, the number of agencies involved did not significantly differ between perpetrators with or without a history of pre-migration trauma. Pre-migration trauma is a critical factor in understanding the risk profiles of immigrant perpetrators. Standardized risk assessment tools generally do not screen for pre-migration trauma and it may be overlooked by professionals when evaluating risk of homicide or when engaging in risk management strategies. It is imperative that professionals are more aware of the relationship between migration trauma and domestic violence perpetration and there is continued research and development of specialized risk assessment tools to aid in domestic homicide prevention initiatives.