Web resource:	http://www.utas.edu.au/tiles/publications_and_reports/briefing_papers/briefing_papers_pdf/Briefing_Paper_No_2.pdf
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Researching family violenceBriefing paper (Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies)
Authors:	Winter, Rosemary
Keywords:	Risk factors;Risk assessment;Criminal justice responses;Screening;Pregnancy
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies
Citation:	No. 2
Notes:	General Overview: This briefing paper gives an overview and evaluation of a range of social and institutional changes, and program components under the Tasmanian Government’s Safe at Home:initiative introduced during 2004-05. Discussion: An overview of the research agenda is summarised, including in the past ten years, the four main areas of policy focus for dealing with family violence (legal, social service, health and collaborations). Key components of Safe at Home are summarised. Risk assessment screening tools are reviewed. Frequencies of risk factors in Tasmanian family violence risk assessments are given. Reporting issues are discussed. Risk and surveillance issues are also raised. Results: The article presents the frequencies of Group A risks (indicating a sharp rise in risk as imminent) from the longitudinal analysis of the RAST. It found the most common factor to be previous assault of the victim, where in 634 cases or 65% has included prior assault. In 50% of cases, the victim was assaulted in the current incident. In 44% of cases, the level of violence increased in recent times. In 35% of cases, bizarre, paranoid or delusional behaviour was apparent. In nearly a quarter of cases, the offender breached a family violence or other protective order. In 21% of cases, there was a pregnancy or new birth and in 1 in 5 of the cases, there were threats to kill the victim or children. The distribution of Group B risk factors (being indicators of risk of less severity than Group A factors but still of significant warning signs for potential escalation) are also presented. The article reports that the most common Group B factor was jealousy and intimidating behaviour by the offender (in 71% of cases). Over half of the cases, the offenders were unemployed. In 43%, there was a history of violence against other people n 42% of cases, there was an alcohol problem. In one-third of cases, a drug use problem existed. Conclusions: Safe at Home gives an opportunity to examine a wide range of issues relating to the implementation of policies and practices aimed to reduce family violence, including as an example of a successful whole-of-government strategy. TILES (Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies) also points to possibilities for future research.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/16646
ISSN:	1832701X
Physical description:	12 p. : ports. ; 30 cm.
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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