Identifying and assessing the practical needs of domestic violence offenders to inform early intervention

The study is funded by the Northern Rock Foundation and involves a unique collaboration with the Home Office, who will carry out parallel work with shared findings. The project explores services and support required to assist domestic violence offenders not to re-offend, in addition to rehabilitation programmes. The work builds on a recently completed study led by Prof Marianne Hester, examing attrition in cases entering the criminal justice system across the North East of England (Hester et al, 2003). The previous study concluded that:

• The police and courts were more competent in dealing with the less entrenched situations.
• Court outcomes did not stop chronic offenders from continuing their violence and harassment.
• A more systematic approach to repeat offenders is needed throughout the criminal justice system.
• Further development of partnerships between the CJS, health and other agencies is needed to deal with chronic offenders and vulnerable witnesses.

The new study will develop a detailed picture of offenders entering the criminal justice system, their path through the system, the other agencies and services involved, and the most effective approaches to curtailing repeat, and especially chronic, offenders. It was apparent from the earlier study that multi-agency working across the criminal justice and non-criminal justice sectors is needed with regard to offenders, and the new research seeks to map the existing services and partnerships existing as well as any further developments needed.