Tackling Domestic Violence: Effective Interventions and Approaches

• NCJ Number: 211342
• Author(s): Marianne Hester; Nicole Westmarland
• Date Published: February 2005
• Length: 152 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Home Office Research Study 290; downloaded September 30, 2005.

Annotation

This report presents findings and recommendations from evaluations of 27 British domestic violence projects.

Abstract

Great Britain's Violence Against Women Initiative (VAWI) was launched in July 2000. It focused on identifying approaches and practices that were effective in supporting victims and countering domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault. This report presents the findings from evaluations of 27 domestic violence projects that were split into 7 "packages" according to their main interventions. The evaluation teams used a mixture of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods that included 518 interviews with project staff and partner agencies, 174 interviews with domestic violence victims/survivors, 22 focus groups, and 2,935 questionnaires. Quantitative data were collected on 80,350 domestic violence victims/survivors, 35,349 domestic violence perpetrators, and 5,687 children living in domestic-violence situations. Primary prevention, which involves increasing awareness and challenging attitudes among youth regarding domestic violence, was found to be most effective when it was student-centered, interactive, and involved visual input such as drama. Support for women to enable their disclosure of domestic violence was particularly effective in healthcare settings, implemented by health visitors and practice nurses; disclosure in the context of social services was also frequent. Increased numbers of women reported domestic violence to the police when they were assisted by legal advocacy services. Having close links with family law attorneys, a legal worker attached to the project, and police officers located within the project all enhanced the use of civil remedies. Findings and recommendations are also reported in the areas of reducing repeat victimization, support techniques, work with children and youth who may or may not be dealing with domestic violence, women victims not actively seeking help, women victims of repeat victimization who are actively seeking help, and evaluation measures and approaches. Appended supplementary information and data and 112 references