Building Better Relationships? Interrogating the 'Black Box' of a Statutory Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Social Sciences
Abstract
This study will examine the statutory response to heterosexual men convicted of a domestic violence offense in England and Wales who are court mandated to attend a cognitive behavioural domestic violence (DV) group-work programme. The proposed study will adopt a unique mixed-methods approach to data collection and analysis and asks: How, when and for whom do DV perpetrator programmes 'work?'
The fieldwork will consist of:
1. A twelve week participant observation period to observe the BBR programme in action.
2. A discursive and psychosocial analysis of video-recordings of sessions undertaken by the whole BBR cohort to observe the mechanisms of change as they unfold.
3. Two voice-recorded in-depth interviews with a small sample of attendees to obtain views on how they experienced the programme.
4. One voice-recorded semi-structured focus group with facilitators to obtain their views on how they experienced the programme.
5. One-to-one interviews with facilitators, chosen theoretically because of their different approaches.
6. A Systematic Observation Tool developed inductively using trained coders which will be used to capture the programme implementation skills of the facilitators.
The fieldwork will consist of:
1. A twelve week participant observation period to observe the BBR programme in action.
2. A discursive and psychosocial analysis of video-recordings of sessions undertaken by the whole BBR cohort to observe the mechanisms of change as they unfold.
3. Two voice-recorded in-depth interviews with a small sample of attendees to obtain views on how they experienced the programme.
4. One voice-recorded semi-structured focus group with facilitators to obtain their views on how they experienced the programme.
5. One-to-one interviews with facilitators, chosen theoretically because of their different approaches.
6. A Systematic Observation Tool developed inductively using trained coders which will be used to capture the programme implementation skills of the facilitators.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000665/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1881343 | Studentship | ES/P000665/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2020 | Nicole Renehan |
| Description | British Society of Criminology Vlog on Criminal Justice Interventions Facilitators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This was a blog written in response to the criminal justice Hidden Heroes Day which celebrates the hard but often hidden work of individuals working in prisons and probation in the UK. The blog drew on my research with interventions facilitations of domestic violence perpetrator programmes, providing a critical perspective on the emotional and practical difficulties these practitioners face, not just because of the job that they do, but because of the sometimes unsupportive organisational structures in which they work. The piece advocates the voices of these practitioners and to provide them with the emotional and practical support they need, and pecuniary incentives they deserve. I was contacted by several practitioners with the criminal justice system who said they felt validated as a result of this blog and the research that underpins it. I was also contacted by organisations to discuss how safe online spaces can be created for practitioners who want to engage in reflective practice and receive support amongst similarly interested people. Discussions for this are on going. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://thebscblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/28/criminal-justice-interventions-facilitators-unsung-hidde... |
| Description | Media interview on domestic abuse responses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a requested interview by journalist Marisa Bates published with Open Democracy. The piece reflected the issue of domestic abuse, male violence towards women and the response to it. I was asked to talk about my research on criminal justice programmes and what was needed going forward in terms of policy and practice to respond adequately to the issue of male violence. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/the-question-should-be-why-doesnt-he-stop-not-why-d... |
| Description | Video interview on neurodivergent domestic abuse perpetrators with Working with Perpetartors European Network. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview undertaken with the Working with Perpetrator European Network to discuss my PhD and subsequent preliminary postdoctoral study preliminary findings on neurodivergent domestic abuse perpetrators. The interview was intended for a practitioner and general public audience and hosted on the interviewer youtube website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tytKBaAO8YY |