Participants’ views about the survivor contact element of IPV perpetrator programs: a preliminary study.

Tony McGinn, Brian Taylor, Mary McColgan, Margaret Daly

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
27 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Advocacy services, for victims and survivors, are at the core of our response to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The survivor contact element of IPV perpetrator programmes is recognised as a necessary safety measure for their operation. Within the context of equivocal evaluations of these programmes, and the impetus to find opportunities to enhance their effectiveness, this study report explores the service user perspective on survivor contact work. In-depth semi-structured interviews were completed with 18 perpetrators and 18 survivors involved in three Irish-based programmes, and findings were analysed using grounded theory principles. Almost without exception, survivors were positive about their engagement with an outreach service. There was evidence to suggest that perpetrator programme outreach services do reach survivors who may not ordinarily make contact with an advocacy service. In general terms, survivors felt validated as survivors, they felt supported, they learned about abusive behaviours and some saw the service as a monitor of what their partner was saying during group work. However, some survivors described their fear that any reports of ongoing abuse, which they offered, would attract reprisals from their partner or the attentions of child protection services. More determined application of criminal justice measures, and enhanced resourcing of the survivor contact element of these programmes, should be considered.
Original languageEnglish
Article number6
Pages (from-to)889
Number of pages909
JournalViolence and Victims
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 10 Dec 2019

Keywords

  • Domestic abuse
  • Interpersonal trauma
  • Violence Against Women
  • violent offenders
  • survivors
  • survivors of violence
  • Advocacy

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