Experiences of trauma and alcohol and other drug use by domestic, family, and sexual violence offenders: A review of 6 months of sentencing remarks from the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, Australia
| Author | Sarah Clifford,Cassandra JC Wright,Michael Livingston,James A Smith,Kalinda E Griffiths,Peter G Miller |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/26338076221129920 |
| Published date | 01 March 2023 |
| Date | 01 March 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Experiences of trauma and
alcohol and other drug use by
domestic, family, and sexual
violence offenders: A review of
6 months of sentencing
remarks from the Supreme
Court of the Northern
Territory, Australia
Sarah Clifford
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin,
Australia
Cassandra JC Wright
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin,
Australia
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne,
Australia
Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Michael Livingston
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne,
Australia
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne, Australia
James A Smith
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin,
Australia
Centre for Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Research, Deakin University,
Geelong, Australia
Corresponding author:
Sarah Clifford, Menzies School of Health Research, Red 9, Casuarina campus, University Drive North, Casuarina NT
0811, Australia.
Email: sarah.clifford@menzies.edu.au
Article
Journal of Criminology
2023, Vol. 56(1) 78–97
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/26338076221129920
journals.sagepub.com/home/anj
Kalinda E Griffiths
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin,
Australia
Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales,
Sydney, Australia
Centre for Health Equity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Peter G Miller
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin,
Australia
Centre for Drug, Alcohol and Addiction Research, Deakin University,
Geelong, Australia
Abstract
The Northern Territory (NT) has the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence
(DFSV) in Australia. Although we know that alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and trauma
both contribute to DFSV in the NT, some specifics remain unknown. This paper aims to (a)
describe the extent of AOD involvement in criminally serious DFSV, (b) describe the volume
of trauma experienced by convicted criminally serious DFSV offenders, and (c) qualitatively
explore the judicial recognition of the intersections between alcohol and trauma. To do
this we reviewed Judicial Sentencing Remarks (JSRs) from the Supreme Court of the NT.
A content analysis of all DFSV JSRs from July to Dec 2020 was undertaken (n=64). A struc-
tured coding instrument was developed to extract quantitative and qualitative variables
through repeated reviews by multiple authors. Descriptive statistics regarding demographics,
number of significant traumatic events experienced, and AOD involvement were generated.
The qualitative data from which these statistics were generated was used to explore the inter-
play between trauma and AOD involvement. The majority of offenders had experienced at
least one form of trauma. The social determinants of health underpinned a significant amount
of this trauma, with housing, poverty, and unemployment frequently described. The use of
alcohol as a maladaptive coping mechanism was explicitly recognised. There was frequent judi-
cial recognition of the intersections between trauma, alcohol, and violence, however addres-
sing trauma as an essential part of rehabilitation processes was rare. Trauma and AOD use
were widespread among convicted DFSV offenders, with alcohol involved in the majority of
incidents. Further research is required to understand the bio-psycho-social factors involved
in the relationship between trauma, alcohol, and DFSV. Systematic piloting and trialling of
interventions is necessary to determine what approaches are effective for preventing DFSV
and reducing recidivism for people with intersecting experiences of trauma and AOD
concerns.
Keywords
Trauma history, alcohol and other drug use, child abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner
violence
Date received: 21 December 2021; accepted: 12 September 2022
Clifford et al. 79
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