Female offenders who commit domestic violence: Aggression characteristics and potential treatment pathways
| Pages | 127-138 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-01-2013-0007 |
| Published date | 06 May 2014 |
| Date | 06 May 2014 |
| Author | Annette McKeown |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice |
Female offenders who commit domestic
violence: Aggression characteristics and
potential treatment pathways
Annette McKeown
Annette McKeown is a
Chartered and Registered
Forensic Psychologist, based
at the Primrose Service,
Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS
Foundation Trust,Durham, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to inform understanding of female offenders who commit domestic
violence. This contentious area of research is growing and there are strong indications that men and women
perpetrate similar levels of domestic violence. This has resulted in increasing interest in understanding the
characteristics of such offenders as well as considering treatment pathways.
Design/methodology/approach – In this study, female prisoners (n ¼92) completed a measure of
psychological and physical aggression (Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, Straus et al., 1996) to explore the
types of domestic violence experienced and perpetrated in most recent and previous relationships.
Findings – Results indicated high levels of psychological aggression and physical assaults both
experienced and perpetrated by female offenders in current and previous relationships. Physical
assaults tended to be severe and high levels of mutual violence were reported both in most recent and
previous relationships.
Practical implications – The findings suggest the importance of service provision and treatment pathways
for female domestic violence perpetrators. On the basis of the findings, treatment needs of such offenders
are considered and potential treatment pathways are reflected upon.
Originality/value – There are little known publications exploring the prevalence and characteristics of
female domestic violence perpetrators in prison. Research has also tended to focus on current relationships
as opposed to considering both current and previous relationships. This paper exploresthese areas and will
be of interest to practitioners working with this client group.
Keywords Female perpetrators, Domestic violence, Female domestic violence treatment programmes
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In 1971, following the opening of the UK’sfirst women’s shelter for domestic violence victims, its
founder made a paradoxical observation:
Almost immediately people working in the refuge with the women and children became aware that
of the first hundred women coming into the refuge, sixty twowere as violent as the partners they had
left (Pizzey, 1998).
Soon after, the first US National Family Violence Survey (1975) echoed these findings (Straus
et al., 1981). There were unexpected findings indicating men and women were equally likely to
perpetrate domestic violence. It would be reasonable to assume that what followed these initial
findings was a rapid and vast increase in research into this area, as well as revisiting polices, and
consideration of the development of treatment interventions for female domestic violence
perpetrators. This is a chain of events that did not occur rapidly, however. It took a period of
30 years before the notion of female domestic violence perpetrators began to be more broadly
considered as a possibility.
The author would like to
acknowledge the Primrose Service
and Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS
Foundation Trust for supporting the
undertaking of this research.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-01-2013-0007 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2014, pp. 127-138, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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PAGE 127
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