Domestic Homicides & Death Domestic Homicides & Death Reviews:Reviews:

The Canadian ExperienceThe Canadian Experience

Myrna DawsonMyrna DawsonCanada Research Chair inCanada Research Chair in

Public Policy in Criminal JusticePublic Policy in Criminal JusticeUniversity of GuelphUniversity of Guelph

Ontario, CanadaOntario, Canada

Queensland Centre for Domestic Queensland Centre for Domestic & Family Violence Research& Family Violence Research

April 5, 2012April 5, 2012

Consider the following three scenarios…Consider the following three scenarios…

(1)(1) A stranger enters a woman’s home; after a A stranger enters a woman’s home; after a struggle, he pulls out a gun and shoots her;struggle, he pulls out a gun and shoots her;

(2)(2) A man enters the home of a woman, his A man enters the home of a woman, his estranged female partner; there is a struggle estranged female partner; there is a struggle and he pulls out a gun and shoots her;and he pulls out a gun and shoots her;

(3)(3) A man and a woman – husband and wife – A man and a woman – husband and wife – are at home; there is a struggle, he gets his are at home; there is a struggle, he gets his gun and shoots her.gun and shoots her.

LinkingLinking social & legal changes to declines…social & legal changes to declines…

Exposure Reduction FrameworkExposure Reduction Framework……

……three changes that may reduce exposure:three changes that may reduce exposure: Increasing gender equality Increasing gender equality Changing relationship structures Changing relationship structures Increasing domestic violence resourcesIncreasing domestic violence resources

(Dawson et al. 2009; Dugan et al. 2003)(Dawson et al. 2009; Dugan et al. 2003)

Average age at first marriage, 1976 - 2001,Canada

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1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000

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Mother's average age at birth of first child, 1976-2001, Canada

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1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000

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Evolution of DVDRCs in CanadaEvolution of DVDRCs in Canada

Ontario implemented first domestic violence Ontario implemented first domestic violence death review committee in 2003.death review committee in 2003.

In response to recommendations from two In response to recommendations from two Coroner’s inquests into the killings of Coroner’s inquests into the killings of Gillian Gillian HadleyHadley and and Arlene MayArlene May by their estranged by their estranged male partners;male partners;

Canadian Think Tank on Prevention of Canadian Think Tank on Prevention of Domestic Homicides Domestic Homicides held in 2008 involving held in 2008 involving five provinces.five provinces.

Evolution of DVDRCs in Canada Evolution of DVDRCs in Canada (cont’d)(cont’d)

New Brunswick, Office of the Chief Coroner New Brunswick, Office of the Chief Coroner (2010)(2010)

Manitoba, Ministry of the Attorney General Manitoba, Ministry of the Attorney General (2010)(2010)

British Columbia, Chief Coroner of British British Columbia, Chief Coroner of British Columbia (2010; One time only review)Columbia (2010; One time only review)

A A National Think Tank on Domestic Violence National Think Tank on Domestic Violence and Homicide Prevention and Homicide Prevention was held in 2010 was held in 2010 involving all provinces and territories.involving all provinces and territories.

The Ontario DVDRC The Ontario DVDRC

Goal: Goal: To better understand, intervene and help in the To better understand, intervene and help in the prevention of domestic violence related killings prevention of domestic violence related killings

MandateMandate: To assist the Coroner with investigation and : To assist the Coroner with investigation and review of domestic violence related deaths and make review of domestic violence related deaths and make recommendations aimed at prevention.recommendations aimed at prevention.

MembershipMembership: Experts from healthcare, social services, : Experts from healthcare, social services, law enforcement, criminal justice, research and other law enforcement, criminal justice, research and other public safety agencies and organization.public safety agencies and organization.

Review criteriaReview criteria: Homicides of a person and/or their : Homicides of a person and/or their child(ren) by an intimate partner/ex-partner who may also child(ren) by an intimate partner/ex-partner who may also have commit suicide following the homicide.have commit suicide following the homicide.

The Ontario DVDRC The Ontario DVDRC (cont’d)(cont’d)

ObjectivesObjectives: :

(1)(1) to conduct confidential, in-depth reviews of to conduct confidential, in-depth reviews of somesome cases to understand why they occurred and how they cases to understand why they occurred and how they might have been prevented;might have been prevented;

(2)(2) to maintain a comprehensive database on to maintain a comprehensive database on allall cases cases to identify trends, risk factors & patterns; to identify trends, risk factors & patterns;

(3)(3) to identify possible points of intervention that to identify possible points of intervention that could assist with the prevention of similar deaths in could assist with the prevention of similar deaths in the future by improving on systemic gaps or the future by improving on systemic gaps or shortcomings through targeted recommendations. shortcomings through targeted recommendations.

Reviews 2003-2010Reviews 2003-2010

Total reviews Total reviews :: 111 cases, 178 deaths over 8 years. 111 cases, 178 deaths over 8 years. ReportsReports: The 8: The 8thth annual report and most recent was released annual report and most recent was released

in 2011; focused on 2010 case reviews of 18 cases involving in 2011; focused on 2010 case reviews of 18 cases involving 36 deaths.36 deaths.

Statistical Overview for OntarioStatistical Overview for Ontario VictimsVictims: 96% women; 4% men; : 96% women; 4% men; AccusedAccused: 94% men; 6% women : 94% men; 6% women Type of homicideType of homicide: Single homicide (45%); homicide-suicides : Single homicide (45%); homicide-suicides

(38%); attempt homicide-suicides, multiple homicides and (38%); attempt homicide-suicides, multiple homicides and homicide-suicides (17%).homicide-suicides (17%).

Reviews 2003-2010Reviews 2003-2010

Type of relationshipType of relationship::- 52% - 52% Legal spouseLegal spouse

- 28% - 28% Dating (boy/girlfriend & same-sex)Dating (boy/girlfriend & same-sex)- 20% - 20% Common-law partner Common-law partner

Length of relationshipLength of relationship::- 11%- 11% Less than one yearLess than one year- 68% - 68% Between 1 and 10 years Between 1 and 10 years - 32% - 32% More than 10 years More than 10 years

Children in commonChildren in common: 47% : 47% Cause of deathCause of death: : : : 32% stabbing; 26% gunshot wounds; 32% stabbing; 26% gunshot wounds;

42% other (beating/strangulation).42% other (beating/strangulation).

Top 10 risk factors identified Top 10 risk factors identified

#1: #1: History of domestic violence (78%)History of domestic violence (78%)#2: #2: Actual or pending separation (78%)Actual or pending separation (78%)#3: #3: Obsessive behaviour by perpetrator (63%)Obsessive behaviour by perpetrator (63%)#4: #4: Perpetrator depressed (59%)Perpetrator depressed (59%)#5: #5: Escalation of violence (53%)Escalation of violence (53%)#6: #6: Prior threats to commit suicide (53%)Prior threats to commit suicide (53%)#7: #7: Prior threats to kill victim (47%)Prior threats to kill victim (47%)#8: #8: Victim had intuitive sense of fear (42%)Victim had intuitive sense of fear (42%)#9: #9: History of violence outside the family (42%)History of violence outside the family (42%)#10: Perpetrator unemployed (40%)#10: Perpetrator unemployed (40%)

And And followingfollowing close behind… close behind…

Access to or possession of firearms: Access to or possession of firearms: 39%39%

Excessive alcohol and/or drug use: 38%Excessive alcohol and/or drug use: 38%

Control most/all of victim daily activities: 37%Control most/all of victim daily activities: 37%

Actual/perceived new partner of victim: 37%Actual/perceived new partner of victim: 37%

Defining risk factors

Example #1: Perpetrator depression

Risk factor #26: In the opinion of any family, friends or acquaintances, and regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment, the perpetrator displayed symptoms characteristic of depression.

Risk factor #27: A diagnosis of depression by any mental health professional (e.g. family doctor; psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse practitioner) with symptoms recognized by the DSM-IV, regardless of whether or not the perpetrator received treatment.

Defining risk factors (cont’d)

Example #2: Prior threats to commit suicide

Risk factor #6: Any recent (past 6 months) act or comment made by the perpetrator that was intended to convey the perpetrator’s idea or intent of committing suicide, even if the act or comment was not taken seriously. These comments could have been made verbally, or delivered in letter format, or left on an answering machine. These comments could range from explicit to implicit.

Example #1:Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

Recommendation #1: In order to assist CIC and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, information pertaining to any domestic violence occurrence involving immigration applicants and/or their families or sponsors should be communicated between local law enforcement or social service agencies and the federal immigration authorities

Example #1

Recommendation #2: CIC should develop domestic violence training programs for all its agents and officers to emphasize that withdrawal of sponsorship or denial of immigration applications or claims may result in or lead to violence. It should prepare agents/officers who may be adjudicating claims from remote locations to consider making appropriate referrals to law enforcement/social service agencies dealing with applicants, families and/or sponsors where there is a history or reported threats of domestic violence.

Example #2:Minister of Public Safety

Recommendation: It is recommended to the federal Minister of Public Safety that applications for firearms Possession Acquisition Licence (PAL) should include a medical waiver signed by the applicant. This would allow investigators access to information pertaining to the mental health of the applicant. There should also be higher standards and more restrictions for individuals applying for a firearms PAL when they have had previous licenses revoked or removed.

Example #3:Example #3:Ministry of Community Safety Ministry of Community Safety

& Correctional Services & Correctional Services

Recommendation:Recommendation: “Police services across Ontario “Police services across Ontario should consider implementing procedures that should consider implementing procedures that stipulate that when there are grounds to arrest and/or stipulate that when there are grounds to arrest and/or charge a person in relation to a domestic assault, and charge a person in relation to a domestic assault, and where there are public safety issues, or a delay in where there are public safety issues, or a delay in processing the charges, the accused should processing the charges, the accused should immediately be placed on the Canadian Police immediately be placed on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) as a Special Interest Information Centre (CPIC) as a Special Interest Police (SIP) entry, advising that grounds exist to Police (SIP) entry, advising that grounds exist to arrest.arrest.””

Three concluding comments:Three concluding comments:

- Domestic violence death reviews address a Domestic violence death reviews address a need that was not being addressed;need that was not being addressed;

- ‘‘No blame or shameNo blame or shame’ culture of reviews ’ culture of reviews necessary to facilitate 3Cs (communication, necessary to facilitate 3Cs (communication, cooperation and collaboration);cooperation and collaboration);

- Identifying how to determine the impact of Identifying how to determine the impact of domestic violence death reviews on violence domestic violence death reviews on violence prevention.prevention.

Thank you!Thank you!

For more information or For more information or reports, contact:reports, contact:

mdawson@uoguelph.camdawson@uoguelph.ca