NCJ Number
220575
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 13 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 1130-1148
Date Published
November 2007
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study of 102 high-risk victims of domestic violence in Cardiff, Wales, focused on their revictimization 1 year after participation in a Multiagency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), which provided increased and ongoing communication between agencies and victims, risk assessment, victim advocacy, help in developing and implementing action plans, and guidance in holding perpetrators accountable.
Abstract
Approximately 25 percent of the women had not been revictimized in the year following their participation in MARAC. This is significant, since these victims had lengthy histories of domestic violence with their partners and were identified as being at high risk of revictimization. Regarding the women's perspectives of the MARAC intervention, they were positive about the consistency of information shared across various agencies. The women also valued the involved agencies having a comprehensive approach to their situations. The services they received came from agencies involved in criminal justice, the volunteer sector, housing, and health care. They felt, however, that the services were only relevant once they had decided to commit themselves to changing their circumstances. Revictimization was assessed by collecting police data for 1 year after they were identified as high risk and referred to a MARAC. The sample consisted of women referred to MARAC from October 2004 through January 2005. Only nine of the women were interviewed about their perceptions of their experiences with the MARAC. 1 figure, 7 notes, and 24 references