Perpetrators of violence may benefit from prompt help

For many, it's natural to think that it's primarily the person subjected to violence who should be met with care and support.

But how the person who has committed the violence is treated can greatly influence what happens next.

“People who commit serious acts of domestic violence are generally at higher risk of repeating the violence,” says researcher Merete Berg Nesset.

The period right after being reported is critical

Together with researcher Camilla Buch Gudde, Nesset has conducted a study into how perpetrators of intimate partner violence experience the period after being reported to the police.

Nesset is a researcher at St. Olavs Hospital and an associate professor at NTNU. She is also a member of the High-Risk Team in Trøndelag county. 

Gudde is a researcher at St. Olavs Hospital in the regional Competence Centre Network for Security, Prison, and Forensic Psychiatry (SIFER).

“What we see is that the initial period, directly after being reported to the police, is critical for whether the perpetrator will accept help or not,” Nesset said.

Can lead to murder

The High-Risk Team is a collaboration between professionals in the police, municipal services, and specialist health services in Trondheim. 

Since 2018, the team has provided coordinated services for victims, perpetrators, and children involved in serious domestic violence cases.

In order to receive support from the team, a report must have been filed with the police regarding serious acts of domestic violence. The police must also have assessed the case as having a high risk of repetition.

Researcher interviewed 13 perpetrators

Gudde conducted in-depth interviews with 13 perpetrators of intimate partner violence, all of whom were deemed eligible for help from the High-Risk Team. 

These are individuals who have committed serious acts of physical violence against their partners, of a nature that might cause injuries requiring medical attention. 

In the worst case, this kind of violence can lead to murder, the researcher explains.

“The starting point is that we do not have enough knowledge about which interventions work for whom, and under what circumstances,” says Nesset.

Urgent to rethink interventions against violence

Interventions aimed at reducing violent behaviour have had mixed results. The researchers believe there is an urgent need to rethink interventions to combat intimate partner violence.

They want to focus on interventions in which multiple agencies collaborate, involving both the victims and the perpetrators.

“People who perpetrate violence are just as diverse as everyone else. That's why it's important to conduct individual assessments to identify their specific needs," says Gudde.

Both in terms of providing support and healthcare, and in determining which interventions should be implemented to reduce the risk of recurrence, she explains.

The perpetrators felt prejudged

A key focus for the researchers was to understand how the perpetrators experienced the initial period after being reported to the police, before contact with the High-Risk Team. 

For some, this period lasted weeks or even months.

“The perpetrators focused on what it was like not receiving information and not having the opportunity to express themselves. Not having a voice, nor any time frame. They felt prejudged,” says Gudde.

They also faced practical challenges, such as having nowhere to go, and worries about what would happen next.

Many are sceptical of support services

“They didn't know what would happen in terms of their family, their children, their home, and their job. They spoke about emotional chaos,” says Gudde.

For some, this led to reactions such as indifference and a feeling of having nothing left to lose.

“Some of them turned to substance use and violated restraining orders. Others described intense suicidal thoughts and experienced anger, frustration, and a lack of trust in the police. A few received practical assistance, but felt that they did not receive support for the emotional stress they were experiencing,” she says.

The experience of the High-Risk Team is that many perpetrators are sceptical of and have little trust in the support system. 

The researchers asked the perpetrators about their experiences of receiving help and support from the multidisciplinary team.

They want low-threshold services

The answers they received focused on the experience of being met with a holistic approach. Of being seen as a person who struggles with anger issues, substance use, and mental health problems, and not just as a perpetrator.

“Many of the perpetrators have experienced being dismissed and not taken seriously. They spoke about how important it was to be met with an open and non-judgemental attitude. That someone listens to them and tries to understand how they are feeling. This was crucial for them to continue accepting help and support,” says Gudde.

The researchers also wanted to find out what the perpetrators themselves thought they needed in order to refrain from committing violence.

“Many of them mentioned early support and good information from the police. And that the support from the High-Risk Team should have started earlier, so as to avoid the difficult and critical period immediately after being reported,” says Gudde.

They called for low-threshold services for perpetrators, such as a crisis hotline.

“They need to establish trust and to have hope that things can improve. In this respect, the police have a golden opportunity to initiate a process that can motivate the perpetrator to accept help,” the researcher says.

Must dare to ask about violence

Nesset stresses that the police are currently working effectively and systematically to prevent intimate partner violence. The researchers now want the healthcare services to focus greater attention on the link between mental health problems and the risk of committing violence.

“There is room for improvement in this area in the healthcare services. We know that the threshold is high for people to disclose that they are a victim of or have committed intimate partner violence,” says Nesset.

Violence is associated with shame, and the threshold for seeking help is high.

"At the same time, research shows that both perpetrators and victims use the healthcare services a lot, without violence being an issue that is addressed. Healthcare workers must dare to ask about domestic violence, because the individuals involved will not bring it up themselves,” she says.

The researchers are now conducting a study with people who have been victims of serious acts of intimate partner violence.

“We have interviewed victims of violence and are now working on analysing the answers. This will help us understand what kind of help they need,” says Nesset.

Reference:

Gudde et al. A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study of the Perpetrators’ Experiences, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2025. DOI: 10.1177/08862605251355622

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no

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