Perpetrator Histories and Trajectories
Preventing domestic violence begins with understanding the backgrounds and histories of men who are perpetrating this violence.
Domestic violence is costly and widespread – but it’s also preventable.
Research on domestic violence typically focuses on its after-effects, with an emphasis on how survivors can keep themselves safe. At Shift, we’re flipping the script – it’s time to focus on changing the people and systems that cause harm to begin with.
Using a robust 10-year dataset supplied by the Calgary Police Service, we’re spearheading first-of-its-kind research in Canada on the trajectories of domestic violence perpetrators. This work investigates the criminal histories of male perpetrators who were charged with a crime involving domestic violence in 2019, highlighting important opportunities to interrupt the patterns that lead to domestic violence.
We believe that perpetrators are made, not born – by watching for warning signs and providing the right support at the right time, we can disrupt and prevent the escalation of violence.
Key Findings
- Male perpetrators may be following specific developmental sequences that lead to a criminal domestic violence act in the future;
- 73% of men who faced a criminal charge involving domestic violence had already been involved in an incident with police beforehand;
- 64% of men who faced a criminal charge involving domestic violence had a clear increase in police interactions for domestic violence and criminal activity in the two years leading up to the charge;
- Only 27% of perpetrators had no interaction with police at all prior to their criminal charge involving domestic violence.
Why Does This Research Matter?
These findings tell us that domestic violence is not a random event – and that we need to pay attention to the red flags that emerge right before criminal acts of domestic violence happen.
When the majority charged with domestic violence are already on the police’s radar, it means we’ve missed an opportunity to intervene before violence escalates. There are distinct patterns of behaviour that we can recognize, track, and address to prevent violence.
Read About the Research
What’s Next
So far, our research has leveraged a 10-year dataset from the Calgary Police Service that describes criminal charges and domestic conflict encounters that took place in Calgary, Alberta from 2010-2019.
As we continue this project, we are now working with an expanded dataset that includes an additional 5 years of data on men who were charged with a domestic violence related offence.
Stay tuned for more publications and new insights, coming to you in Spring 2025.
Learn More About the Research
“If we truly want to end domestic violence, we must focus our efforts on preventing male perpetration.” – Lana Wells
Links to Postmedia articles provided with permission. Calgary Herald/Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Shift acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 4, Treaty 6, and Treaty 7 territories and the traditional meeting grounds and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Niisitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, and Nakota Sioux, the Siksika, the Piikani (Peigan), the Kainai (Blood), the Tsuut’ina (Sacree), Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Dene, Mountain Cree, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, including Chiniki, Bearpaw, and Wesley First Nations. It is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 and Region 4. We respect the Treaties that were made, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Initiated by The Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence
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