Prof. Troy Mcewan1, Dr Michael Trood, Dr Ben Spivak, Distinguished Professor James Ogloff
1Centre For Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology and Forensicare, Alphington, Australia
Biography:
Troy McEwan is Professor of Clinical and Forensic Psychology at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, and a Principal Psychologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare). Since the late 2000s, Troy's research has focussed on understanding, assessing and responding to problem behaviours such as stalking, family violence, and firesetting. She has a strong focus on translating research into practice, reflected in co-authorship of several risk assessment guides for family violence and stalking and the 2024 book Treating Stalking. Troy is also the Immediate Past President of ANZAPPL.
Abstract:
There have been repeated calls over the past decade for improved identification of cases where family violence homicide risk is greatest, based on the idea that there are ‘recognised risk factors’ for lethal family violence that can aid detection (strangulation, controlling behaviour, sexual assault, stalking, etc.) This idea has informed public policy in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, and is integral to risk assessment in the field of family and intimate partner violence. This presentation will use data from a prospective longitudinal cohort of 39,000 Victoria Police family violence reports to demonstrate why these kinds of ‘risk factors’ cannot be used to identify cases where lethal violence is more likely. The presentation will discuss how previous research has led to this common misapprehension, and the implications for courts and criminal justice if it forms the basis for criminal justice policy. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of how validated risk assessments can be used to help reduce harm from family and intimate partner violence, if we take a different approach.