A/Prof. Leanne Payne1, Dr Isabel Wesdorp1, Ms Alexandra Green1, Dr Elissa Waterson1, Professor Ed Heffernan1, A/Professor William Brennan1
1Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Dr Leanne Payne is the Research and Evaluation Manager at Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service, Metro North HHS, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. She leads a statewide research and evaluation program across forensic mental health services, with interests in mental health and the justice system, service evaluation, and improving outcomes for people with complex needs. Leanne has published and presented nationally and internationally across forensic, child and adolescent, and public mental health, and is committed to translating research into practice and policy.
Abstract:
Family and domestic violence (FDV) is a major public health issue, yet little is known about its prevalence within forensic mental health services or how these services might contribute to earlier identification and intervention while balancing community safety with therapeutic care. This presentation draws on recent and emerging research examining people charged with family and domestic violence across Queensland forensic mental health services. Findings from a statewide Court Liaison Service (CLS) cohort identified FDV-related charges in almost 44% of people referred for forensic mental health assessment, substantially exceeding the proportion observed among offenders proceeded against in Queensland more broadly. Individuals with FDV-related charges were more likely to have serious offences, be referred from regional courts, and almost one-third were already engaged with public mental health services at the time of the alleged offence, highlighting opportunities for earlier recognition and coordinated responses. To determine whether these findings extend to a more clinically complex forensic mental health population, a complementary study is examining people charged with family and domestic violence who are transferred from custody to inpatient mental health care. Preliminary findings from this study will also be presented. Together, these studies explore how forensic mental health services can contribute to earlier identification, coordinated intervention and evidence-informed responses to people charged with family and domestic violence across different points in the justice pathway.