Transcript Slide 1
Working with, and Enhancing the Safety of those Victimized by Violence, through Victim-Centered Interviewing
James E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC-R
8 th Annual Spring Training
Fargo, North Dakota , 5/9/13
Objectives
Identify how the system enhances or impedes ones ability to manage Trauma Identify ways to enhance victim satisfaction with the criminal justice system.
Identify palatable ways of communicating with those victimized by violence that are safe and productive Identify ways of incorporating community partners in the management of offenders and the autonomy of victims Identify ways to safely and legally releasing information that enhance safety and accountability
UGA study finds that social workers may indirectly experience post-traumatic stress Hearing the stories of trauma victims doubles our risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
PTSD characterized by symptoms of repeated and unwanted memories of the event, avoidance responses such as emotional numbness, and so called arousal responses such as hypervigilance or difficulty concentrating. Bride’s study found 55% of those surveyed met 1 diagnostic criteria, 20% met 2, and 15% met 3
Warning Signs of Trauma Exposure
Feeling helpless and hopeless A sense that one can never do enough Diminished creativity Inability to embrace complexity Minimizing, Inability to Empathize Chronic exhaustion/Physical Ailments Inability to listen/deliberate avoidance Anger and cynicism, Addiction Grandiosity, An inflated sense of importance related to ones work.
UGA study finds that social workers may indirectly experience post-traumatic stress He surveyed nearly 300 practicing social workers in fields such as mental health and substance abuse, health care, child welfare and school social work and found that: · 40 percent thought about their work with traumatized clients without intending to · 22 percent reported feeling detached from others · 26 percent felt emotionally numb · 28 percent had a sense of foreshortened future · 27 percent reported irritability · 28 percent reported concentration difficulties
Moving past Trauma
Why am I doing what I’m doing?
Is this Working for me?
Where am I putting my focus?
Create a Micro culture Practice Compassion for myself and ALL others Gratitude
Our Mission,
Should You Choose to Accept It…
Misdemeanor Courts, Probation, Police, Prosecutors, Defense Counsel, SAFE House, BIPs County Administration City of Ann Arbor and other members of the community collaborate to:
Maximize the safety of those victimized by the violence; End community tolerance of domestic violence; Hold offenders accountable for their violence and abuse; Ensure fair and equitable treatment in the criminal justice system for persons domestic violence.
affected by
Adapted from Washtenaw County JODI Mission Statement
NIJ Journal No. 253 Jan 2006
Victim Satisfaction With the Criminal Justice System 118 women tracked for 1 year 49% admitted that had been re victimized 22% reported the incident More likely to report less serious offenses For individuals who experienced ongoing abuse, reporting this latest incident may be viewed as useless ritualism.
NIJ Journal No. 253 Jan 2006
Victim Satisfaction with the Criminal Justice System
Victims of DV wanted to
: Enhance their own safety, Maintain economic viability, Protect their children, Have an opportunity to force the abuser into a BIP
NIJ Journal No. 253 Jan 2006
Victim Satisfaction With the Criminal Justice System 6 Common variables in satisfied cases Incidents were less serious Offenders were less dangerous The victim felt some control over the court Reported less violence in her past Felt control over ending the violence Felt control over her offenders future conduct
HISTORICAL ROLE OF PROBATION
Evaluate data obtained in interviews and investigation Formulate a plan of action for rehabilitation of the defendant Make recommendations to the court for appropriate sanctions
PROBLEMS WITH HISTORICAL ROLE
Victim is expected to be an informant Victim disclosure/monitoring becomes part of the rehabilitation plan Recommendations to the court might be seen or experienced as dependant upon victim statements
PROBLEMS WITH HISTORICAL ROLE
Forces victim to once again relive in exact details of the traumatic experiences Places responsibility on the victim for consequences imposed on the batterer Fails to send the message that domestic violence is a crime that the community does not tolerate
INCREASED RISK TO BATTERED WOMEN
Future beatings Retaliation – Home/Work o Involving other systems Child Protective Services Welfare Immigration Law Enforcement
Strategies for Victim Contact
•
Send contact letter:
• how to contact agent • conditions of No Contact Order • conditions of probation • request for multiple contact methods
IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH?
Strategies for Victim Contact
•
Who has had an opportunity to collect victim contact info?
• Verify what times, places, and phone #’s can I safely utilize? • Preference for face to face contacts
During the First Victim Contact
Reiterate confidentiality issues Review cost & benefits of a civil Restraining Order Discuss limits of supervision and agents role Provide culturally relevant resource Inform what offenders have and will be told Discuss safety planning
GOALS for interviews of those victimized by violence
Develop confidence that the criminal justice system will hold batterer accountable Intervene in a way that will be positive and safe for all family members
GETTING READY
A person does not have to earn the right to not be hit or abused Universally screen for domestic violence in all pre-sentence reports Have safety planning and community resource handouts available
GETTING STARTED
Questions can have more than one purpose o Gather information/Provide education o Has _____ ever use being drunk or high as an excuse when they hurt you? Rather than: Is the abuser ever drunk or high when they hurt you?
GETTING STARTED
Phrase questions to give permission to talk and create a safe environment o How can I be helpful to you?
o I’m glad you chose to meet with me today. Where would you like to start?
o Is there anything else that you were hoping we would discuss that we haven’t?
o Please, take your time.
GETTING STARTED
Provide information about the criminal justice system o Discuss confidentiality o o o Identify what the system can/cannot do Help individuals to understand procedures and rationale Help individuals access the system and community resources.
Begin with less intrusive questions and normalize.
Incorporate Motivational Interviewing
Express Empathy Roll with Resistance Develop Discrepancy Support Self-Efficacy ( Walters et al.,2007 )
Motivational Interviewing Techniques
Ask Open ended questions Affirm positive talk and behavior Reflect what you are hearing and seeing Have the individual summarize what has been said, and their strengths.
DURING INTERVIEW
Listen for lethality risks Convey that there is no justification or excuse for choices to abuse.
DURING INTERVIEW
Acknowledge power and control tactics as abusive Give examples of how control is demonstrated Identify criminal behaviors Validate, respect, listen, acknowledge strength
• • •
OPENERS/QUALIFIERS
Many of the men….
• It has been my experience….
A lot of women have told me….
• Research indicates….
Often when this happens….
• Sometimes we see….
• Often we see….
AVOID…..
Telling the victim what to do Joining in victim justification of abuser’s behavior Criticizing batterer Classifying individual as a victim/survivor Victim-blaming
AND SAYING….
You need to….
You should….
You must….
If I were you, I would….
ENDING INTERVIEW
Identify support systems Work through a safety plan Acknowledge expertise of victim advocates Look for ways to link individuals to additional community resources Offer to work as a liaison between victim and community resources Always ask, what can we do to help make you safer?
Change Takes Resources: Reflection #10
“Tradition is what you resort to when you don’t have the time or money to do it right. ”
Kurt Herbert Adler
James E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC-R Battered Women's Justice Project 1801 Nicollet Ave South, Suite 102 Minneapolis, MN 55403 p 800-903-0111, ext. 1 [email protected]
(517) 414-7302 Fax (517) 522-8521
What is success?
How will you measure it?
Your mission is clear.
We hope you decide to accept it.
Good Luck!