Mentoring HighRisk Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators in the

Mentoring High-Risk Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators in the Community Kate Walker

Background: Mentoring • • Of all the criminal justice ‘interventions’ mentoring remains the least well developed both in theoretical terms and the empirical base that supports its use (Brown & Ross, 2010) Some consensus regarding defining features of mentoring: – One-to-one relationships freely entered in to and based on trust; – Typically involves a volunteer to act as a positive role model and to support another individual over a period of time to achieve a goal; generally mentoring is underpinned by a social deficit model (Hucklesby, 2008) – Individuals are viewed as having significant problems or lacking the necessary skills and knowledge to become law abiding citizens (Fletcher & Batty, 2012; Maruna, 2001). • Definitions of mentoring – Non-criminal Justice: ‘Off-line help by one person to another in making significant transitions in knowledge, working or thinking’ (Megginson, Clutterbuck, Garvey, Stokes, & Garrett-Harris, 2006) – Criminal Justice: ‘Someone more experienced, guiding, coaching or encouraging someone less experienced in the performance of a task (or a role)’ (Nellis, 2002)

Purpose mentoring? • Lack of clarity – – Reduce offending (Du. Bois et al. , 2002). Indirect Support (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2007) Someone to talk to, support (Brown and Ross 2010) Monitoring (Hucklesby & Wincupp, 2014) • Evidence of Success – Juveniles (e. g. , Jolliffe and Farrington 2008) reviews have found modest effects of mentoring on re-offending for youths and positive improvements on outcome measures – Adult evaluation sparse; Lewis et al. (2007) no effects on reconviction but pre-release offenders reported benefits of ‘confidence and peace of mind’ and ‘someone to talk to’

Mentoring and IPV Current study – Examining innovative mentoring service for IPV perpetrators who are: • Presenting as high risk or are at high risk • Difficult to engage • In need of targeted guidance and support due to negative and damaging lifestyle choices Focus of evaluation: – Process evaluation & Impact • This presentation focus mainly on process: How facilitate engagement and initiate change

The current study • Qualitative analysis • Participants Interviewed – 6 mentees – 2 mentors – 4 members DVA Perpetrator Case Management Forum • File notes & narratives (16 Mentees) • Thematic Analysis

Who Accessing mentoring? Static Factors Prolific Offending Histories Psychological and Mental Instability Chaotic Existence Dysfunctional Relationships Dynamic Criminogenic Needs Disordered Lifestyles Prolific Psychological Disordered Dysfunctional and Mental Offending Relationships Lifestyles Instability Histories Violence against 66 Recorded Offences Alcohol and drug Depression partners ex-partners, Violent (Assault, ABH, Autism abuse family members GBH) Poor health Anxiety Multiple children Non-violent (Drug Employment issues Suicide attempts across multiple possession, theft, Housing issues Anger issues partners burglary)

Effective Communication One to One Children Building Relationships Tools and Techniques to Facilitate Engagement Tenacity of Mentor Persistence Involving Family Criminal Sanctions Employment Hooks Engagement Catalysts to Facilitate Change Focus on the Future Clear Action Points Quid Pro Quo Adjunctive Treatment

Mentor 1: The process and the nuts and bolts of it which is about building a working relationship……the job of mentoring is to build rapport and to get in to somebody’s psychic a bit Mentee 6: Yes yes. . . I was comfortable talking to them [The Mentors] like. . they made me comfortable sort of thing you know . . Just by I suppose being themselves being open and friendly. Mentee 5: Just talking to me like a proper person. . . the way they bring themselves over to you. . . They way they speak to you they treat you like an individual rather than like treating you like a bit of scum or the like. . . they are there to help you not ridicule you Effective Communication One to One Building Relationships Tools and Techniques to Facilitate Engagement Tenacity of Mentor Persistence Involving Family Mentee 1: I’ve done a lot of time obviously like in prison and the courses in there I’ve tried but cos its always like group sessions I just can’t do it So a one to one basis is fine I find works for me I don’t like groups Mentee 6: I don’t like speaking in a group. I prefer speaking one-to-one. In one-to-one you are more able to put your point across and they [The Mentor] are more able to put their point across to you rather than being in a group.

File Notes: [The Mentee] didn’t Mentor 1: The process and the nuts and bolts of it which is about show on the 28 th even though I building a working spoke to him on the phone the day relationship……the job of before to confirm times. I called his mentoring is to build rapport and phone several times and we to get in to somebody’s psychic a attended his mum’s address at the bit time agreed. I have text [The Mentee] since and will follow up Mentee 6: Yes yes. . . I was again next week. comfortable talking to them [The Mentors] like. . they made me Mentor 1: We never give up I mean comfortable sort of thing you know that’s the point until. . unless we . . Just by I suppose being are told errm or there is a risk that themselves being open and friendly. stops us …then we will keep turning up, be very polite err but very Mentee 5: Just talking to me like a persistent and it works it really proper person. . . the way they does work. bring themselves over to you. . . They way they speak to you Mentee 6: They keep coming back they treat you like an individual and it gives me a focus and rather than like treating you like a something to do. It is the routine it bit of scum or the like. . . they are is also about knowing that they are there to help you not ridicule you coming every week. Effective Communication One to One Building Relationships Tools and Techniques to Facilitate Engagement Tenacity of Mentor Persistence Involving Family Mentee 1: I’ve done a lot of time File Notes: We have now met with obviously like in prison and the [The Mentee] twice and engaged courses in there I’ve tried but cos briefly with his mother and one of its always like group sessions I just his brothers. The discussions had can’t do it So a one to one basis is with his mother *****were on the fine I find works for me I don’t like doorstep on the 11 th October; she groups presented as polite and once aware of our potential role, keen to Mentee 6: I don’t like speaking in a support [The Mentee’s] group. I prefer speaking one-to-one. engagement. In one-to-one you are more able to put your point across and they [The Mentor 1: His Uncle ******* has Mentor] are more able to put their been useful in terms of keeping in point across to you rather than touch and we will persist next week. being in a group. Mentee 6: They [Mentors] keep coming to my sister’s to see me they have involved my sister as well in with the stuff because I don’t. . . I keep forgetting stuff so they have involved my sister to keep an eye on me. I find this helpful

Children File Notes: He just wanted to not have any future children taken off him and he wanted to see [his son] in some way. He was clear also that he would never again commit DV and simply wanted to get on with his life, see his kids and enjoy himself. Mentee 4: Cos I want to see my child. Mentee 1: So it made me realise it is not really about me it is about my kids. Criminal Sanctions Employment Hooks Catalysts to Facilitate Change Focus on the Future Clear Action Points Quid Pro Quo Adjunctive Treatment Mentee 2: Helping me look for work. . . and stuff so obviously like it was like quite good like that I liked what they were offering. Mentee 5: He [The Mentor] just basically offered you know opportunities that I can’t get from anywhere else such as obviously my forklift licences and work things like that. Mentee 2: Saying like how serious like it was and once they said like going on about going to jail and stuff and it wakes you up like makes you think like wow its quite far innit and so obviously you think like wow so obviously I’ve got to start changing so obviously I think that’s what works once they explain how serious it is obviously like you wake up and like you think wow like I’ve gotta start changing

Children Criminal Sanctions Employment Hooks Catalysts to Facilitate Change Focus on the Future Clear Action Points Quid Pro Quo Adjunctive Treatment File Notes: Identify areas of focus for [The Mentee] Notes: He just wanted to not have any future to put some ‘energy’ into beyond relationships and children taken off him and he wanted to see [his work. son] in some way. He was clear also that he would File Notes: Drive forward discussions with [The never again commit DV and simply wanted to get on Mentee] about his past relationships and his focus with his life, see his kids and enjoy himself. for the future. Mentee 4: Cos I want to see my child. File Notes: Seek work placement opportunities. Mentee 1: So it made me realise it is not really Mentee 5: I mean mentoring ain’t it is not going to about me it is about my kids. help with my problems that I have had. It’s going to help with rebuilding my life to how I want it through Mentee 2: Helping me look for work. . . and stuff so work through confidence you know through obviously like it was like quite good like that I liked meeting different people you know from being able what they were offering. to talk to different people. Mentee 5: He [The Mentor] just basically offered you know opportunities that I can’t get from Mentor 1: the balancing act is that there had to be anywhere else such as obviously my forklift licences an element of I don’t know what you call it. . . quid and work things like that. pro quo or scratching each other’s backs at times you have to give a bit to get a bit. . . but there are Mentee 2: Saying like how serious like it was and certain non-negotiables there has to be. And one is once they said like going on about going to jail and about desistance. stuff and it wakes you up like makes you think like Mentee 6: Just ermm to keep going on the straight wow its quite far innit and so obviously you think and narrow. So not use offending behaviours and so like wow so obviously I’ve got to start changing so in return they will help with the housing. . . I am like obviously I think that’s what works once they not going out looking for earners anymore. you explain how serious it is obviously like you wake up know. . . somebody is helping me. . . I have got to and like you think wow like I’ve gotta start changing understand that I am worth to help now.

Children Criminal Sanctions Employment Hooks Catalysts to Facilitate Change Focus on the Future Clear Action Points Quid Pro Quo Adjunctive Treatment File Notes: Identify areas of focus for [The Mentee] Notes: He just wanted to not have any future to put some ‘energy’ into beyond relationships and children taken off him and he wanted to see [his work. son] in some way. He was clear also that he would File Notes: Drive forward discussions with [The never again commit DV and simply wanted to get on Mentee] about his past relationships and his focus with his life, see his kids and enjoy himself. for the future. Mentee 4: Cos I want to see my child. File Notes: Seek work placement opportunities. Mentee 1: So it made me realise it is not really Mentee 5: I mean mentoring ain’t it is not going to about me it is about my kids. File Notes: I informed [The Mentee] that I help with my problems that I have had. It’s going to had been contacted by [Probation Officer] help with rebuilding my life to how I want it through Menteewho informed me about a domestic violence 2: Helping me look for work. . . and stuff so work through confidence you know through obviously like it was like quite good like that I liked course called SIADA to address domestic meeting different people you know from being able what they were offering. abuse to talk to different people. Mentee 5: He [The Mentor] just basically offered you know opportunities that I can’t get from Mentee 1: I done a alcohol course as well to Mentor 1: the balancing act is that there had to be anywhere else such as obviously my forklift licences get off the alcohol and stuff like that worked an element of I don’t know what you call it. . . quid and work things like that. pro quo or scratching each other’s backs at times Mentee 2: I’m starting anger management you have to give a bit to get a bit. . . but there are Menteenow so that’s going to help 2: Saying like how serious like it was and certain non-negotiables there has to be. And one is once they said like going on about going to jail and about desistance. stuff and it wakes you up like makes you think like Mentee 6: Just ermm to keep going on the straight wow its quite far innit and so obviously you think and narrow. So not use offending behaviours and so like wow so obviously I’ve got to start changing so in return they will help with the housing. . . I am like obviously I think that’s what works once they not going out looking for earners anymore. you explain how serious it is obviously like you wake up know. . . somebody is helping me. . . I have got to and like you think wow like I’ve gotta start changing understand that I am worth to help now.

Impact • Positive successes: – Majority (13 out of 16, 81%) Mentees engaging based on attending regular appointments – Majority (10 out of 13, 77%) no further offending – Other positive outcomes observed: Anger management, taking responsibility for actions, removal of chaos • Areas of concern – Minority (3 out of 13, 23%) reoffending (IPV behaviours) – Fragile engagement; Of 16 offenders, two declined one dropped out – Pressure points; capacity, conflict with victim’s priorities

Implications • Evidence that mentoring offers innovative approach when working with high-risk perpetrators • Evidence of engagement: – Understand more why / why not work • Examine role of characteristics, attitudes and behaviours in relation to high-risk male IPV mentoring • Greater understanding of theoretical framework underpinning mentoring – More about facilitating change to get individual to position to start addressing criminogenic needs

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