Family Violence Courts and the Abuse Prevention Intervention Program | Abuse Prevention Intervention Program for Men | Eligibility and Contact | Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) 2009 Act
[Last updated on:
18 October, 2011
]
Family Violence Courts and the Abuse Prevention Intervention Program
For many years a special list to hear criminal charges against men who have allegedly assaulted a family member has been operating at the Elizabeth, and Adelaide Magistrates Court. Having a designated court enables the police to provide special assistance to victims and enabled Violence Intervention Program (VIP) staff to attend to provide information, advocacy and support services to victims and their children. The Violence Intervention Programs (VIPs) were operated by external agencies and offered information, advocacy and support services to victims and their children and provided a 24 week “Stopping Violence” group for men referred by the Court, as part of a condition of bail or a bond. The Northern Family Violence Program (NVIP) and the Central Family Violence Program (CVIP) ceased operating at the end of March 2011 and have been replaced with the Abuse Prevention Intervention Program which is a program that falls under the responsibility of the Courts Administration Authority.
Abuse Prevention Intervention Program for Men
The program is for men who have been charged with domestic violence related offences against their female partner. It is designed to be undertaken on a voluntary or mandated basis, either under the terms of the Bail Act or under the terms of the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act, when this is in force. See below for more information about the Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act.
Referral for an assessment for the program can be made from a Family Violence Court operating in the metropolitan area or from the general criminal list in a metropolitan court. The matter will be adjourned, part heard, for a number of weeks for the assessment and a report to be prepared for the court.
The Abuse Prevention Intervention Program is a 26 week group program which is based around exercises that are set out in a workbook which each man is provided free of charge. The exercises are designed to hold men accountable for their actions and to promote personality change and growth and address the underlying dynamics of violence toward women using a cognitive-behavioural approach. The program is widely used in the USA where mandated treatment is more common but it has been adapted to reflect the Australian context.
The program will be delivered by the Department for Correctional Services at a central location in the CBD and depending on demand there will be groups available after hours as well as during working hours.
Men from culturally diverse backgrounds or people with low literacy levels will be assisted to participate in the program wherever possible.
Support and information services for the female partners of men participating in the Abuse Prevention Intervention Program will be provided by Women’s Domestic Violence Services in the metropolitan area.
The program is for men charged with domestic violence related offences who have been referred via a metropolitan court and are able to participate in the group.
The assessment will be undertaken at the Adelaide Magistrates Court and will include a focus on underlying issues such as mental health, substance abuse and gambling.
For further information please contact the Clinical Assessment and Liaison Officer on 82048673
Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009
These changes have come about as a result of the new legislation– Intervention Order (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 which when enacted will replace the Domestic Violence Act. The definition of domestic and family violence is broader than just physical harm therefore the term abuse is adopted in the title and throughout the Act. The new Act is intended to improve the system of restraint and intervention for both domestic and non-domestic abuse and to give police more power to intervene at the time of an incident. The reforms will make it easier for protected persons to remain in the family home through the provisions which enable the police to exclude the defendant from the family home.
The term intervention order will replace the term currently used in the Domestic Violence Act which is restraining order but will be applied in the same way to require a person to comply with certain conditions designed to protect another person from abuse.
An Intervention Order can include a requirement that the defendant undertake an assessment for an intervention program and if found eligible the defendant can be mandated to attend. The role of the court in providing intervention programs in other areas has been built into the new legislation by making the Court Administration Authority (CAA) responsible for receiving referrals from the police or from the court for persons placed on an Interim Intervention Order, for assessment for suitability for an Intervention Program and for ensuring the provision of an Abuse Prevention Intervention Program.
Demand for Abuse Prevention Programs for other target groups in the community will be monitored to identify areas of unmet need and determine strategies to address these.
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