Community psychology in Aotearoa/ New Zealand

1. Aotearoa/New Zealand Community psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand Neville Robertson University of Waikato Kirikiriroa/Hamilton

2. Overview • Domestic violence research – an exemplar of Community Psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand • The problems illustrated - Case study • An ecological analysis of the challenge of battering • Community psychology contributions • Police arrest policy • Domestic protection study – and law reform • Community intervention projects • Zero tolerance charter • Other research • Reflections on community psychology generally • Key characteristics of Community Psychology in Aotearoa • Community psychology practice • Issues

3. Intimate violence: a “difficult” subject …rape, incest and other sexual offending are by their nature particularly difficult to talk about … However, silence has always been the mark of the rapist and the oppressor, and does not indicate consent in either public discourse private relationships. Sue Bradford, Member of the New Zealand Parliament, 10 November, 2004

4. D begins phone campaign from (City) R files for separation – goes to (Town) Separation Burglary & assault Buys gun Meeting Travels on assignment Case study Roslyn & Donald 1st psych clinic Protection orders 2nd psych clinic and followup appmts Family court counsellor Buys 2nd gun Breach & assault Family court counsellor 1 Counsellor 2 Swaps gun Breach and murder Counsellor 2

5. E: Mapping the response problem Over-arching cultural values and misogyny • See only part of the picture • Overlook/ignore violence • Endanger women • Collude with abuser Context of fear and enforced privacy Potential for reform? Individual discretion

6. (1) Police arrest policy(Greg Ford, 1985-87) • Dominant model – reluctant involvement (restore calm and leave) • Victims dissatisfied • Problems of repeat calls • Trialled policy • Arrest, if evidence – without complaint • Follow-up by women’s refuges • Evaluation • Increased satisfaction (even among men) • Fewer repeat calls • Adopted as national policy 1987

7. (2) Domestic Protection StudyRuth Busch, Neville Robertson & Hilary Lapsley • Victims Task Force concerned about repeated breaches of protection orders (Domestic Protection Act, 1982) • Negotiated wider brief to include examining access to the orders Note: the Victims’ Task Force was administered by the Department of Justice.

8. Our approach • Literature review • Key informant interviews - police officers, judges, lawyers, counsellors, women’s refuge workers, court staff • Analysis of official statistics • Analysis of judicial decisions • Case studies of 20 Māori and non-Māori women

9. Outcomes of domestic violence calls to 3 police districts Police arrest policy poorly implemented

10. Qualitative data vital (police) Asked about his views on the causes of domestic violence, a police prosecutor commented: Some women have a huge capacity to create massive problems within their household. They can't keep their bloody mouths shut at the appropriate time.

11. “Downstream”problems Why arrest if • Women won’t give evidence? • Victim blaming cf. PE fit • Judges slap men over the wrist with a damp bus ticket? • i.e. there is a systemic problem – over and above individual attitudes.

12. Judge’s attitudes I find it difficult to accept the District Court Judge’s categorisation of this (single) punch as (constituting serious violence) This punch appears to have arisen out of the instinctive reaction by the appellant to the argument that had arisen between him and the complainant. It was not part of a sustained course of violence. The consequence was a not uncommon black eye and no more. It was not the worst of black eyes (Justice Doogue, Kelly v the Police (Unreported Judgment, High Court at Rotorua, 15 May 1991), emphasis added)

13. Judge’s attitudes (2) Mr X I am sure clings to the hope that in some way or another his family unit can be restored and that I think is evidenced by the fact that every now and then he gravitates instinctively towards his home even though his condition when he arrives there regrettably sometimes makes him an unwelcome visitor. Judge Inglis, X v X (Unreported decision, Wellington Family Court, FP 085/1127/83, 8 October 1986, emphasis added)

14. Courts… In addition to judge’s attitudes: • Victim-witnesses often unprotected from intimidation. • Event-focus of criminal jurisdiction means history and context of violence lost. And in the Family Court • Strong orientation towards mediation as preferred resolution.

15. Women’s stories - compelling illustrations of “the gap” i.e. the gap between women’s experiences and the system’s response. • Fatal danger - cf pathetic, blubbering man • Terroristic threats - cf. flowers for mothers’ day • Assaults and intimidation - cf “I just want to see my children” • Wanting orders enforced - cf. paranoid, vindictive women

16. Our Report 101 recommendations including 35 for law changes Approved by our advisory committee Domestic Violence and the Justice System: A study of breaches of protection orders.

21. Censored report published Domestic Violence and the Justice System: A study of breaches of protection orders. Protection from Family Violence: A study of breaches of protection orders

22. The Domestic Violence Act 1995 • Broader definition of domestic violence • Orders more widely available • Simpler process for obtaining final orders • Mandatory referral of respondents to stopping violence programmes • Free counseling for victims and children • Increased penalties for breaching orders • Presumption against violent parent having custody or unsupervised access Research + activism = reform?

23. (3) Community intervention projects • Shared philosophy (prioritising safety and autonomy of women). • Agency protocols (Police, Courts, Corrections) to ensure consistency. • Monitoring of protocols by women’s advocates – to ensure accountability of offender and decision-maker. • Networking to share information. • Services for victims. • Programmes for abusers.

24. Hamilton Abuse Intervention Project • Interagency arrangements • Protocols • Meetings Police call Women’s programme Arrest? Advocate Court advocate Court Men’s programme Family Court grants protection order Enforcement for non-compliance Parallel development

25. Evaluation of HAIP - achievements • Number of arrests markedly increased. • Women strongly positive about police. • Bail rules applied consistency. • Charging regime reasonably consistent. • Successful prosecutions improved (from 64% to 90%). • Men’s programme attendance consistently enforced by Probation. • Programme participants generally positive (including men). • Women reported feeling safer.

26. Needs assessment and community consultation (4) Zero Tolerance to Family Violence Charter (Safer Hamilton) Development of charter (a motherhood statement) Safety Audits Policy development (e.g.. Screening, referral protocols) Training to implement policies Invitation for organisations to sign Consultant on implementation

27. Other community psychology research in domestic violence • Mutual support groups for battered women (Rebekah Pratt) • Women’s perspectives of the effectiveness of the HAIP stopping violence programme (Jane Furness) • Women’s experiences of health professionals (Elizabeth Flaherty) • Children’s experiences of supervised access (Sue Jolley) • Women’s experiences of child protection services (Lorraine Corbett) • Intentional injury among residents of women’s refuges (Poli Karapu, Ariana Simpson, Karen Whiteman, Neville Robertson)

28. Reflections (1): Key characteristics of Community Psychology in Aotearoa • Very applied – pragmatic approach to social change • Multi-level approach • Societal/Organisational/Community/Individual • Critical, social justice orientation • Cultural context (and cultural safety) central • Methodologically diverse (e.g. surveys, focus groups, interviews, ethnographic) • Interdisciplinarity • Close collaboration with community activists • Evaluation of services and programmes • Tool for incremental social change

29. Reflections (2): Examples of practice Diverse issues, multiple levels, multiple roles

30. Practice…. • People with community psychology training seldom work in jobs labelled “psychologist” • Within psychology, community psychologists have often been to the fore in reform (e.g. Bicultural issues) • Key skills • Applied research, especially programme evaluation • Critical analysis • Relationship building

31. Issues • Is Community Psychology • an area of activity, or • an approach which can be applied across areas? • Tension between working collaboratively and maintaining profile of sub-discipline • Tension between professionalism and radicalism