Feasibility and Severity Issues in Assessing Risk of Intimate Partner Violence in a Correctional Population

Abstract

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) is well known to be a significant issue that impacts the psychological, physical, economic and social wellbeing of survivors. The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) is a risk assessment tool designed to assess the likelihood of reoffending in men who assault their female partners. The ODARA was validated in Canada as an assessment to be used by frontline police, and therefore has had minimal investigation in Australia or in correctional settings. Further, the tool has had minimal analysis of its relationship with the severity aspect of risk assessment. The present study includes 291 South Australian IPV offenders who had an ODARA completed for them. This study uses retrospective data in order to analyse the feasibility of using the ODARA in a South Australian correctional setting, as well as its ability to account for severity. The results cast doubt on the feasibility of using the ODARA within the South Australian correctional setting as there were significant patterns of missing data and poor internal consistency. A series of regression analyses also confirmed that the severity indicators were poorly accounted for by the ODARA. Improved practices in collecting and storing data within DCS may improve the feasibility of the tool. Further research could look into the inclusion of items that are significantly related to severity in order to improve the ODARA’s ability to assess for severe indicators of IPV.