António Castanho Portuguese Ministry of Home Affairs Fatality Review: Communities and Social Change St Petersburg, FL May

2

 Clinical Psychologist and investigator at the Portuguese Ministry of Home Affairs;  Clinical Psychologist and Criminal Investigator at the Portuguese Police from 1992 to 2010;  Clinical Psychologist working on the Protection of Children & Youth from 2008 to 2011;  Criminal Investigation and trainer for the National Police of East Timor under a United Nations Peacekeeping mission in East Timor for 13 months (2000 to 2001). 3

Investigator in homicide and risk assessment in Domestic Violence Trainer of trainers for the Police and Prosecutors Working on the establishment of a Domestic Fatality Review Team in Portugal Coauthor of the Risk Assessment Tool for the use of the police Coauthor of the Domestic Violence Police Handbook 4 Training session May 2014 Presentation of the new Risk Assessment and Police Handbook - November 2014

Source: RASI 2013 – Homeland Anual Security Report 5 MOST REPORTED CRIMINAL TYPOLOGIES IN PORTUGAL Fi% 1ºVehicle Theft298077,9 2º Domestic violence (against spouse or similar + Against children or other relatives)273537,3 3ºPhysical Offenses251186,7 4ºDriving with Alcohol rate Blood ≥ 1.2 g / l246086,5 5ºTheft in Residence222065,9 Total 2013= (95% recorded by the police)

6 Homicide In Portugal

Homicide vs Intimate Partner Homicide evolution

» It started in 2007 as non structured screening done using a prescribed form applied by non trained police officers (not mandatory). » The importance of reassessing the risk adopting a structured methodology (empiricism + scientific validity). » According to the recommendations of the Istanbul Convention (2011) (article 51) and the European manual of good practices within the policing of Domestic Violence (2010, 2012); » New risk assessment (RVD) as an essential basis for defining integrated strategies - management of high-risk cases; » Risk assessment tools developed by other countries and used by other police / security forces (ex.: US,UK, Spain, Canada, Australia). 9

Work Group Ministry of H.A. Minho Univ. Police Prosecut or`s Office Phase 1: Startup(09-12/ 2011) Phase 2: Improving the instrument (01-10/ 2012) Phase 3: Experimental application and follow-up (11/2012 a 02/2014 Phase 4: Nationwide Dissemination (03/2014…) Literature review and systematization of existing tools Cognitive test / 2 pilot tests Experimental application (n = 841) Victim´s follow-up (n = 81) Fatality Review (n=20) Today: Monitoring of implementation and evaluation of results

11 Presentation on "Domestic Homicide committed by an intimate partner - the relevance of the fatality review" Auditorium of the Centre for Judicial Studies, 28/11/2014

» Separation or intention of separation/estrangement in all cases; (In 52.6% of cases the time between separation and homicide was less than 1 month, 21.1% occurred within a period of time between 1 and 2 months); » Previous domestic violence and jealous / obsessive / controlling behavior (73.7% ); » Increasing violence in the month prior to the murder in 63.2% of cases; » Possession or easy access to a firearm in 57.9% ; » Use or threat to use weapons and threats of suicide or homicide in 52.6%; » Other indicators that emerged were the presence of emotional instability on perpetrators (possible depression, suicidal ideation and social isolation). 12

» Data about the risk markers found on domestic fatality reviews on the training » One written chapter about Domestic Violence Fatality Review on partnership work with several agencies (governmental and NGO´s) » Data on a Domestic Violence Police Handbook Released on 2014 » Several meetings with District Attorneys about Risk Assessment and Fatality Review » 9 training courses for 220 trainers on the Police Forces - (May /June 2014) - followed by training in police of police officers » Need of an evolutionary analysis of the homicide rate and suicide in Domestic Violence) in previously participated situations to FS (before and after introduction of RVD) » Start up of the Family and Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review in Portugal

» Assess the risk of homicide and serious bodily harm of the victim based on a scientifically valid tool and adapted to the Portuguese reality; » Introducing greater objectivity to the assessment performed by an instrument with scientific validity and to provide a graduation of risk; » Promote accountability in the process of risk assessment and management; » Create a more reliable basis about risk assessment for the Courts (promoting security / protection of victims); » Increase efficiency, effectiveness and quality of policing domestic violence; » Contribute to reduce victimization rate and the number of homicides involving victims already signaled to law enforcement; » Introduce the fatality review in the Portuguese Law (on course)

» Threat and risk assessments are contextual and only relevant for a specific period; » The absence of “identified risk markers” does not mean that violence will not occur; » We must connect the “dots" and see patterns of behavior. » Once a risk assessment has been done, the information must be used to manage any risk that has been uncovered; » The four main activities of risk management are: monitoring, treatment, supervision, and victim safety planning; » Work the stress and anxiety after Risk Assessment - police officers are often haunted by the fear that something horrible will happen to the survivors and/or their children. 15

THANK YOU! Come and visit or » Phone Number