Abstract
Purpose
Since 2003, all domestic violence-related homicides in Ontario, Canada have been reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee. This committee conducts in-depth analyses to help understand what may have been done differently, with hindsight, and make recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This study examined all recommendations made by the Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee over a 10-year period (2010–2020).
Methods
This study undertook a thematic analysis of all recommendations provided within 219 domestic homicide case reviews. Using a multistep coding process, several recurring themes were found across 400 recommendations.
Results
Results of this study identified consistent themes related to public awareness, professional education and enhanced systems, community agency collaboration and risk assessment, safety planning, and risk management.
Conclusions
These themes parallel findings by similar research studies undertaken in the United States, parts of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Ongoing challenges in the implementation of these recommendations and an evaluation of the impact of this work in reducing homicides is discussed.
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Acknowledgements
This research has been a collaborative effort between the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, London Family Court Clinic, and the Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee within the office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. This research was made possible thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).
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Several of the authors are members of the Ontario DVDRC. There is no other conflict of interest to declare that are relevant to this article.
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Saxton, M., Bukhari, S., Jaffe, P. et al. How to Prevent Domestic Homicides: A Qualitative Study of Recommendations from a Canadian Domestic Homicide Review Committee. J Fam Viol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00693-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00693-0