LE SCRIPT DE LA VIOLENCE CONJUGALE: UNE ANALYSE PROCÉDURALE DES VIOLENCES ENTRE CONJOINTS
Objective. The crime script perspective was developed in criminology to capture the step-by-step accounts of the crime-commission process of any crimes in order to offer a greater range of intervention-points for situational prevention purposes (Cornish, 1994). The main objective of this project is to adopt this innovative approach to provide a detailed description of the step-by-step process of intimate partner violence. Information on the casting (as well as their roles and actions), the crime facilitators and precipitators, and alcohol/drugs, are provided for each step of the crime-commission-process. Once the script is established, pertinent situational measures to prevent intimate partner violence are offered.   Methodology. In order to provide a script for intimate partner violence, a grid was developed to collect data extracted from 333 crime events registered by the Montreal Police Department (Service de police de la ville de Montréal). Data were organized according to the three main phases of the crime-commission-process: (1) the preparation; (2) the commission; and (3) the conclusion of the event. At each step of the script, interactions between actors were carefully analyzed in order to understand the escalation process and the severity of the outcome (i.e. severity of injuries). Data were used to induce the script of intimate partner violence and chi-square analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the risk of severe injuries.   Results.  The intimate partner violence script consists of eight steps: (1) initial context; (2) moving to the location of the intimate partner aggression; (3) acquiring a weapon; (4) attacking the victim; (5) reaction of the victim (counter-attacking or submission); (6) counter-attack from the aggressor or the ending of the violence episode; (7) ending of the altercation (police arrives on the scene or the suspect escapes); and (8) dealing with the parties (arresting the suspect or offering services to the victim).   Some steps such as “acquiring a weapon” or “moving to the location of the aggression” are not always required. At the outset of the event, the risk of severe injuries is increased when victims are under medication and when she is in a couple with the aggressor. Risk of severe injuries is also augmented when one of the parties moves toward the scene of the aggression. During the altercation, intoxication of both parties and using a knife are generally associated with severe injuries. At last, as suggested by the escalation thesis, counter-attacks from the victim lead to severe injuries.   Conclusion. Based on the present findings, the following situational measures would either prevent the frequency and/or the severity of intimate partner violence episodes: (1) install physical barriers (e.g., install new locks and alarms); (2) improve guardianship and natural surveillance (e.g., police presence and neighborhood watch); (3) reduce provocations (e.g., separate parties and limit alcohol availability).
Intimate partner violence Situational prevention