Published date:
Colm Walsh, Katie Sheehan, Kelly Razey, Christopher Farrington,
Claire Hazelden, David Scott, Phil Anderson and Frances Caldwell
Serious violence places a significant burden on the criminal justice system, accounting for a disproportionate focus for probation supervision. It is not only a policy and practice priority but is of significant public interest. Since the 1980s, calls have increased for a science-based approach to tackling violence that recognises the complexity, while reducing exposure to and impact of violence. Public health for violence prevention (PH-VP) has emerged as a leading paradigm that has helped to facilitate community coalitions around a common goal. However, few studies have sought to capture the core characteristics of such an approach, thus inhibiting its wider application and refinement.
Understanding the concept and application of PH-VP are vital for prevention and rehabilitation. The role of probation is to tackle the root causes of offending behaviour, prevent reoffending and reduce victims of crime. In tackling offending behaviour, including violent behaviour, probation staff seek to understand the causes of offending, which are often linked to adverse childhood experiences, including exposure to violence and abuse, childhood neglect, loss of a parent and poor mental health and addictions. Using evidence-based interventions and programmes, it is the role of the probation
Characteristics of Public Health Approaches for Violence Prevention (PH-VP) 129
practitioner to work holistically with those who have offended, to prevent further
offences from being committed. Much of probation’s role in assessing and
managing risks, providing interventions and behavioural change programmes and working in collaboration with partners has similarities with a public health approach and it is therefore key that probation practitioners understand the concept.
The primary aim of the current study was to synthesise the evidence around the
characteristics of public health approaches for youth violence prevention, and what it might mean for prevention in the Irish context. A rapid review of published and unpublished literature was undertaken, and experts in the field were consulted on the search. From the 754 sources identified, 60 were included in the review.
Findings of the review included: since the 1980s, the rhetoric has remained largely unchanged; there is a high degree of variability in its application; there is a paucity of high-quality process evaluations documenting implementation; the characteristics of public health for violence prevention include the 5 Ps (priorities, principles, policies, practices and programmes), and a focus on one at the expense of the others is unlikely to be considered a public health response, or to reduce violence meaningfully. Practical application of the findings is discussed.