A local study examining the histories of thousands of men charged with domestic violence in Calgary found that more than 60 per cent had contact with police prior to their first domestic‑violence charge. The research, released last week, highlights recurring patterns in police interactions and argues that earlier, targeted intervention with men could prevent violence before it escalates.
Findings point to earlier opportunities for intervention
The study, produced by researchers connected with Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence at the University of Calgary, analysed multiple years of case histories. Investigators observed that, for many men, police contacts increased as they approached the time of their first domestic‑violence charge — a pattern that suggests there are identifiable moments when the risk of escalation rises.
"More than 60 per cent of men had contact with police before their first domestic violence charge, and for some, those police interactions increased as they moved closer to that charge."
The researchers frame this pattern as a set of missed opportunities — moments when law enforcement, social services, health providers or community organisations could have acted to prevent further harm. Their argument shifts the focus from survivors bearing the burden of prevention to a broader societal responsibility, particularly among men and institutions that intersect with them.
Moving prevention beyond survivors
The paper's authors stress that centring survivors remains essential — their voices, safety and autonomy must guide policy and services. But the study contends survivors should not be expected to carry the responsibility for preventing violence. Because men are the primary perpetrators of gender‑based violence, the responsibility for prevention should extend to men themselves, and the systems that engage them.
- Police role: The analysis underscores a role for policing in identifying escalation patterns and coordinating with supports prior to criminal charges.
- Beyond law enforcement: Researchers call for a broader response that includes health, social services and community programming aimed at early intervention.
- Survivor‑centred approach: Policies must continue to centre survivors' safety and autonomy while shifting preventive responsibilities outward.
Implications for Calgary's policy and services
For Calgary, the findings present concrete questions for municipal and provincial stakeholders. If earlier police contacts frequently precede criminal charges, agencies could pilot proactive pathways that connect men in those contact points to violence‑prevention programmes, counselling or risk assessment. Any response will need to protect survivors' safety and privacy while avoiding measures that place additional burdens on them.
The authors argue such work requires coordination across sectors — policing, public health, housing, addictions and community organisations — and that prevention strategies should be informed by survivors' experiences without making survivors the primary agents responsible for stopping violence.
| Finding | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| More than 60% had police contact before first domestic‑violence charge | There are identifiable contact points where earlier intervention could occur |
| Police interactions often increased approaching the first charge | Escalation trends could be used to prioritise preventative outreach |
Experts involved in the project note that changing the emphasis from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention will not be simple. It will require funding, training, data‑sharing agreements and community buy‑in. It will also demand careful attention to rights and safety, ensuring survivors are not further exposed to risk by interventions focused on alleged perpetrators.
For Calgarians, the study reframes prevention as a collective responsibility: while survivors must be believed and protected, it is institutions and communities — and particularly the men who are most likely to perpetrate violence — that must be engaged earlier and more effectively to stop harm before it becomes criminal.
The research adds to the growing local conversation about how to reduce gender‑based violence in Calgary by identifying measurable touchpoints for intervention and arguing for a shift in responsibility from those at risk to the systems and people positioned to prevent violence.
