The ACT Policing Family Violence Unit (FVU) would like to present on an initiative involving the collaboration of the FVU, Victim Liaison Office (VLO) and the ACT Corrective Services in identifying, investigating and prosecuting contraventions of family violence orders by detainees at the ACT’s only custodial institution (the Alexander Maconochie Centre – AMC). The initiative began approximately 18 months ago and has resulted in numerous detainees investigated, charged and successfully prosecuted for a range of offences including contravening family violence orders directly and indirectly as well as making threats via a carriage service. It has also resulted in several co-offenders being arrested, charged and successfully prosecuted for aiding and abetting the contraventions. The initiative rapidly evolved beyond the prosecution space and has caused significant system changes with respect to how Police serve Orders on detainees, how information is shared between Police and Corrective Services and the way detainee communications are managed by Corrective Services.

The volume of persons being brought before the Court, the clearly evidenced pattern of family violence coercive control perpetuated by detainees even when remanded in custody, and the evident harm to victim-survivors and impact on existing criminal proceedings is allowing the Court to see the impact offending of this type has and sentence appropriately.


The presentation would include the following points:
- Effect of this initiative on offending rates and recidivism
- Effect of this initiative on supporting Victim-Survivors especially given how often they won’t provide statements in support of the prosecution and may even be perceived as aiding and abetting the contraventions when they are simply acting out of fear and duress.
- Effect of this initiative on Police culture and mindset (i.e. being able to “see behind the curtain” so to speak and explore the complex dynamic of family violence relationships.