Domestic Violence and Abuse in Relationships

Our domestic violence research is headed by Dr. Zoe Hilton and involves our research team and collaborators in the Province of Ontario, across Canada, and the United States.

The principal products of this research are the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) and Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (DVRAG). These tools comprise a coherent actuarial system that assesses how likely a man is to assault his partner again, and how his risk compares with that of other domestic offenders. These tools also predict the speed and number of recidivistic offenses and the severity of injuries caused. The ODARA is suitable for use in any setting responding to domestic violence victims or offenders. The DVRAG is intended for use by forensic clinicians and criminal justice officials who can access in-depth information. The item instructions for both are kept as close as possible to the original research coding criteria.

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Hilton, N. Z., & Radatz, D. (2023). The effects of race and gender when predicting intimate partner violence recidivism in police reports using the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment. Crime & Delinquency. Advance online publication Jun 6, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/001112872311786

Hilton, N. Z., Eke, A. W., Kim, S, & Ham, E. (2023). Coercive control in intimate partner violence: Conceptual definition and association with recidivism. Psychology of Violence. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000457

Ham, E.,Hilton, N. Z., Giesbrecht, C. J., & Macdonald, S. (2019) ODARA 101: Look What’s New! Crime Scene, Volume 26, Issue 1 (6-7). https://osf.io/mhjqa

Radatz, D. L., & Hilton, N. Z. (2019). Determining batterer intervention program treatment intensities: an illustration using the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment. Partner abuse, 10(3), 269-282. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.10.3.269

Hilton, N.Z. & Eke, A. W. (2016). Non-specialization of criminal careers among intimate partner violence offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior.  
http://doi:10.1177/0093854816637886

Hilton, N. Z., & Ham, E. (2015). Cost-effectiveness of electronic training in domestic violence risk assessment: ODARA 101. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30 (6), 1065-1073. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514539762

Hilton, N.Z., Harris, G.T., Rice, M.E., Houghton, R.E., & Eke, A.W. (2008). An indepth actuarial assessment for wife assault recidivism: The Domestic Violence Risk Appraisal Guide. Law and Human Behavior, 32, 150-163. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1007/s10979-007-9088-6

Hilton, N. Z., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., Eke, A. W., & Lowe-Wetmore, T. (2007). Training front-line users in the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA), a tool for police domestic investigations. Canadian Journal of Police and Security Services, 5, 95-98. https://osf.io/yqfza

Hilton, N.Z., Harris, G.T., Rice, M.E., Lang, C., Cormier, C.A., & Lines, K.J. (2004). A brief actuarial assessment for the prediction of wife assault recidivism: The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment. Psychological Assessment, 16, 267-275. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/1040-3590.16.3.267

For full annotated ODARA 101 bibliography click here

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