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Examining Domestic and Family Violence Typologies Using Queensland Police Data: Differences in Risk of Harm
Rebecca A Howard1, Mark R Kebbell1
1Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|May 26, 2026
Summary
This study identified four domestic and family violence (DFV) offender types in a large sample: homicidal, generally violent/antisocial (GVA), low-level antisocial (LLA), and family-only. These typologies reveal distinct risk levels, aiding police in identifying high-risk offenders.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Forensic Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Identifying domestic and family violence (DFV) offender typologies is crucial for effective risk assessment and intervention strategies.
- Existing research is limited by inconsistent methodologies and small sample sizes, hindering broad applicability.
- This study addresses these limitations by examining DFV offender typologies in a large-scale dataset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and validate intimate partner violence typologies within a large sample of male DFV offenders.
- To identify distinct offender clusters based on a wide range of offending behaviors.
- To assess the differing risk levels associated with identified offender typologies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large-scale sample of 10,956 male DFV offenders from Queensland, Australia.
- Employed hierarchical cluster analysis with Ward's linkage on police-recorded offending histories across 16 categories.
- Applied Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests to compare harm levels across identified clusters.
Main Results:
- A four-cluster solution emerged: homicidal, generally violent/antisocial (GVA), low-level antisocial (LLA), and family-only offenders.
- Offenders ranged on a continuum of antisociality, with family-only offenders exhibiting the least severe offending and GVA offenders the most extensive.
- A novel homicidal subtype was identified, suggesting unique characteristics not captured by general DFV typologies.
- Harm levels significantly differed across clusters, with homicidal offenders posing the highest risk, followed by GVA, LLA, and family-only.
Conclusions:
- The identified typologies demonstrate varying risk levels, offering potential for police to identify high-risk offenders.
- Focusing on the generality of violence in research can lead to more consistent, large-scale typology identification.
- These findings have practical implications for policing, enabling tailored interventions and improved offender management.
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