荔枝视频

At a time when Albertans are facing rising costs of living, new research shows that failing to prevent male perpetration of domestic violence comes with a steep public price tag 鈥� and that investing earlier can save both money and lives.

Released yesterday by  鈥� a 荔枝视频 research-action hub at the 鈥� and the , the study examines what happens when our systems respond to the violence perpetrated by men after it occurs.

analyzes 2019 police data in 荔枝视频, examining a variety of public-system costs connected to those cases. Even as a conservative snapshot, the financial impact is significant: it estimates that domestic violence perpetration costs 荔枝视频 approximately $58 million every year in 2024 dollars.

More than 90 per cent of the costs are borne by taxpayers, meaning public dollars are largely spent responding to violence after harm has already taken place. But there鈥檚 a silver lining: the study finds there are opportunities for significant cost savings if prevention measures are put in place earlier, rather than relying solely on enforcement and crisis response.

鈥淚nvesting in prevention isn鈥檛 just the right thing to do, it鈥檚 also the fiscally responsible choice,鈥� says , BSW'96, MSW'97, lead author on the report. 鈥淧reventing male perpetration of domestic violence reduces costs to taxpayers and, more importantly, prevents the harm experienced by women and children in families and communities.鈥�

is the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence, an associate professor at in the Faculty of Social Work, and a fellow at the School of Public Policy. She leads Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, a first-of-its-kind research-action hub focused on the primary prevention of gender-based violence. For the past five years, Shift has worked in partnership with the 荔枝视频 Police Service to better understand patterns of criminal domestic violence perpetration and identify opportunities for earlier intervention.

This study is the third in a .  found a clear escalation in police contact and criminal behaviour in the two years leading up to a domestic-violence charge.  revealed that 64 per cent of men charged with domestic violence in 荔枝视频 had a prior 鈥渄omestic encounter鈥� with police 鈥� a non-criminal moment of contact where officers responded to reports of harm in the home. These earlier interactions represent a critical window of opportunity that is currently underutilized. 

The research series provide identifiable points where referrals to community services could be made, and violence could be prevented before it reaches the threshold of a criminal charge.

A closer look at the costs

To estimate the total cost of domestic violence perpetration, Wells and co-authors Dr. Herb Emery, PhD; Casey Boodt; and Ken Fyie, MSc'13, examined recorded domestic-violence encounters and incidents, along with detailed costing data tied to police responses, justice and court processes, and services accessed by victims, like health care.

The findings show that responding after violence occurs is expensive 鈥� and largely preventable.

After calculating the total annual cost, researchers modelled what would happen if men who come into contact with police were connected earlier to evidence-based . The analysis suggests that such an approach could reduce domestic violence by up to 40 per cent.

If this prevention model had been in place over the past five years in 荔枝视频, the city could have saved more than $93 million.

鈥淲e cannot arrest our way out of domestic violence,鈥� says Wells. 鈥淎ccountability matters, but prevention means intervening earlier. And this study shows us we can direct public dollars towards more cost-effective solutions: when men are struggling to manage their behaviour, police have an opportunity to refer them to community supports before violence becomes criminal.鈥� 

The report emphasizes that men are the primary perpetrators of domestic, sexual and other forms of gender-based violence in Canada. At the same time, many men face elevated risks related to suicide, substance use and disengagement from support systems 鈥� all risk factors associated with violence perpetration. 

Moving from crisis response to prevention

The authors argue that prevention means addressing the broader social conditions that shape men鈥檚 behaviour. Police and community organizations agree.

Deputy Chief Asif Rashid of the 荔枝视频 Police Service notes that the findings reinforce the importance of coordinated approaches. 

鈥�Domestic violence is a complex public safety issue that requires a community-led solution,鈥� says Rashid, BA'01. 鈥淲hile enforcement is necessary to keep victims and our community safe, the real progress comes from working with community-based organizations and researchers to prevent violence before it happens.鈥�

Meanwhile, CEO Kim Ruse, BSW'94, MSW'99, says the findings validate what front-line organizations have long observed: early intervention works.

Her organization has been part of Equally Safe 鈥� a 荔枝视频 police-community referral model that connects first-time domestic violence offenders to community-based supports 鈥� since the partnership's inception in 2020. Equally Safe enables police officers to refer individuals to behavioural intervention programs instead of relying solely on charges and prosecution.

FearIsNotLove is also a partner in , a prevention initiative focused on engaging men and boys in healthy relationships, accountability and behaviour change before violence escalates.

鈥淧revention means making it easier for men to reach out for support before situations escalate,鈥� says Ruse. 鈥淚nitiatives like Men& focus on getting men the right help at the right time, an essential step in reducing harm and strengthening families and communities.鈥�

Wells says the new economic evidence demonstrates what violence-prevention experts have long argued.

鈥淧revention works. It saves public dollars, strengthens policing responses, and most importantly, prevents harm. The question is no longer whether prevention is possible 鈥� it鈥檚 whether we choose to act.鈥�

Read the full report .