Browsing by Author "Gill, Carmen"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Domestic homicide in New Brunswick, 1999–2008
    (2012) Gill, Carmen
    After the announcement by the provincial government in 2009 of the creation of a domestic violence death review committee (DVDRC) and the announcement by Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General in February 2010 of work starting by DVDRC members, the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research (MMFC) was approached to conduct a study of domestic homicide in New Brunswick. The research was conducted between June and December 2010. Few studies have been conducted on domestic homicide in the province of New Brunswick and none have examined all deaths related to domestic violence. This study is an attempt to present a comprehensive analysis of domestic violence deaths over a 10-year period (1999–2008), in the province of New Brunswick. The objective of this examination of domestic violence fatalities is to better understand what leads to death in domestic violence situations in order to prevent future deaths. Three main questions led the study: 1) What can we learn from domestic homicide cases in New Brunswick?, 2) What are the risk factors of domestic homicide?, and 3) What steps can be taken to prevent domestic homicide from happening? A comprehensive analysis of domestic violence deaths over a 10-year period (1999–2008) will identify deaths directly or indirectly caused by domestic violence, will track the prevalence of evidence-based risk factors for domestic homicide, and will help to understand the unique etiology of domestic homicides. Given that it is only recently that researchers have taken a retrospective examination of domestic homicide to learn about and prevent domestic violence this report includes a description of the process of creating the sample; the methodology for the review of all cases and its limitations; a statistical analysis; and recommendations for consideration to the Committee/Chief Coroner.
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    Gendered practices in specialized domestic violence courts: A study of facilitators' perspectives on intimate partner violence treatment programs in Canada
    (University of New Brunswick, 2021-12) Aspinall, Mary; Gill, Carmen
    The severity and societal issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) has been recognized through the increased use of pro-arrest and mandatory charge policies, development of specialized domestic violence courts (DVCs), and utilization of community-based IPV treatment programs to provide interventions to offenders. However, as a result, women continue to be arrested due to incident-specific approaches from law enforcement personnel that fail to account for the context of the situation or consider gender-specific issues that contribute to the use of violence. This symmetrical approach to responding to IPV persists at the judicial level with women also referred to IPV treatment programs that were originally designed for use with male perpetrators. Research has been conducted on the appropriate content required for female IPV offenders; however, there are not yet any national comparisons of male and female IPV treatment programs associated with specialized DVCs to assess if they consider the results of gender-specific research or uphold the neutral approach of the criminal justice system. Based in intersectionality and feminist perspectives of IPV that suggest women’s violence is uniquely different to that of men, this study assesses the utility and content of IPV treatment programs across Canada. A mixed methodological approach consisting of 22 online surveys and 10 telephone interviews was undertaken with IPV treatment program facilitators to compile information on the format and content of their programs as well as their personal opinions on overall effectiveness. Results identify that IPV treatment programs in Canada maintain an objective, gender-neutral approach synonymous with the criminal justice system. However, facilitators also recognize the pervasiveness of gendered differences in the perpetration of IPV, resulting in a necessity to reconsider current practices in the response to IPV.
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    "I don't feel like it's well understood": Perceptions and experiences of intimate partner violence among students at an Eastern Canadian university
    (University of New Brunswick, 2022-01) Fullerton, Jo-Anne; Gill, Carmen
    Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and pressing issue among university students and has devastating consequences for those affected. Despite the high rates of IPV on university campuses, the topic is often left undiscussed and overlooked as a priority. Using a mixed-methods approach, the current study was conducted to explore how students at an eastern Canadian university understand, experience, and disclose situations of IPV. A sample of 228 students were surveyed and 6 survivors were interviewed to gather information on perceptions, lived experiences, and help-seeking behaviours. Results suggest that students are aware of the basic aspects of IPV, although many of the complex components are misunderstood. Results also suggest that IPV is a common issue among this group of university students and experiences are often disclosed despite the significant number of barriers that deter help-seeking behaviours. This study shows the need for increased IPV awareness on university campuses in addition to resources specifically designed for IPV in order to prevent experiences and better protect university students.
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    Is there potential in the use of autism registries? Experiences and perceptions from the autism community
    (University of New Brunswick, 2021) Wark, Christine; Gill, Carmen
    This research focussed on autists and the autism community’s interactions with law enforcement officers (LEO) and how those interactions differ depending on access to the Vulnerable Persons Registry (VPR) or Autism Registry (AR). Two New Brunswick (NB) autists and three support persons (responding for themselves and four autists) were interviewed concerning aspects of interactions with LEO including perceptions of efficacy, events initiating interactions, and experiences of interactions. To explore VPR/ARs impacts on interactions and perceptions comparisons were made based on the presence and absence of registries. Comparisons noted that there were notable differences in jurisdictions utilizing registries and distinct similarities in perceptions of risk and lack of training. A thematic content analysis was also conducted identifying six categories consisting of 25 themes. Categories included themes surrounding respondent’s perceptions and experiences of Leo's skills, fears associated with interactions with LEOs, and their perceptions of LEO interactions with the autism community. This research acknowledged the intersectionality of disability and approached registries as a tool bridging the social distance between LEO and autists challenging intrinsic stereotypes and impacting soft skill development in the absence of training.
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    “It was everywhere all at once”: Exploring digital coercive control in the context of intimate partner violence through mix-method research
    (University of New Brunswick, 2023-05) Jones, Mackenzie Anne; Gill, Carmen
    This thesis adds to the growing body of literature expanding traditional conceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) from purely physical harms to account for subtle, but equally harmful, patterns of coercive control (CC) that are imposed by a subset of men, to tyrannize and deny women of personal autonomy – even through digital technologies, in what is known as digital coercive control (DCC). It fills gaps in the literature by answering three questions: how have IPV survivors in Canada experienced and been impacted by DCC; what challenges has DCC created for Canadian IPV stakeholders; and how have these stakeholders utilized technology, including their organizational websites, to educate and respond to DCC? Employing mixed-method research, including a quantitative content analysis of stakeholder websites and qualitative semi-structured interviews with survivors and stakeholders, this thesis reveals broad implications. Calling for further research, education, and training initiatives on DCC, alongside the modernization of available tools to respond to DCC, including emergency protection orders, risk assessment tools, and the Criminal Code of Canada.
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    Living in one’s home as an Acadian, Francophone older woman in rural New Brunswick communities: a phenomenological study
    (University of New Brunswick, 2021) Savoie, Elda; Van Den Hoonaard, Deborah; Gill, Carmen
    This dissertation presents the findings of research about the everyday lives of sixteen women aged between 75 and 93 who live in Francophone, rural communities in New Brunswick. The study addressed the question: How do Acadian, Francophone women, aged 75 years and older, who live in a rural, Francophone region of New Brunswick speak about their experiences of their everyday lives? To deconstruct the negative discourse about older people that too often describes the aging population as a burden, this study adopted the posture of constructivism to better understand participants’ lived experiences. Intersectionality provided an understanding of the intersection of being an older woman living in a rural Francophone area. Phenomenology proved to be a good way to tap into the lived experiences of these women. The dissertation demonstrates that even though the participants live in a rural area, and, moreover, in a house in need of repairs, they do not see themselves as frail and destitute older women. In the interviews, they consistently defended their choice to remain in their rural community, because, often, there is someone to remind them that they are too old to stay where they choose to live. Although they understand that they might have to leave their home in the future, participants insisted that for now they are happy. This dissertation contributes to our understanding of how older Francophone rural women defend their lives from the insistence of others that they would be better off living elsewhere and the contradictions in their discussion that result. In addition, it introduces the concept of “underground support” that identifies support participants both give and receive that is likely invisible to others.
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    Moncton provincial court-domestic violence pilot project: a comparative study
    (2010) Gill, Carmen; Ruff, Lanette
    This report presents the results of a study of domestic violence cases processed through the Moncton Provincial Court-Domestic Violence Pilot Project model based on a comparison with the Fredericton Provincial Court, over an 18-month period. The report provides an analysis of demographics of accused and victims, incidents, charges, and sentences in domestic violence cases, documenting who is entering into the court systems in Moncton and Fredericton and how cases are processed under specialization versus regular court. Through the presentation of findings, the comparison provides information on the unique differences of the Moncton court. This report highlights strengths and weaknesses in the early operation of the Moncton court, identifies potential gaps in the court model, and provides an understanding of some of the intended effects and potential unintended effects of specialization.
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    Parental alienation: Intimate partner violence by proxy
    (University of New Brunswick, 2023-12) Ashe, Carly; Gill, Carmen
    This thesis examines interviews with nine women to explore how women experience and are impacted by parental alienation as a tactic of coercive control. Thematic analysis using NVIVO-14 software was used to identify recuring themes related to the three research questions that guide this study: how mother-child relationships are impacts by parental alienation; what resources mothers use in help-seeking; and do they experience barriers and obstacles to meaningful support in their help-seeking. Through understanding victims’ experiential perceptions of parental alienation, the key purpose of this study was aimed at better understanding how mothers victimized by parental alienation can be better supported in the future by legal professionals. Greater recognition of the pattern of coercive control, in which parental alienation occurs, was found to be needed by intervening professionals, along with further consideration towards preventative measures and more trauma-informed approaches.