Author Description

The current study was commissioned by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to examine the role of offender characteristics, historical circumstances and situational factors in female perpetrated intimate partner homicide, and how these factors may differ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders. The sample is based on 115 female intimate partner homicide offenders recorded in the National Homicide Monitoring Program between 2004 and 2014, with additional supplementary data from police, coronial and court records. The findings highlight that, while the immediate circumstances within which female perpetrated intimate partner homicides occur are varied, offenders are often involved in violent relationships, and have backgrounds of criminal activity, unemployment and substance misuse.