Service providers step in to break domestic violence cycle
Intervention services designed to make perpetrators of domestic abuse address their behaviour and break the cycle of violence are to be launched on the island imminently.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors and Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, provided details about the introduction of Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Services this morning.
Ms Wilkerson confirmed it was her goal to ensure that a dedicated Domestic Violence Act would be in place by next summer. She said that consultation was continuing.
Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said that a specific domestic abuse Act was planned to be introduced by the summer of 2026.
Responding to questions from The Royal Gazette at a media conference, she conceded that many in the community believed that such legislation was long overdue.
However, she added: “The creation of a Domestic Abuse Act is a small part of addressing this problem.
“We are talking about cultural changes that have to be made in this community, how people think about domestic violence … and addressing it in a more systemic way.
“It is on my charge sheet for the first quarter of the new session so by summer of next year, the legislation will be in place.”
Speaking on the intended purpose of the Act, Ms Wilkerson added: “We are dealing with domestic violence under the Criminal Code, [a Domestic Violence Act] will be an opportunity to take things that affect victims of this type of abuse specifically and put them in a single Act that can be referenced.
“When we look at things like strangulation, we know that if there are incident reports of strangulation, the chances of that resulting in something far more serious and potentially deadly in a later incident are things that we know statistically are likely to be sounders.
“Also, at present, we are not treating children who witness domestic violence as victims themselves. That will be one of the changes.
“We are still doing some consultation on what that Act will look like and there will be broader consultation.
“We have had sit downs with our major partners — the Centre Against Abuse, the Women’s Resource Centre and within the Domestic Abuse Reform Steering Committee.
“We will be able to report on what that will look like when drafts go out for consultation.”
The Attorney-General also highlighted the creation earlier this year of the Domestic Abuse Reform Steering Committee, which she described as a “robust, cross-ministry, cross-department initiative”.
Ms Furbert explained the role of perpetrator services.
“The ministry has committed to the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Services designed to provide intervention treatment to individuals who have used violence or control within intimate relationships,” she said.
In 2022, SafeLives UK, a charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, conducted a comprehensive review of Bermuda’s domestic abuse landscape using a public health approach.
Ms Furbert said that their findings “made clear that to truly break the cycle of violence, our response must address not only the needs of the victims but also the behaviours of the perpetrators”.
“Following those recommendations, we issued a request for information last year, and through the collaborative work of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference, two service providers — Arius Solutions and Masc — were selected to participate in delivering these vital programmes.
“The new initiative will launch in the autumn of 2025. We will start with Arius Solutions offering its Abusive Perpetrators Evolving to Change programme.
“This 26-week intervention combines education, accountability and behavioural therapy to promote real, sustained change.
“By addressing the route causes of abusive behaviour, we can foster rehabilitation for families.”
Ms Furbert said her ministry had allocated $200,000 for the first year of implementation to ensure that the services were accessible, monitored and evaluated through clear performance indicators.
“This investment represents not only a financial commitment but also a moral one to hold offenders accountable while offering them a pathway towards change,” she said.
Ms Wilkerson added: “Those perpetrator services will also be initiated inside the walls of Westgate [Correctional Facility].
“Responding effectively is about people, about building trust and ensuring that when victims seek help they are met with understanding and action.”
She said alongside the development, the Marac had worked to frame Bermuda’s five-year domestic abuse strategic plan, which represented a national effort involving government agencies, community organisations and advocacy partners, including the Centre Against Abuse, Women’s Resource Centre and One Love.
Ms Wilkerson elaborated on the creation of the Darsc formed earlier this year.
She said: “Let me be clear, this is not just another government committee, rather, it is a group of senior people across the justice system, social services, the Bermuda Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, financial assistance, the Department of Child and Family Services and other agencies that are working together with one clear purpose — to strengthen how Bermuda prevents, responds to and ultimately reduces domestic abuse.”
Ms Wilkerson said the committee had been structured around two working groups, one looking closely at the legal and procedural side and the other focused on social services, housing, health and community education.
She added: “That combination matters. It means that we are not only looking at how the system responds after harm is done, but how we can make it easier for victims to access help and for families to rebuild their lives.
“Some of the key areas already focused on include developing new legislative proposals, including potential changes to the Criminal Code, and the creation of a Domestic Abuse Act, as well as changes to financial assistance regulations to close the gap where victim survivors are left without resources.
“Together, these committees are looking at how we strengthen protection for victims and witnesses and how domestic abuse cases are handled in Family Court, especially when children are involved.”
Ms Wilkerson also said that progress was being made on establishing a dedicated Domestic Violence Court programme.
She added: “This is an important development that will ensure that these cases are handled more sensitively and efficiently, and that victims receive timely support.”
Ms Wilkerson said that work was under way to improve co-ordination between agencies so that victims were not left to navigate the system on their own.
The work is closely connected to the five-year domestic abuse strategic plan.
The plan is structured around six priorities: multi-agency collaboration and governance; risk assessment and early intervention; support services for survivors; accountability and rehabilitation for perpetrators; awareness, education and community engagement; and data collection and monitoring.
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