Acquired Brain Injuries in Perpetrators of Family Violence: Exploring Identification, Risk and Response

This thesis examines the complexity of family violence perpetration, focusing on offenders with diagnosed, suspected, or risk factors for acquired brain injury (ABI). It highlights how intersecting issues such as mental health conditions, substance use, and trauma shape patterns of offending yet remain poorly understood. Court responses were found to prioritise assessments of moral culpability over recognition of offenders’ underlying health and social needs. This narrow focus limits opportunities for rehabilitation and reinforces cycles of violence. The thesis argues that addressing this disconnection is essential for achieving more effective and just responses to family violence perpetrators.