ABSTRACT
Based on empirical research, this chapter critiques the influence of risk theory on domestic abuse advocacy intervention and how increased criminalisation has forced greater managerialism within the third sector. It shows how support agencies for victims are increasingly accountable to the court process to justify funding, whilst striving to retain their person-centred, therapeutic ethos. Drawing on risk theory in criminology and penology, the chapter analyses the growing influence of the language of risk on victimology – particularly in terms of lending legitimacy to the role of advocacy support workers within the court process. A well-intentioned and potentially valuable tool, risk assessments are a means of prioritisation, a product of a multi-agency approach and demonstrate a commitment to better safety planning. However, uneven and inconsistent application and a lack of consensus on their purpose may undermine their utility.
