First-of-its-kind collaboration reveals trends related to the criminal histories of perpetrators and opportunities for prevention
A unique partnership between a research-action hub at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work , Cochrane RCMP and Big Hill Haven is offering a road map to stop domestic violence before it starts in Alberta.
Domestic Violence in Cochrane: What RCMP Data Reveals about Perpetration is a new report providing one of the province’s most detailed looks at a local trend.
Incorporating RCMP data from the Town of Cochrane, Rocky View County and the Stoney Nakoda Nation, the report covers a five-year analysis (2020-2024) and looks into the histories of men who were criminally charged with such crimes in 2024.
The data shows a nearly 60-per cent rise in domestic incidents between 2020 and 2024, highlighting the need for urgent action.
The study also reveals that most men who were charged in 2024 were already known to the RCMP before their arrest; 75 per cent of these men already had criminal charges on record, and 68 per cent had previous police-reported domestic encounters.
These findings align with a 2024 UCalgary study that looked at a decade of Calgary Police Service data and found that 73 per cent of men who perpetrated domestic-violence crimes had prior contact with police.
"Red flags show up right before domestic violence crimes happen," says Lana Wells, BSW’96, MSW’97, lead author of the research and Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence. "The vast majority of men charged with domestic violence are already on the radar of law enforcement, and that means we’re missing a vital opportunity to intervene before violence escalates."
Wells is an associate professor in Social Work and leads Shift: Shift is the only initiative of its kind in Canada to focus on the primary prevention of gender-based violence. Since its inception in 2010 at UCalgary, Wells and her team at Shift have been researching and addressing root causes to prevent violence from happening.
A closer look at the data
The research examined both the prevalence and severity of violence, finding that 56 per cent of domestic-violence charges in 2024 involved assault, assault with a weapon or assault causing bodily harm. And half of all reported domestic violence charges in 2024 involved a child who witnessed the violence or was present in the home when it occurred.
Wells calls these findings alarming and points to the need for early intervention.
"When children grow up surrounded by abuse or threats, the impact is profound - even if the violence isn’t directed at them," she says. "We know from decades of research that these experiences increase the risk of both using and experiencing violence later in life. If we want to break the cycle, we have to change those trajectories early."
The findings also highlight a growing need for co-ordinated and proactive prevention strategies that address men’s mental health, substance use and social supports. Nearly half of all charges in 2024 involved alcohol - a reminder that substance use and violence often intersect.
"Ending domestic violence isn’t just about enforcement," says Insp. David Brunner, Cochrane RCMP Detachment Commander. "It’s about understanding the risk factors, patterns of perpetration and working with our community partners to act earlier. We need to better support men and their families before violence escalates."
Community solutions to prevent violence
While most men who were charged with a domestic-violence crime in 2024 were known to the RCMP, about one in five of these men had no prior contact with law enforcement.
"This shows us that ending violence begins with supporting men and boys where they already are - in schools, on hockey rinks, in workplaces, churches and online spaces," Wells says. "We have to connect with these men in their communities before they become first-time offenders."
The report authors recommend the Government of Alberta invest in services for men and families that are non-stigmatizing and promote responsibility, accountability and healing, rather than shame.
These findings are already informing new prevention and early intervention projects in Cochrane, says project collaborator Wanda McGinnis, BSW’92, executive director at Big Hill Haven.
"This report shows what’s possible when universities collaborate with the community," says McGinnis. "Working alongside the RCMP, UCalgary researchers and local leaders is how we move from reacting to violence to preventing it."
Wells adds the partnership marks a turning point for how communities can use local data as a prevention tool.
"When law enforcement, service providers and researchers work hand in hand, we can identify early warning signs, support men before violence escalates and make homes safer for everyone," she says.
