c r I I

c r I I

C.)

1 CL 01 THE VI CE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC AND PROVOST

MEMO

ATTENTION:

Senate

FROM:

Jonathan Driver, Vice-President, Academic & Provost, and Chair, SCUP

RE: ?

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence (SOUP 09-23)

DATE: ?

July 20, 2009

At its May 20, 2009 meeting SCUP reviewed and approved the proposal.

• ?

for the creation of the Centre for Research on Sexual. Violence. This

Centre will be a Schedule A Centre based in the School. of Criminology

within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Motion

That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors

the creation of the Centre for Research on Sexual. Violence as a

Schedule A Centre based in the School of Criminology within the

Faculty of Arts and Social. Sciences.

cEEEf

end.

c: E. Beauregard, P. Lussier

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?

THINKING OF THE WORLD

Proposal: CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Proposers: Eric Beauregard, Patrick Lussier (School of Criminology, SFU)

July

2009

School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University 2

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

Table of Contents

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE ?

THE NEED FOR THE CENTRE

STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN FOR SFU

1. Communication, computation and technology ?

2. Culture, Society, and Human Behaviour

Economic organization, public policy and the global community ?

4. Health ?

GOVERNANCE ?

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR ?

INTERNAL GOVERNING PROCEDURE ?

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

School of Criminology,

Simon Fraser University 3

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Constitution

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The main objective of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence is to provide a focal point for

research and training for Faculty, scholars, students and practitioners, locally and internationally,

on a broad range of sexual violence issues. In association with the School of Criminology, the

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence will promote the advancement of knowledge on both the

origins and the causes of sexual violence, analyse the criminal justice system's response to sexual

violence, and facilitate both the development and the evaluation of programs and methods to

prevent the occurrence of sexual violence.

The Centre's key objectives will be:

Initiating, promoting and conducting research on both the understanding and the prevention of

sexual violence;

Providing criminal justice intervention program development and evaluation services in the area

of sexual violence;

Developing and providing educational and training services such as seminars and workshops on

sexual violence topics;

Coordinating and organizing special lectures, seminars and workshops on sexual violence

topics delivered by key speakers, scholars, researchers and practitioners;

Developing partnerships with other community and government agencies, institutes or research

centres whose aims are similar to those of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence;

Facilitating the exchange of information between scholars, researchers and practitioners in

order to promote research on sexual violence.

School of Criminology,

Simon Fraser University 4

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

THE NEED FOR THE CENTRE

Canada is one of the world leaders in research on, and the treatment of, sexually violent offenders.

Several key developments in the areas of treatment programming and risk assessment originated

with researchers working in association with and/or for Canadian non-academic institutions (e.g.,

the Correctional Service of Canada). Major contributions to an understanding of the causes of

sexual violence as well as policy developments and legal responses to sexual violence originated

with Canadian scholars working independently across the country. Despite this active Canadian

research community, members of which are working on several key sexual violence issues, there is

no focal point allowing organizations and academics to share their knowledge and expertise.

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence would play an important role as both a research

clearinghouse and a partner for facilitating and sharing knowledge of sexual violence. The Centre

for Research on Sexual Violence wishes to and

Canada's status at the leading edge of

research

on, and the prevention of, sexual violence.

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence will be the only international, university-based

organization in Canada dedicated specifically to research on sexual violence issues. Traditionally,

research on sexual violence issues has been primarily conducted in the field of psychology. In recent

years, however, a general consensus has emerged amongst academics and practitioners that there is

a need to approach sexual violence issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective. The School of

Criminology reflects this multi-disciplinary perspective and is an ideal place to house the Centre.

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence will be committed to providing educational services to

inform the community about sexual violence issues and topics. For example, an undergraduate

course (Sexual Offenders and Sexual Offences - CRIM.316) has been developed and introduces

students to key issues related to an understanding of sexual violence, as well as ways of preventing

such violence. Also, a graduate course (Sexual Violence - CRIM.871) has been developed and was

offered for the first time as a special topics course during the 2009 Spring Term. The course helps

students develop their critical thinking about sexual violence issues, specifically in terms of the

challenges and constraints associated with the prevention of sexual violence. It is hoped that this

course will be of interest to not only criminology graduate students, but also those in health

sciences, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN FOR SFU

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence has links with four of the five thematic areas in the

Strategic Research Plan for SFU.

1. Communication, computation and technology

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence links to the communication, computation and

technology theme. The Centre will create a laboratory with leading edge technologies to assess the

sexual interests of those who engage in sexual violence. The laboratory will examine and develop

new methods of assessing such sexual interests, using several instruments and media, including

virtual reality. The Centre will work in collaboration with the Philippe Pinel Institute (a leading

psychiatric facility) in Montreal to develop these methodologies many of which have been shown to

be of the utmost importance in the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders. Also, the Centre

School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University 5

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

will work in collaboration with the International Cyber Crime Research Centre at SFU on sexual

violence issues, such as child pornography and online sexual predation.

2. Culture, Society, and Human Behaviour

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence also ties in with the culture, society and human

behaviour theme. More specifically the purpose of the Centre is tightly linked to social justice,

ethics and forensic studies. The Centre will establish a close collaboration with the Institute for

Canadian Urban Research Studies (ICURS) to examine the relationship between the environment

and the occurrence of sexual violence and the offending patterns of sexual offenders. Designing and

evaluating situational crime prevention programs will be part of this collaboration. The Centre will

also work closely with the Centre for Forensic Studies at SFU in developing partnerships to

improve the police response to, and the investigation of, sexual violence cases. The Centre will

provide its expertise on geographic and psychological profiling to assist law enforcement agencies

in solving criminal cases.

Economic organization, public policy and the global community

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence will address the economic organization,

public

policy

and global community theme. Examining criminal justice responses to the problem of sexual

violence will be an important feature of the Centre. Examining the impact of community risk

management and public notification strategies affecting sexual offenders will be amongst the key

projects conducted by theCentre, in collaboration with government departments, notably the

Correctional Service of Canada, and the B.C. Corrections Branch. Also, the Centre will explore the

international problem of human trafficking, specifically for sexual exploitation purposes.

Health

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence's activities will have a strong health component.

Among the key areas of research for the Centre will be an understanding of both the origins and the

development of sexual violence over the life-course of offenders. Members of the proposed Centre

are already conducting a large scale longitudinal study in British Columbia looking at the risk

factors of childhood sexual abuse and the risk factors of sexual violence perpetration. The study is

being conducted in collaboration with the Centre for,Social Responsibility and represents a unique

opportunity to understand the etiology of this phenomenon.

GOVERNANCE

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence shall conduct its activities in accordance

with Simon Fraser University policies (R.40.01, Centres and Institutes). If the

Constitution of the Centre and University policies differ on any issue, University policy

shall prevail.

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence is a Schedule A Centre (R.40.01) and comes

under the direct authority of the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences. The Dean shall be the

administrative Officer responsible for the governance and budgetary accounts of the

Centre.

School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University 6

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR

The Director of the Centre for Research on Sexual Violence shall be appointed by the Dean of Arts

and Social Sciences under advisement from the Centre's Steering Committee. The term of office for

the Director shall normally be three years.

INTERNAL GOVERNING PROCEDURE

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence will be housed in the School of Criminology, Faculty of

Arts and Social Sciences, at SimonFraser University. The Centre will be governed by a Steering

Committee made up of three Simon Fraser University faculty members and two representatives

from the community. Members will be appointed by the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences on the

recommendation of the Centre's Director. Appointments shall be for a three year term with the

possibility of renewal. Members of the Steering Committee will include, but not be limited to the

following:

• The Director of the Centre

• The co-Director of the Centre

• Two Faculty members representing the School of Criminology

• An individual representing the field of Corrections (e.g., from the BC Corrections Branch, or the

Correctional Service of Canada)

• An individual representing the field of law enforcement (e.g., from the Vancouver Police

Department or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

• An individual representing victim advocacy programs (e.g., VISAC - Vancouver Incest and

Sexual Abuse Centre).

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRE OR RESEARCH ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The Centre for Research on Sexual Violence consists of a body of associates not limited to the

university community including individuals linked to the Centre through projects and other

activities that the Centre both supports and sponsors. Associate members status will be proposed

by the Director of the Centre and approved by the Steering Committee. Associate members will be

invited to attend the Centre's annual meetings and may work with its members on projects

undertaken by the Centre. Below is a list of potential members:

SFU

• Dr. Eric Beauregard, Criminology

• Dr. Ray Corrado, Psychology

• Dr. Kevin Douglas, Psychology

• Dr. Bill Glackman, Criminology

• Dr. Stephen Hart, Psychology

• Dr. Patrick Lussier, Criminology

• Dr. Sarah Smythe, Criminology

• Dr. Simon Verdun-Jones, Criminology

School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University 7

Centre for Research on Sexual Violence

• Dr. Jodi Viljoen, Psychology

• Dr. Jennifer Wong, Criminology

CANADA

• Dr. Howard Barbaree, University of Toronto

• Jesse Cale, Assistant professor, University of the Fraser Valley

• Dr. Franca Cortoni, University of Montreal

• Dr. Jean-Pierre Guay, University of Montreal

• Dr. Martin Lalumiere, University of Lethbridge

• Dr. Kevin Nunes, Carleton University

• Dr. Jean Proulx, University of Montreal

• Dr. Michael Seto, University of Toronto

INTERNATIONAL

• Dr. Anthony Beech, University of Birmingham, UK

• Dr. Arjan Blockland, Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, Netherlands

• Dr. Catrien Bijleveld, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands'

• Dr. David Burton, Smith College School for Social Work, USA

• Dr. Matt Delisi, Iowa State University, USA

• Dr. David Finkeihor, University of New Hampshire, USA

• Dr. Damielle Harris, San Jose State University, USA

• Dr. Niklas Langstrom, Karoliska Institute, Sweden

• Dr. Benoit Leclerc, Griffith University, Australia

• Dr. Roxanne Lieb, Washington State Institute for Public Policy, USA

• -Dr. Tom Mieczkowski, University of South Florida, USA

• Dr. Michael Miner, University of Minnesota, USA

•. Dr. Wade Myers, Brown University, USA

• Dr. Thierry Pham, University of Mons Hainaut, Belgium

• Dr. Stephen Smalibone, Griffith University, Australia

• Dr. Tony Ward, Victoria University of Wellington, Australia

• Dr. Franklin Zirnring, University of California, Berkeley, USA