Virtual reality, for “Put yourself in the victim’s shoes” : the ministry of Justice launches an experiment to fight against recidivism among men sentenced for violence conjugal, we learned Friday from the Chancellery.
Make fear understood
The device, already tested in Spain, provides a ” full immersion “ thanks to a virtual reality headset in the story of a family, divided into seven sequences, over several years.
The spectator takes turns in the skin of the man, the woman, then of their child, in various scenes of daily life.
The scenario was developed in conjunction with experts specializing in domestic violence to address different themes: influence, psychological violence, physical violence, etc. “It’s a kind of empathy machine”, which makes it possible to bring to life the emotions felt by the victims, and in particular “To make fear understood” to men who are often in denial, explains Guillaume Clere, founder of the start-up Reverto, who collaborated with the ministry for this project.
The experiment is due to start in early October and last for a year in Lyon, Meaux (with people sentenced and followed in an open environment) and Villepinte (with detainees).
“It is a tool, a means of opening the dialogue”, which will be used within the framework of the work done with the penitentiary integration services which follow these people, specifies the Chancellery.
About thirty men chosen to experience it
The chosen men, six in Villepinte, ten in Lyon and twelve in Meaux, are volunteers. “We favored the profiles who have the most chance of reoffending”, specifies the Chancellery.
The project will be evaluated independently, before its possible sustainability. It could also be used as a tool to train magistrates and police officers in particular to better understand domestic violence.
The Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti will present this project in the morning to the Poitiers Court of Appeal, where he is going on the occasion of the first anniversary of the deployment of anti-reconciliation bracelets in France.
The device is part of the measures put in place to try to stop the progression of feminicides (90 in 2020, after 146 in 2019).
The electronic bracelet is attached to the ankle and allows geolocation of spouses or violent ex-spouses. An alert system is triggered when the latter get too close to the victim, who always keeps a box with her, and the authorities are immediately notified.
According to the latest figures from the Chancellery on September 13, 290 men were equipped.
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