The relationship between treatment, incarceration, and recidivism of battering: A program evaluation of Seattle's coordinated community response to domestic violence.

Abstract

Men who batter (N = 387) were followed over 2 years using a quasi-experimental design. Batterers were court-mandated into domestic violence (DV) group treatment, DV treatment plus chemical dependency treatment, or were incarcerated in lieu of treatment. Official criminal records of treatment completers, treatment noncompleters, and incarcerated batters were compared 2 years after sentencing. Batteres who completed DV group treatment had fewer DV reoffenses at follow-up, and incarcerated batterers had a greater number, as compared with DV treatment noncompleters, after controlling for criminal record and demographics. The number of DV sessions attended was negatively correlated with recidivism. This study provides suggestive evidence that the coordinated domestic violence intervention may have a statistically significant but small impact on reducing domestic violence. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Journal of Family Psychology, 1999. Copyright © 1999 by the American Psychological Association) Domestic Violence Treatment Domestic Violence Offender Adult Offender Adult Violence Male Offender Male Violence Adult Male Spouse Abuse Treatment Spouse Abuse Offender Incarceration vs. Treatment Washington Treatment Program Incarceration Effects Treatment Effects Recidivism Program Evaluation Intervention Program Domestic Violence Intervention Spouse Abuse Intervention Partner Violence Violence Against Women 09-99