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Predicting batterer recidivism five years after community intervention
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine batterer recidivism rates 5 years after community intervention and to determine differences that discriminate between recidivists and nonrecidivists. Of the 100 men included in the sample, 40% were identified as recidivists because they were either convicted of domestic assault, the subject of an order for protection, or a police suspect for domestic assault. A discriminant analysis was conducted using a variety of background and intervention variables. Five variables were selected that significantly discriminated between recidivists and nonrecidivists and correctly classified 60.6% of the cases. Men who had been abusive for a shorter duration prior to the program, court ordered to have a chemical dependency evaluation, in chemical dependency treatment, abused as children, and previously convicted for nonassault crimes were more likely to be recidivists. Variables relating to intervention did not significantly predict recidivism. Implications for community intervention programs are discussed.
... The sample sizes ranged from 26 to 2,824 offenders. The majority of the samples were stated to be court mandated/referred (Bowen et al., 2005;Eckhardt & Crane, 2014;Eckhardt, Holtzworth-Munroe, et al., 2008;Eckhardt, Samper, et al., 2008;Jones & Gondolf, 2001;Munro & Sellbom, 2022;Redondo et al., 2019;Rock et al., 2013;Romero-Martínez et al., 2021Shepard, 1992;Stoops et al., 2010;Whitman et al., 2020). The remainder were of mixed referral status (Dutton et al., 1997;Farzan-Kashani & Murphy, 2017;Gondolf & White, 2001;Hamberger & Hastings, 1990;Henning & Holdford, 2006;Huss & Ralston, 2008;Miles-McLean et al., 2019;Murphy et al., 2007;Sellbom et al., 2008;Tollefson & Gross, 2006). ...
... Trauma. Five studies studies investigated family of origin violence in relation to IPV recidivism (Fowler et al., 2016;Shepard, 1992;Stoops et al., 2010;Tollefson & Gross, 2006) and one investigated PTSD (Miles-McLean et al., 2019). Three studies used case-file analysis, while Stoops et al. (2010) used a structured interview tool. ...
... Fowler et al. (2016) examined family of origin abuse as a predictor of reoffending (measured by new domestic violence assaults and violations of protection orders post-probation), and found that offenders who had witnessed interparental abuse and experienced childhood abuse themselves were likely to reoffend more frequently than those who did not. Shepard (1992) reported that being abused as a child significantly discriminated between non-reoffenders and reoffenders. Tollefson and Gross's (2006) study on male and female offenders found childhood maltreatment to be significantly related to recidivism. ...
Theoretical accounts of recidivistic intimate partner violence (IPV) continue to differ considerably in relation to the relative weight given to psychological risk factors. A systematic overview of studies that have established psychological predictors of reoffending is currently lacking. This study aimed to identify and provide an overview of studies examining various psychological factors associated with IPV perpetration patterns. A systematic search of research conducted from 1945 to 2024 was carried out on PsycINFO, PubMed, and PILOTS. The inclusion criteria were that studies must not use self-reported reoffending data only, must use a criminal justice sample, must be longitudinal, participants must be over 17 years of age, and that studies must be published in the English language and peer reviewed. A total of 25 longitudinal studies examining individual psychological factors, proposed as potential predictors of IPV reoffending, were eligible. The identified factors were grouped into five categories: personality, anger and hostility, beliefs, attitudes and motivation, neurocognitive deficits and trauma (i.e., family of origin abuse/post-traumatic stress disorder). The current systematic scoping review found that the most-researched psychological predictor of IPV recidivism was personality. While studies vary in relation to the personality traits or disorders that contribute most to the likelihood of reoffending, in general, personality assessment appears to be a promising tool in predicting reoffending. Anger, childhood maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implicit attitudes, and neurocognitive deficits were also identified as predictors of IPV recidivism. Methodological issues were found to be present across studies.
... Research on the efficacy of IPV interventions has also explored risk factors associated with recidivism itself. Variables such as being generally violent (not only within the family), the presence of family violence early in life, substance abuse problems, or trait anger, have been positively associated with recidivism (Lila et al., 2019;Shepard, 1992). Among these risk factors, drop-out from treatment has consistently emerged as a strong predictor, making its reduction one of the main challenges for IPV interventions (Lila et al., 2019;Olver et al., 2011). ...
... Among these risk factors, drop-out from treatment has consistently emerged as a strong predictor, making its reduction one of the main challenges for IPV interventions (Lila et al., 2019;Olver et al., 2011). Drop-out rates have been found to range between 15%and 80% (Feder & Wilson, 2005;Lila et al., 2019;Olver et al., 2011;Shepard, 1992). These are concerning values, particularly if one considers that high retention rates (i.e., low drop-out) are a relevant indicator of intervention suitability (Babcock et al., 2004). ...
... EMS arise from harsh life experiences that preclude children from having their emotional needs met (Rafaeli et al., 2011;Young et al., 2003). These experiences (e.g., physical, psychological, and sexual abuse), are known to be an important risk factor for IPV victimization (Coolidge & Anderson, 2002) and perpetration (Lila et al., 2019;Shepard, 1992). SFT (Rafaeli et al., 2011;Young et al., 2003) is an extension of CBT that integrates contributions from other models (e.g., attachment, developmental psychology). ...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been targeted as a significant concern worldwide, but evidence for the efficacy of perpetrators’ interventions is not undisputable. This article briefly summarizes the evidence about perpetrators’ intervention efficacy, factors associated with recidivism, and evidence-based recommendations, before outlining the assumptions of a new community-delivered intervention aiming to rehabilitate IPV perpetrators: the CONTIGO Program. This program uses an innovative framework, focused on early maladaptive schemas, and combining cognitive, interpersonal, and motivational interview principles. The features of this intervention are discussed, and exploratory results regarding drop-out rates (8%) and recidivism (15.4%) in a sample of 162 court-mandated males are exposed. The detailed presentation of the CONTIGO Program and its intervention model represents a novel contribution that is sorely lacking in the IPV literature and could foster further research and debate about what can be done to effectively intervene with IPV perpetrators.
... The literature that explored the offending histories of FVPs participating in treatment and rehabilitation programs has described similarly high rates of other offending (DeMaris 1989: Dowd, Leisring & Rosenbaum 2005Shepard 1992). One US-based study found that 15 percent of a sample of men referred to a community-based treatment program (n=100) had previously been convicted of a family violence offence, while almost a quarter (23%) had been arrested and convicted of a non-family violencerelated offence (Shepard 1992). ...
... The literature that explored the offending histories of FVPs participating in treatment and rehabilitation programs has described similarly high rates of other offending (DeMaris 1989: Dowd, Leisring & Rosenbaum 2005Shepard 1992). One US-based study found that 15 percent of a sample of men referred to a community-based treatment program (n=100) had previously been convicted of a family violence offence, while almost a quarter (23%) had been arrested and convicted of a non-family violencerelated offence (Shepard 1992). Further, only 10 percent of men who were convicted of a family violence offence and referred to the ...
It is common practice to assess the risk of family violence recidivism and the efficacy of perpetrator treatment outcomes by taking into account the offending histories of offenders. However, the relationship between the frequency of family violence offending and other types of offending has not been fully explored. This study provides a snapshot of the six year offending histories of a cohort of Tasmanian family violence perpetrators. What emerges is a clear association between the frequency of family violence incidents and a history of other offending. That is, a group of family violence perpetrators engaged in high levels of family violence offending were identified as committing a range of other types of violence, traffic offences and the breach of violence orders. The findings from this study have implications for policy and practice, including the treatment and identification of family violence perpetrators.
... Several sociodemographic characteristics have been found to be associated with depression. [34][35][36] In the present study, independent variables were selected from the viewpoint of previous domestic and international literature 20,34,36 and medical perspectives. 37 We performed two logistic regression analyses with the propensity score method to adjust the effect of confounding factors, 38,39 and we removed variables not related to the outcome and duplicated variables in order to construct the correct model. ...
... Several sociodemographic characteristics have been found to be associated with depression. [34][35][36] In the present study, independent variables were selected from the viewpoint of previous domestic and international literature 20,34,36 and medical perspectives. 37 We performed two logistic regression analyses with the propensity score method to adjust the effect of confounding factors, 38,39 and we removed variables not related to the outcome and duplicated variables in order to construct the correct model. ...
Aim
The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting depression trait among male intimate partner violence (IPV) victims in Japan utilizing a multiple linear regression analysis.
Methods
A web‐based questionnaire survey was conducted. Male IPV victims living in Japan were recruited to answer the questionnaire on the website on February 25–26, 2021. A total of 16,414 subjects were enrolled, of whom 1466 respondents were included in the study. Other than IPV exposure, information about sociodemographic characteristics, past traumatic experiences and psychiatric history was collected. The Domestic Violence Screening Inventory (DVSI), a 20‐item questionnaire regarding IPV exposure, and the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) were used to determine the intensity and the type of IPV harm and to screen for depression, respectively.
Results
The victims were more frequently subject to psychological abuse than to physical violence. Based on PHQ‐9 scores, 10.7% of respondents exhibited moderate to severe depression. In the DVSI score, 79.2% of respondents required “observation and support.” The lowest level of academic attainment (junior high school), positive psychiatric history, foregoing divorce to avoid adverse childhood experiences of their offspring, childhood exposure to domestic violence, younger age, having no children, and experience of school bullying were shown to be significantly associated with depression trait.
Conclusion
Male IPV harm has a multilayered complexity. The sociodemographic characteristics and experiences of victims' own have a greater impact on depression trait than direct violent harm, suggesting that the violence‐focused support might be inadequate for male victims. Comprehensive supports are urgently needed.
... No obstante, el hecho de recibir un tratamiento reduce considerablemente la tasa de reincidencia, debido a que las recaídas dependen más de las características personales de los maltratadores que del tipo de intervención recibida (Shephard, 1992). Desde una perspectiva predictiva, los factores asociados al éxito terapéutico son los siguientes: la edad del maltratador, una situación económica desahogada, el comienzo tardío de la violencia y la realización de un mayor número de sesiones de pareja (Harris, 1986). ...
Serious successes from gender violence and alarming social oppinion, are probably taking outstanding places in reports. Gender violence is one more consequence from the violent behavior on women. This work aims a theorist and descriptive nearing of gender violence; and it is sustained that many variables can be associated with a violent behavior in family context. The author introduces a brief concept of aggression, as so as possible factors that predispose to its development and manifestation. Then, some characteristics probably connected to aggressor's fuss and their physical and psychological consequences in victims, are described. Finally, we purpose many essential lines in a programme of intervention with aggressors.
... Six studies that utilized a therapeutic approach following the Duluth model (Hendricks et al., 2006;Herman et al., 2014;Labriola et al., 2005;McNeeley, 2019;Shepard, 1992;Shepard et al., 2002) obtained recidivism rates between 10% and 46% (both values obtained at the 12-month follow-up), without any variable being observed in this case. The limited information provided by them may explain the variability of the results. ...
This systematic review assessed whether studies on the outcomes of perpetrator programs comply with the model recommendations for outcome evaluation. Three databases (PsycINFO, Medline, and Scopus) were used to identify perpetrator program outcome studies from 1988 to 2021. The inclusion criteria were as follows: empirical studies with no time restriction; published in English or Spanish; evaluated interventions aimed at male perpetrators of any type of abuse toward women; evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in a follow-up post-intervention; and provided an indicator of recidivism. The search and selection process resulted in 46 original studies. The results showed that studies did not include a thorough description of the study sample. Many approaches to psychological intervention are used, with cognitive behavioral therapy being the most widely used. Most studies did not describe the program content. Dropout rates varied greatly from one study to another (from 0% to 64%) and only eight studies provided dropout rates specified by each type of perpetrator. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 9 years. The recidivism rates (ranging from 5% to 72.5%), and their assessments were also very different. Only 12 of the 46 studies (26.1%) used more than one source to obtain recidivism rates. In terms of outcomes, few studies considered (ex-) partner accounts. Some studies had other measures of outcome, whereas a few included a pretest–posttest. In summary, these studies do not follow the recommendations of the model.
... In contrast, there is a paucity of research focusing on violent men who cease their abusive behavior. Although studies of battered women (e.g., Bowker, 1983;Follingstad, Laughlin, Polek, Rutledge, & Hause, 1991;Margolin & Fernandez, 1987), national surveys on family violence (e.g., Kaufman-Kantor, Jasin-ski, & Aldarondo, 1994), longitudinal studies (e.g., Campbell, Miller, Cardwell, & Belknap, 1994; O'Leary, Barling, Arias, Rosenbaum, Malone, & Tyree, 1989;Woffordt, Mihalic, & Menard, 1994), treatment outcome studies (e.g., Hamberger & Hastings, 1990;Palmer, Brown, & Barrera, 1992), studies of legal interventions (e.g., Hirschel, Hutchison, & Dean, 1992;Sherman, 1992), and evaluations of community intervention programs (e.g., Rynerson & Fishel, 1993;Shepard, 1992)showthat some violent men cease the violence, at least for some period of time, little is known about the characteristics of men who interrupt or cease the violence and how they differ from those who continue to abuse. ...
This study evaluated the utility of specific risk markers of wife assault in understanding the cessation and persistence of violence against women over a 3-year period. Longitudinal data were used to identify violent men who ceased the violence for 2 years and violent men who persisted in using violence. A group of nonviolent men was used for comparison. Factor analysis indicated that marital conflict, socioeconomic status (SES), and witnessing violence in the family of origin were the most powerful discriminators of these groups. Moreover, it was found that high levels of marital conflict and low SES were associated not only with the occurrence of violence but also with the continuity of wife assaults over time.
... Only in the past 10 -15 years have predictor items for wife assault recidivism been empirically identified. Individual and social variables consistently related to wife assault recidivism include age, severity and duration of prior violence, other prior antisocial behavior, violence in the offender's family of origin, hostility, and substance abuse (e.g., Aldarondo & Sugarman, 1996;Dutton, Bodnarchuk, Kropp, Hart, & Ogloff, 1997;Hilton, Harris, & Rice, 2001;Saunders, 1993;Shepard, 1992). This research has not previously been extended to the selection of items for risk assessment using regression techniques. ...
This article examines the difference between male and female reports of violence and threats of violence directed by the man towards the woman. All men in the study were clients in a large batterers' treatment program in the Midwest. Both men and their female partners completed a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale at intake and 1 year later at follow-up. In many categories, significantly more women were found at intake to report higher frequencies of threats and violence than their male partners. At follow-up and after extensive intervention these differences were not found in the more severe categories of violence. Differences remained, however, in the less concrete realm of threats of violence and in less severe forms of violence such as pushing and shoving.
Conducted 3 studies to evaluate a large counseling treatment program for men who battered their female partners. The intervention consisted of orientation, self-help, and structured group therapy sessions. Six-month follow-up data on violence and threats of violence as reported by female partners were given for 158 men who completed the treatment program and 68 men who received varying amounts of treatment but did not complete the program. Overall, approximately two-thirds of the men who completed the program were nonviolent at follow-up. However, a large number of men continued to use threats of violence after ending their use of violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
In this paper we try to replicate the findings from the Minneapolis Spouse Abuse Experiment (Sherman and Berk, 1984). Using longitudinal data from the criminal justice system on 783 wife-battery incidents, an ex post factor design coupled with a propensity-score analysis reveals that arrests substantially reduce the number of new incidents of wife battery. In addition, the reductions are greatest for batterers whom the police would ordinarily be especially inclined to arrest. Policy and theoretical implications are discussed.
This study compares the effects on recidivism of arrest and post-arrest legal sanctions among men accused of domestic abuse, identifies associations between some correlates of abuse and recidivism, and compares the effects of arrest and post-arrest legal sanctions controlling for these correlates. The findings indicate that correlates of abuse explain more variance in recidivism than post-arrest legal sanctions. They also suggest that further analysis may reveal significant relationships between some post-arrest legal sanctions and recidivism.
Similar issues and similar interventions appear in treatment programs for child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and woman abuse. Programs in all three of these areas make use of crisis lines, temporary shelter for victims, and professionally guided self-help groups. A wide variety of treatment orientations are used. However, common to all areas is a controversy over whether to use a family systems approach or an individual approach. Critics of family approaches claim that too much value is placed on family reunion or that they implicitly blame the victim. There is also a common trend toward closer collaboration with the criminal justice system. The collaboration is sometimes meant to convey the message to the family and society that family violence is a crime but more often it is designed to keep the offender in treatment. Cognitive and behavioral approaches have been evaluated more often than other approaches and seem to show promising results. Unfortunately, serious defects in the designs of nearly all evaluation studies conducted to date make it impossible to draw definite conclusions about treatment effectiveness.
Family violence research has only recently begun to investigate desistance. Recent developments in the study of behaviors other than family violence, such as the use of addictive substances, suggest that common processes can be identified in the cessation of disparate behaviors involving diverse populations and occurring in different settings. Desistance is the outcome of processes that begin with aversive experiences leading to a decision to stop. Desistance apparently follows legal sanctions in nearly three spouse abuse cases in four, but the duration of cessation is unknown beyond short study periods. Batterers with shorter, less severe histories have a higher probability of desisting than batterers with longer, more severe histories. Victim-initiated strategies, including social and legal sanctions plus actions to create aversive experiences from abuse (e. g., divorce and loss of children) and social disclosure, also lead to desistance. Batterers are more resistant to change when they participate in s...
Conducted a follow-up survey of 53 men admitted for counseling (17% response rate), who completed a questionnaire that included the Conflict Tactics Scale. Characteristics of responders and nonresponders are compared to assess nonresponse bias. The recidivism rate was 35%, and recidivism was related to factors including the witnessing of parental violence and presence of an alcohol problem. Ways to avoid violence include calling a counselor, monitoring one's own anger, and leaving the home during a confrontation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)