Recidivism Rates of Paroled Domestic Violence Offenders

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Domestic violence is a learned behavior and pattern which is often caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. The offender may have learned violence by seeing someone else being abused often or they may have been victims themselves. Because domestic violence is also a pattern, most offenders are arrested on subsequent domestic violence charges within a year after the conclusion of their previos conviction. Most states provide pre and post release treatment programs to help paroled offenders convicted of domestic violence. A study that evaluated the affects of domestic violence treatment programs found offenders that completed a treatment program or who had attended at least 75% of the sessions were less likely to recidivate than those who had attended fewer sessions (Sartin, Hansen, Huss). However, of the offenders who were less likely to offend, 47% did recidivated within four years after completing domestic violence programs. They also found that of the offenders who were court-ordered to attend a treatment programs, 40% attended the initial session and 37% attended 25% of the sessions. Domestic violence offenders that do not complete the treatment programs characteristically recidivate within six month. Contributing Factors and Impact Although domestic violence is a significant societal problem, which continues to receive public and private sector attention, intervention and treatment programs have proven inconsistent in their success. Statistics by various organization show that many offenders continue to abuse their victims. Approximately 32% of battered women are victimized again, 47% of men who abuse their wives do so at least three times per year (MCFBW). There are many varying fact... ... middle of paper ... ...ww.divorcerecovery101.com/kass90.html Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCFBW) http://www.windowhinckley.com/pdf's/Domestic%20Violence%20Facts.pdf Sartin, Robert M.; Hansen, David J; Huss, Matthew T: Domestic violence treatment response and recidivism: A review and implications for the study of family violence http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1084&context=psychfacpub Treatment for substance abuse vital to reduce prison recidivism rate, The Medical News, March 14, 2008,http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/03/14/36306.aspx Michael Williams -Court Administrator, Murray City Municipal Justice Court Murray, Utah Evaluating The Murray City Municipal Justice Courts Domestic Violence Court, May 2002 http://www.ncsc.org/~/media/files/pdf/education%20and%20careers/cedp%20papers/2010/evaluating%20domestic%20violence%20court.ashx

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