NCJ Number
225691
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 61-76
Date Published
January 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the factors that affect intimate partner violence (IPV) recidivism in both men and women.
Abstract
Results indicated that although there was some overlap, such as offender’s racial membership and drug use, different factors predicted men’s and women’s recidivism; a number of gender differences emerged beginning from the original offender files to their rates and predictors of recidivism. Findings were consistent with research using criminal justice data that suggests that IPV is gendered in nature, with men more likely to commit the crime; most offenders in this study were men, 84.5 percent, with only 15.5 percent being women. Proportionally, more women were arrested as part of a dual arrest than were men, however none of these women recidivated as compared to 41.7 percent of male dual arrestees who recidivated. Consistent with prior research, women were less likely to recidivate than men in general (19 percent versus 48 percent). Men’s recidivism rate of 48 percent was a bit higher than found in other studies, which reported that 23.1 percent of offenders recidivated according to official police records. This elevated rate may be due to the longer followup period of 5-years used in the current study. Additionally, the rates of IPV and recidivism, and other gender differences were also found according to the predictive models. Among men, race, unemployment, drug use, and history of probation or parole played an important role in recidivism. Policy implications are discussed. Data were collected as part of a larger evaluation project for the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in Douglas County, NE; the total sample of cases used was 596. Tables and references