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Abstract
This retrospective descriptive study analyzed a 1997 cohort of misdemeanor offenders (N = 289) in a California domestic violence court. Sixty-two percent of offenders completed a 52-week counseling program. A four-year statewide recidivism follow-up determined that for all types of arrests, rates were lower among program completers versus noncompleters (for domestic violence arrests, 15% versus 25%). Logistic regression revealed that completion was predicted by not using drugs, not getting a new case, pleading “not guilty,” and an interaction of not having a concurrent case with not being ordered to a work program. Survival analyses identified key risk periods for arrest, and those with domestic violence priors recidivated soonest, as did those who either had drug/alcohol use or who did not complete counseling.
The author would like to thank the judge (who wishes to remain anonymous) and court personnel who permitted this study to be undertaken; the California Attorney General's Office, Criminal Statistics Center, Special Projects section, for their assistance in accessing the criminal records used in this study; and colleagues who read and commented on early drafts.
Notes
1. The figures published by the California Department of Justice are very likely underestimating the total count of domestic violence arrests because they are based solely on arrests for Penal Code § 273.5(a), willful infliction of corporal injury upon a spouse or cohabitant. However, several other penal code sections under assault and battery also incorporate domestic violence charges, particularly Penal Codes § 243(e)(1) and § 242. Domestic violence arrests made under these sections are not counted because these sections also include non–domestic violence assaults. Thus, an accurate count based solely by penal code section is impossible to determine.