Compared to What? A Meta-Analysis of Batterer Intervention Studies Using Nontreated Controls or Comparisons

Abstract

This meta-analysis updates the literature on the effectiveness of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) in decreasing recidivism of domestic violence (DV) by focusing on studies with nontreated comparison groups ( N = 17). Included studies were published between 1986 and 2016, and 14 of the 17 provided sufficient information for the meta-analysis. Analysis focused on three reported outcomes: DV recidivism reported by the criminal justice system, intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration assessed by the survivor, and general offense recidivism reported by the criminal justice system. Results of meta-analysis indicated that BIPs were effective in decreasing DV recidivism and general offense recidivism when reported by the criminal justice system, but not when assessed by the survivor. BIP participants were about 3 times less likely to have DV recidivism and about 2.5 times less likely to have general offense recidivism, compared to nontreated control/comparison groups. The pooled effect size varied, however, by research design. Specifically, results indicated a nonsignificant pooled effect size for randomized controlled trials but a significant pooled effect size for quasi-experimental design studies. Implications for future practice and research are discussed.

Identifying Key Predictors of Recidivism among Offenders Attending a Batterer Intervention Program: A Survival Analysis

“…The first of the study's limitations concerns the use of official recidivism rates as the dependent variable. Because victims' reports of offender recidivism (compared to offender or official reports) tend to yield higher recidivism rates, relying on data from official reports underestimates the amount of actual recidivism (Cheng, Davis, Jonson-Reid, & Yaeger, 2019;Goldstein et al, 2016;Williams & Houghton, 2004). However, this was not possible in this study because Spanish legislation prevents the services referring IPVAW perpetrators to intervention programs from providing information that would allow access to their victims (Lila et al, 2018).…”

Motivational Strategies in Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Offenders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…IPV offender intervention programs are one of the main treatment approaches aimed at preventing further violence (Cannon et al, 2016;Price & Rosenbaum, 2009;Voith et al, 2018). However, metaanalyses focused on the effectiveness of IPV offender intervention programs have shown small effect sizes (Arias et al, 2013;Babcock et al, 2004;Cheng et al, 2019;Eckhardt et al, 2013;Feder & Wilson, 2005;Gondolf, 2004;Smedslund et al, 2011).…”

Motivational Strategies, Working Alliance, and Protherapeutic Behaviors in Batterer Intervention Programs: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Several meta-analyses conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) have indicated that the effect size of these interventions on reducing recidivism tends to be small (Arce et al, 2020;Babcock et al, 2004;Cheng et al, 2019;Eckhardt et al, 2013;Feder & Wilson, 2005;Smedslund et al, 2011). This limited success of BIPs in reducing recidivism has been attributed to different factors such as low treatment compliance and high dropout rates (Bennett et al, 2007;Daly & Pelowski, 2000;Jewell & Wormith, 2010;Lila et al, 2019;Olver et al, 2011), lack of motivation for change Crane et al, 2015;Eckhardt et al, 2008;Zalmanowitz et al, 2013), problems in building the working alliance (Cadsky et al, 1996;DiGiuseppe et al, 1994;Murphy & Baxter, 1997;Taft et al, 2004), and poor engagement in program activities (Musser et al, 2008;Taft et al, 2003).…”