Assessing the effect of batterer program completion on reassault using propensity scores

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Previous studies on batterer programs show mixed results regarding their effectiveness in reducing reassault.
• Methodological limitations in prior research have compromised the validity of their findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the effectiveness of batterer programs in reducing intimate partner violence reassault.
• To address methodological and analytical issues present in previous experimental evaluations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a quasi-experimental sample of 633 batterers and their partners from three geographically dispersed programs.
• Employed propensity score analysis, specifically subclassification, to balance program completers and dropouts.
• Estimated propensity scores based on the probability of program completion given observable characteristics.

Main Results:

• Program completion was associated with a 33% reduction in the probability of reassault over a 15-month follow-up period for the entire sample.
• For men mandated to attend by the court, program completion demonstrated a nearly 50% reduction in reassault probability.
• Propensity score analysis successfully balanced observable characteristics between completers and dropouts, strengthening the study's validity.

Conclusions:

• Batterer programs, when completed, can be effective in reducing intimate partner violence reassault.
• The findings suggest that program completion, particularly for court-mandated participants, yields significant positive outcomes.
• Quasi-experimental designs with advanced statistical methods like propensity score analysis can overcome limitations of previous evaluations.