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Gender Differences in Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism

NCJ Number
229392
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma Volume: 18 Issue: 6 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 623-645
Author(s)
Kris Henning; Rochelle Martinsson; Robert Holdford
Date Published
September 2009
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether predictors for recidivism for male intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders work with female offenders.
Abstract
Findings conclude that the strongest predictors of wife assault recidivism identified by research are strikingly similar to the predictors of violent recidivism in general: young age, unemployment, prior criminal history, and other indices of an unstable, antisocial lifestyle. Results found that women who had been convicted of IPV were half as likely to recidivate with a new domestic violence offense as compared to male offenders; women, as compared to men, were younger , less likely to be employed full time, and came from family backgrounds marked by greater discord; and male offenders were significantly more likely to have previously assaulted an intimate partner (IP), had greater conduct problems during childhood, more extensive violent and nonviolent criminal histories, probation/parole violations, more deviant attitudes, and antisocial peer associations. Findings lend support to the idea that IPV recidivism is influenced by many of the same factors observed in the broader violent offender literature, and conclude that those working in IPV frisk assessment and treatment need to do a better job of incorporating some of the scales, practices, theories, and interventions that have proven to be successful in managing offenders in the general population. Data were collected from 2,854 men and 353 women convicted of an IPV offense involving a heterosexual intimate partner. Tables and references