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Hawaii State Validation Report on the Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) and Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA)

NCJ Number
238661
Author(s)
Timothy Wong; Maria Sadaya
Date Published
October 2011
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report from the Hawaii State Department of Health presents information on domestic violence probationers in the State who received the Domestic Violence Screening Instrument and Spousal Assault Risk Assessment for fiscal years 2004-2007.
Abstract
Major findings in this report include the following: 94 percent of domestic violence probationers who received the Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) and Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) were male, and almost 65 percent were between the ages of 30-49 years old; for probationers who received the DVSI, 24.6 percent had committed an unspecified assault, while 24.2 percent had abused a family or household member; 26 percent of probationers had DVSI scores greater than 6, indicating that a SARA was recommended, with 52 percent of them receiving a SARA; and probationers who were recommended to receive a SARA had significantly higher recidivism rates than those not recommended to receive a SARA. The study also found that probationers with a history of violating a domestic violence restraining order had the highest risk of recidivism and those who had experienced a recent escalation in frequency or severity of assault had the highest recidivism rates. This report presents the results of an analysis of domestic violence probationers in Hawaii who received the DVSI and SARA during fiscal years 2004-2007. Data for the report came from the analysis of 1,470 DVSIs administered from July 2004 through June 2007, and the 198 SARAs administered to probationers who scored 6 or above on the DVSI. Recommendations for improving recidivism rates for domestic violence probationers are discussed. 10 tables and 5 figures