Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Deborah Koetzle

Committee Members

Katarzyna Celinska

Kevin Wolff

Dana L. Radatz

Subject Categories

Criminology | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Intimate partner violence, meta-analysis, effective programming, treatment programs, Risk Need Responsivity

Abstract

Nationally, it is estimated that over 17 million people experience victimization by an intimate partner every year. Additionally, individuals who perpetuate intimate partner violence (IPV) often have high rates of re-offending, potentially as high as 60%. IPV Treatment Programs (ITPs) are interventions designed to reduce recidivism among intimate partner violent individuals by changing their thinking and behaviors, ultimately leading to increased victim safety. Although there is significant evidence to suggest that correctional treatment programs can reduce re-offending, the literature on ITPs is less clear about their effectiveness in reducing recidivism among participants. Furthermore, while other correctional interventions have taken more active steps towards adhering to the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) framework, ITPs have done so in a more limited manner.

The conflicting research regarding ITP effectiveness make it an ideal topic to be assessed with meta-analytic methods. The current dissertation relied on a meta-analytic approach to answer the following research questions: 1) Do ITPs reduce recidivism among participants? 2) Does ITP effectiveness vary by adherence to RNR? and 3) Do other factors (associated with study, methodological, intervention, or outcome variables) explain variation in ITP effectiveness? This dissertation is among the first to evaluate whether adherence to the RNR model is associated with increased ITP effectiveness. Additionally, the current dissertation relied on an advanced approach to meta-analysis, a three-level meta-analytic model, that allows for more precise effect size estimates compared to more traditional meta-analysis techniques.

A systematic review and search of published and grey literature identified 30 relevant studies evaluating 34 unique interventions, for a total of 69 different effect sizes. An overall effect size was estimated to assess for the general effectiveness of ITPs on participant recidivism, followed by moderator analyses to identify the influence of different variables on such effectiveness. In addition to testing the influence of RNR-related variables, moderator analyses were conducted considering study, methodological, sample, and intervention characteristics.

Results suggest that ITPs are successful at reducing recidivism. Specifically, individuals participating in ITPs had a recidivism rate that was 11 points lower than the recidivism rate of the comparison group. While effectiveness was moderated by adherence to the RNR framework, such moderating effect was not straightforward, consistent, or fully in line with the existing literature on effective correctional interventions. Adhering to the need principle was of particular importance for ITP outcomes, as programs targeting criminogenic needs and those addressing IPV/substance use comorbidity significantly reduced recidivism. Other variables also moderated ITP effectiveness, both in line with and contrary to expectations. Considering the results of the analyses conducted, research and policy implications are discussed.

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