The Criminogenic and Noncriminogenic Treatment Needs of Intimate Partner Violence Offenders

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2018 Aug;62(11):3247-3259. doi: 10.1177/0306624X17740015. Epub 2017 Nov 8.

Abstract

The criminogenic needs of general offenders have been empirically studied, but the criminogenic treatment needs of intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders, or how they compare with other violent or nonviolent offenders, have not been as thoroughly explored. Therefore, we examined and compared the criminogenic and noncriminogenic needs of 99 IPV offenders, 233 non-IPV violent offenders, and 103 nonviolent offenders, all of whom were men who had undergone institutional forensic assessment. Results indicated that IPV offenders had more treatment needs than the other two offender groups, including the Central Eight criminogenic needs. These findings support a focus on criminogenic treatment needs in batterer intervention programs for men, consistent with the principles of effective intervention for offenders.

Keywords: IPV; criminogenic needs; intimate partner violence; noncriminogenic needs; principles of effective intervention.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Hospitals, Psychiatric
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Needs Assessment*
  • Ontario
  • Prisoners*
  • Young Adult