The effectiveness of interventions for perpetrators of domestic and family violence: an overview of findings from reviews

ABSTRACT

Background
To reduce domestic and family violence (DFV) and intimate
partner violence (IPV), interventions for perpetrators are
critical. There are two key intervention types for perpetrators:
behaviour change interventions and legal and policing
interventions. The aim of this review study is to provide an
overview of the effectiveness evidence as reported by reviews
of interventions for perpetrators of DFV and IPV.
Methods
Using a systematic approach, a review of reviews was conducted
to allow for evidence from a large body of research literature
to be synthesised, compared and contrasted in a systematic
way. Reviews assessed for inclusion were identified by
systematically searching multiple sources from the period
2010 to October 2020. The review identified 41 reviews for
inclusion, 36 of which assessed behaviour change interventions
and five legal and policing interventions.
Results
Included reviews assessed the effectiveness of perpetrator
interventions for a range of outcomes, most commonly
reduction in DFV/IPV. Of 29 reviews that assessed the
effectiveness of behaviour change interventions for a reduction
in DFV/IPV, only one concluded that the intervention
works. A meta-analysis found recidivism was 15.5 per cent
for perpetrators who received an intervention compared to
24.2 per cent for perpetrators who received no intervention.
Three reviews reported on the impact of behaviour change
interventions for victims and survivors and their children,
reporting some improvements in the quality of life for victims
and survivors and their children, and some improvements in
victims’ and survivors’ experiences of safety and empowerment.
A total of 24 reviews reported on the impact of behaviour
change interventions on perpetrator-specific outcomes. While
some reviews reported promising results such as improvements
in gender-based attitudes, reduced acceptance of violence,
improved mental health outcomes or a reduction in substance
misuse, most reported mixed findings and concluded that
there is currently insufficient evidence.
Five reviews assessed the impact of legal and policing
interventions on reduction in DFV/IPV, reporting mixed
results. One meta-analysis found protection orders were
associated with a small but significant overall reduction in
severe DFV re-victimisation. This review concluded that
protection orders may be effective at reducing the severity
of violence or de-escalating violence to less severe and
non-physical forms of abuse or harassment, rather than
reducing the prevalence. One review found that arrest did
not have a significant effect in reducing the likelihood of
repeat offending among individuals arrested for DFV and,
most likely, did not have a deterrent effect on perpetrators. A
further review found that short-term police responses, such
as attendance at a DFV incident, can increase reporting of
future DFV and reduce DFV re-offending. Two reviews also
assessed the impact of legal and policing interventions on
victims and survivors, concluding that protection orders and
arrests improve victims’ and survivors’ perceptions of safety.
Effectiveness was found to be associated with a range of factors,
most commonly treatment modality for behaviour change
interventions and perpetrator characteristics such as previous
history of offending for legal and policing interventions. Albeit
based on a smaller evidence base, interventions that included
substance use treatment and motivational enhancement
or readiness for change approaches were associated with
more promising results than Duluth or cognitive behaviour
change-based interventions.
Nearly all included reviews reported that the methodological
quality of included primary research was poor and that results
should be interpreted with caution. In particular, findings
should be considered in light of the limits of recidivism as an
outcome measure of effectiveness. Evidence that points to a
reduction in DFV/IPV may be closely related to the scrutiny
of DFV/IPV-related behaviour offered by a behaviour change
program, or by the duration of a protection order, rather
than the impacts of the intervention itself.
2 The effectiveness of interventions for perpetrators of domestic and family violence:
An overview of findings from reviews

Directions for future research
There are significant gaps in the available evidence, of which
the quality is generally poor, pointing to a need for further
research. While there is a need for future research that adopts
a comparative design to determine whether the intervention
“works”, evaluations should also develop an understanding
of why interventions work, for whom they work, under
what conditions they work, and why. There is also a need
for studies that collect multiple data sources, such as official
data, victim and survivor self-reports and perpetrator self-
reports, to allow for data to be triangulated to contribute to
a more comprehensive understanding of behavioural change.

Implications for policy and practice
There is a need to invest in interventions that can address
co-occurring issues which may contribute to frequency or
severity of DFV in a more comprehensive way, including
interventions that address mental health or substance use.
Short-term interventions do not seem effective and should
be replaced or augmented with programs that include wrap-
around and holistic supports. Consideration should also
be given to the introduction of routine screening of DFV
perpetration in mainstream drug and alcohol and mental
health services, with funding for workforce development to
address practitioner reluctance to jeopardise the “therapeutic
relationship” by screening for DFV. There is also a need to
tailor the intervention to the needs of specific demographic
cohorts or cultural groups, and evaluate their effectiveness.

Bell, C., & Coates, D. (2022). The effectiveness of interventions for perpetrators of domestic and family violence: An overview of findings from reviews (WW.22.02/1). Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS). https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/the-effectiveness-of-interventions-for-perpetrators-of-domestic-and-family-violence-an-overview-of-findings-from-reviews/