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COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: FINDINGS FROM AN EVALUATION OF A LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT *
Author(s) -
GOVER ANGELA R.,
MACDONALD JOHN M.,
ALPERT GEOFFREY P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
criminology and public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.6
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1745-9133
pISSN - 1538-6473
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9133.2003.tb00028.x
Subject(s) - domestic violence , recidivism , enforcement , criminology , law enforcement , law , political science , poison control , injury prevention , psychology , environmental health , medicine
Research Summary: The present study examined the effectiveness of a localized domestic violence court in Lexington County, South Carolina. An interrupted time series analysis indicated that domestic violence arrests increased significantly after the court was established. Recidivism rates of 189 defendants arrested for domestic violence before the implementation of the domestic violence court were compared with 197 defendants arrested after the court's implementation. Results indicate significantly lower rates of rearrests among defendants processed through the domestic violence court. Policy Implications: The results from this study suggest that systematic localized court interventions aimed at domestic violence defendants can be effective at enhancing enforcement and improving victim safety.