One Size Does Not Fit All: A Case Study of an Alternative Intimate Partner Violence Court
Published online on October 30, 2014
Abstract
Many scholars argue that intimate partner violence is too complex to address through the "one-size-fits-all" approaches that are common in most criminal justice venues. Instead, they advocate for coordinated approaches that address the unique circumstances of each offender. For 3 years, El Paso County ran a "Pilot Program," which applied in-depth analytical tools to tailor court orders to each defendant. The program, to which offenders were randomly assigned, ran parallel to the county’s "one-size-fits-all" program, providing a rare opportunity to assess the efficacy of each approach. We find the Pilot Program significantly increased compliance and reduced the likelihood of recidivism.