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One Size Does Not Fit All: A Case Study of an Alternative Intimate Partner Violence Court

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Feminist Criminology

Published online on

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.