Outcomes From a Duluth Model Batterer Intervention Program at Completion and Long Term Follow-Up

This study examined changes in the beliefs and behaviors of 156 offenders who participated in a Duluth model batterer intervention program. Sixty-seven percent of the participants completed both baseline and post intervention assessments of verbal, emotional, and physical aggression. Archival follow-up data, acquired approximately 9 years after completion of the program, were obtained from public records and were used to compare recidivism among program completers and noncompleters. Program completion was not associated with decreased levels of recidivism, which was defined as any violent crime. The results revealed that over one third of the participants from this batterer intervention program eventually reoffended. This finding is consistent with most existing research in this area, and suggests the need for more effective and coordinated individual, group, and community-wide interventions as well as more randomized controlled trials. Batterers who completed the 24-week program, however, did report decreases in physical and verbal aggression at the postassessment period. Limitations of this local program evaluation project and implications for future batterer intervention research are discussed.