Cost-benefits of a domestic abuse program for Australian offenders

Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice,Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2017. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine recidivism costs and benefits for 1030 community based male offenders enrolled in a Domestic Abuse Program (DAP) compared to an untreated control group (n=1030) matched on risk factors. Design/methodology/approach Study time frame was 1st October 2007 to 30th of June, 2010 with reconvictions measured to 31st December 2010. Follow-up averaged 19 months. Controls received standard community supervision, but no domestic violence group interventions. Follow-up measures included court costs for violent and non-violent reconvictions; re-incarcerations and community based orders costs measured in days. Findings Adjusting for time at risk, DAP enrolees had 29 per cent fewer reconvictions, 46 per cent fewer violent reconvictions, 34 per cent fewer custodial days, but 23 per cent more days on community orders. Costs DAP enrolment avoided $2.52M in custodial costs, but higher community correction costs (+$773K) and court costs (+$5.8K), reducing the DAP ’s criminal justice system cost savings to $1.754M ($8.92M for the DAP group compared to $10.67M for controls). Cost benefits When the 64 DAP program costs were deducted ($602K), the net benefit to the NSW criminal justice system was $1,141M, or $1,108 per enrolee, providing a net benefit/cost rat io of 2.89. If the DAP was completed, the net benefit was $1,820 per offender. These results...
Source: Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice - Category: Criminology Source Type: research