Colorado’s Innovative Response to Domestic Violence Offender Treatment: Current Achievements and Recommendations for the Future

Abstract

The Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB) is mandated by the Colorado legislature to ensure the effectiveness of domestic violence offender treatment in Colorado by overseeing the implementation and evaluation of the Standards for Treatment with Court Ordered Domestic Violence Offenders (referred to hereafter as Standards). This report reviews the process and risk assessment tool (Domestic Violence Risk and Needs Assessment – referred to hereafter as DVRNA) used in Colorado to assign domestic violence offenders to treatment intensity levels at intake and the decision-making processes regarding treatment outcomes. The current study also examines the distribution of offenders by treatment intensity level at intake and at final assessment to understand the process and reasons for offender movement across treatment intensity levels. This report further informs the DVOMB as to multiple stakeholders’ views (treatment victim advocates, probation officers, and domestic violence treatment providers) about the implementation of the Standards. Given that critical risk factors require automatic placement in treatment intensity level B or C, this report informs the DVOMB as to the presence of critical risk factors among domestic violence offenders in Colorado. Finally, interviews with members of multi-disciplinary treatment teams (MTTs) highlighted several opportunities for strategic improvement of domestic violence offender treatment in Colorado. We present stakeholder employment of and fidelity to the state Standards, highlight current achievements, and provide actionable recommendations for improving upon the current model of domestic violence treatment in Colorado.