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Criminal charges, risk assessment and violent recidivism in cases of domestic abuse

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  • Dan A. Black
  • Jeffrey Grogger
  • Tom Kirchmaier
  • Koen Sanders

Abstract

Domestic abuse is a pervasive global problem. Here we analyze two approaches to reducing violent DA recidivism. One involves charging the perpetrator with a crime; the other provides protective services to the victim on the basis of a formal risk assessment carried out by the police. We use detailed administrative data to estimate the average effect of treatment on the treated using inverse propensity-score weighting (IPW). We then make use of causal forests to study heterogeneity in the estimated treatment effects. We find that pressing charges substantially reduces the likelihood of violent recidivism. The analysis also reveals substantial heterogeneity in the effect of pressing charges. In contrast, the risk-assessment process has no discernible effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan A. Black & Jeffrey Grogger & Tom Kirchmaier & Koen Sanders, 2023. "Criminal charges, risk assessment and violent recidivism in cases of domestic abuse," CEP Discussion Papers dp1897, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1897
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    1. Koppa, Vijetha, 2024. "Can information save lives? Effect of a victim-focused police intervention on intimate partner homicides," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 756-782.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    domestic abuse; charges; risk assessment; propensity score weighting ; Crime;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D00 - Microeconomics - - General - - - General

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