Criminogenic Needs Among Men Who Perpetrate Intimate Partner Violence: Association with Risk Management Recommendations and Recidivism

BackgroundUnderstanding criminogenic needs is important for risk management of intimate partner violence (IPV).MethodWe analyzed criminogenic needs and management recommendations in 300 men charged for IPV.ResultsCase files mentioned five criminogenic needs, from antisocial personality (50%) to family/marital problems (94%). Total needs positively correlated with risk management recommendations and substance use positively correlated with IPV recidivism. Needs did not predict recidivism above Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) scores. Risk management recommendations did not reduce the ODARA's predictive effect.ConclusionsWe found initial evidence for need principle adherence. Future research should improve criminogenic need measurement and examine risk management implementation.Impact StatementCriminogenic needs are risk factors that are changeable through intervention. In this study, criminogenic needs were common in a high-risk sample of men who perpetrated intimate partner violence. Service providers made more recommendations for managing risk when more criminogenic needs were present; however, there was limited matching of proposed management strategies to specific criminogenic needs. Improvements to the assessment and management of criminogenic needs could help reduce intimate partner violence.