A Familiar Crime: Domestic Violence Case Processing and Recidivism in a Large Urban Jurisdiction

Abstract Domestic violence (DV) remains an underreported crime that can be challenging to process in the criminal justice system. Moreover, DV is often a repeated crime problem that leaves victims at continued risk, raising questions about the effectiveness of criminal justice system intervention in reducing future violence. Despite this prevalence, there is a dearth of studies examining DV criminal case processing and recidivism. The current study describes case processing (e.g., pretrial release, disposition, and judgment) and examines the correlates of both violent recidivism and violent recidivism on bond in a large urban county over a 6-year period among defendants charged with DV. Findings indicate DV makes up the majority of violent cases processed. Relative to other violent cases, DV cases have higher rates of pretrial release, dismissal, and re-arrest. Neither conviction nor incarceration appear to deter defendants in DV cases, as both were associated with higher odds of re-arrest for violence. However, among defendants whose cases reached disposition, pretrial detention was negatively associated with re-arrest. The results underscore the importance of acknowledging that DV is the typical form of violence processed by courts, understanding case processing challenges, and preventing future DV incidents. We discuss considerations for pretrial release, dismissal, and recidivism in DV cases to reduce future violence.