NCJ Number
161518
Date Published
1996
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Certain sampling and measurement problems need to be addressed if research on domestic assault from a criminal justice perspective is to take into account differences in severity and chronicity, and the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) is recommended for use in classifying domestic violence cases.
Abstract
The need for standardized methods of classifying spousal assault cases that correspond to legal distinctions between simple and aggravated assault has been demonstrated. Further, sampling and measurement problems associated with domestic assault research have been identified that concern measurement levels, noncomparability of criminal justice and community populations, antecedents and consequences, and test norms. The CTS has been used in many studies and is quick and easy to administer. It has three scales: reasoning, verbal aggression, and physical aggression or violence. The violence index of the CTS, however, is not sufficient to identify domestic assault cases posing a high risk, and a checklist has been devised to identify high-risk cases based on studies of extreme domestic violence. Criteria for identifying high-risk cases are examined, and the dispute over feminist versus family therapy intervention models is discussed. The need for more research on the effectiveness of various interventions that distinguish between high-risk offenders and others is emphasized. The CTS is appended. 30 references, 3 notes, and 2 tables