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Abstract

This study explored the relationship between treatment completion and the level of threat or consequence perceived by the client from the referral source, which is usually the judicial system. Completion was high at 71% (n = 60), but the degree of threat from the referral source did not predict treatment completion. What were found to be significant predictors of treatment completion were reported symptoms of drug abuse (n = 37,44% of sample) and unemployment (n = 14, 17% of sample). The literature indicates that a trend to provide substance abuse services is developing, although programs do not generally address issues of unemployment. In addition, most batterer treatment programs have strict policies concerning payment of fees. This raises issues when the unemployed batterer has an employed spouse, as was the case for 10 of the 14 unemployed in this sample.

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Batterer Characteristics and Treatment Completion

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