Understanding Policy Reform in Colorado's Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Standards

• Published in: Social policy & administration Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 580 - 598
• Main Authors: Tunstall, Ashley M., Weible, Christopher M., Tomsich, Elizabeth A., Gover, Angela R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Agenda setting; Central government; Colorado; Correctional treatment programs; Criminal justice; Criminology; Decision making; Domestic violence; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Family violence; Feedback; Indexes (Measures); Management; Multiple streams theory; Offenders; Policy making; Policy reform; Policy setting; Social policy; Structured interviews; Sub-national agenda setting; Treatment Standards; United States; Colorado
• ISSN: 0144-5596; 1467-9515
• DOI: 10.1111/spol.12136

This study examines the perceived conditions leading to Colorado adopting revised Standards for treating domestic violence offenders from the perspective of Kingdon's multiple streams theory. A within‐case analysis of ten semi‐structured interviews explores the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board in Colorado's process for revising Colorado's 2001 Treatment Standards. Findings suggest a benign political stream, supported by technically feasible and value‐accepted policy ideas, feedback and indicators of the problem, promoted a favourable setting for change. At least two policy entrepreneurs championed the decision‐making process. Agenda setting and policy formulation depended on three elements: feedback from existing programmes, indicators of continued difficulty in effectively treating offenders, and the existence of a suitable policy alternative. This study contributes a rare application of multiple streams theory to a criminal justice context in a sub‐national government. Future research should explore whether the presence of a benign political stream influences the development and revision of domestic violence policy in other policy environments.