Reconceptualizing reasons for victim recantation in court-involved domestic abuse

Objective: To describe processes leading to victim recantation in court-involved domestic abuse. Methods: We used audio-taped telephone conversations between 20 incarcerated perpetrators of domestic violence and their victim taped over the length of the perpetrator's jail stay. We examined three areas: 1) when did the victim indicate her intention to recant; 2) what was the couple discussing leading up to the recantation decision; and 3) what strategies did the couple use to ensure the victim's follow through to recant. We used family systems and attachment theories to elucidate interpersonal processes related to the intimacy needs of the perpetrator and victim in producing recantation decisions. Significantly, these theoretical approaches were considered within a larger coercive interpersonal dynamic, acknowledging the perpetrator's manipulation of the couple's interpersonal process to ensure recantation. Results: In most couples, the victim's intention to recant was apparent in the first or second conversation (“I'll just say we were in a car accident or something.”). Interpersonal processes that led up to the victim's decision to recant included: reminding each other of aloneness/vulnerability without each other, and jointly calling up the need to restore romance and family. Perpetrators used additional strategies to facilitate these processes and the recantation decision, including: appealing to the victim's sympathy, blaming/minimizing the abuse, and threatening the victim. Strategies commonly used by both members of the couple to ensure victim follow-through included jointly blaming the State/others for the couple's separation. Conclusions: These results elucidate complex interpersonal dynamics that go beyond perpetrator threats in influencing victim recantation.