Date
12-4-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Sarah Walsh
Keywords
Intimate partner violence, domestic violence, domestic violence treatment courts, DVSTEP, New Mexico IPV, batterer ACE scores, adverse childhood experiences
Disciplines
Counseling | Education
Recommended Citation
Daniels, Laura S., "ACE Scores and IPV Perpetration among Domestic Violence Treatment Court Participants in New Mexico" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7738.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7738
Abstract
This quantitative archival study examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV) among participants in a specialized Domestic Violence Treatment Court (DVTC) in New Mexico. Between January 2019 and December 2024, 69 individuals volunteered for the DVTC, with 49 graduating successfully, reflecting a graduation rate of approximately 78%. The study’s purpose was to determine whether a sample of offenders (N=22) reported higher levels of ACEs compared to the U.S. general population. ACEs were measured using a 10-item questionnaire, and data were compared to national benchmarks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A one-sample t-test revealed that while participants' mean ACE score (M = 2.55) was significantly lower than the high-risk threshold of 4, it was also considerably higher than the general population's baseline mean of 1 (p = .003). This finding suggests that while not all participants met the extreme trauma threshold, the majority carried measurable childhood adversity, setting them apart from the general population. Further analysis showed that household dysfunction, including parental separation (63.6%) and household substance abuse (54.5%), was the most prevalent type of adversity among this group of subjects. Due to data collection errors, a planned analysis of a second instrument was not possible, although 15 individuals completed it. The study concludes that trauma is a defining characteristic of this specific population and recommends that DVTCs integrate universal ACE screening and trauma-informed interventions. The findings represent a Christian worldview that recognizes generational brokenness and affirms the importance of a holistic approach to healing and restoration.
