Perpetrator intervention program completion certificates are dangerous

Abstract

This report critically examines the use of perpetrator intervention program completion certificates and their implications for survivor safety and perpetrator accountability. While such certificates are often perceived as indicators of rehabilitation, the report argues that they can create false assurances of change, leading to unsafe judicial and child welfare decisions. Drawing on evidence from domestic violence-informed practice, the report highlights the dangers of conflating program attendance with meaningful behavior change. It proposes a shift towards a more rigorous evaluation framework that centers survivor perspectives and measures concrete shifts in perpetrators’ accountability, self-awareness, and actions. The report calls for practitioners, courts, and intervention programs to implement assessment models that prioritize survivor safety and well-being rather than simplistic markers of program participation.