Study findings include: almost one third of domestic violence offenders confronted with domestic violence in their youth were both a victim and a witness to the violence; one fourth of offenders committed violence outside the domestic circle, which included verbal as well as physical violence; three out of five offenders committed domestic violence against their partner or ex-partner; and one out of five offenders reported that they committed domestic violence against a child or stepchild. The objectives of this study were to gain insight into the background characteristics and problems of domestic violence offenders; to provide insight into the help-seeking behavior of offenders and, if possible, into the backgrounds of domestic violence; and to determine to what extent domestic violence offenders come into contact with the law on a repeat basis. Data for the study were obtained from two groups of individuals: a sample of respondents from the general population and a group of offenders who had been in contact with the police and the law for domestic violence. Findings are provided on domestic violence in a population of offenders who received probation and aftercare, and a comparison between domestic violence offenders in the general population and within the judicial population. References