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

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.