A systematic review by the Campbell Collaboration based on 10 (experimental and quasi-experimental) studies found that second-response programs did not statistically significantly affect the likelihood of revictimization, but slightly increased the likelihood of re-reporting to the police. The authors interpret these results to mean that while the intervention does not affect the continuation or cessation of family violence, it may slightly increase a victim’s willingness to report incidents to the authorities. Given that all studies were conducted in the United States and that there were differences in the mode of implementation, further evaluations were recommended [1].
The updated systematic review (from 2021) covered 15 experimental and quasi-experimental studies, and found no evidence that this type of intervention reduced revictimization (the reduction found is not statistically significant). However, the more rigorous experimental studies indicated that second-response interventions were associated with a statistically significant 22% increase in the odds of relapse to reported family maltreatment, with no significant variability in results across individual studies. The authors conclude that second-response interventions are associated with some level of reduction in domestic violence against women when the visit occurs within 72 hours of the event, and that they may increase the risk of violence when the visit occurs after 72 hours, but further in-depth research is needed to confirm this finding [2].