The Double Standard of Accountability: A Call for Treatment Integrity of IPV Offender Programs

Partner Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. PA-D-20-00005
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Treatment Integrity ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Batterer Intervention ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Batterer Intervention Programs

In this study, we explain the importance of treatment integrity by listing and exploring state standards for service providers of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrator programs across the United States. The overall expectations of batterer intervention programs (BIPs) will be discussed as we compare and contrast the Duluth Model with evidence-based practice. Expectations of treatment efficacy will be explored from the stance of the professional code of ethics and ethical practice. The context for this article is inspired by the following issues: (a) mental health professionals’ ethical obligations to clients and to standards of practice; (b) the value of treatment integrity; (c) expectations regarding program efficacy; (d) the nature of court-mandated batterer intervention programs. Potential ethical concerns that are explored include: failure to consider and utilize research evidence, failure to ensure treatment integrity, inadequate assessment/diagnosis, failure to connect assessment to treatment, using a diagnosis on a client not identified in the DSM–V, giving a diagnosis without proper credentials or evaluation of the client, and imploring a homogeneous approach to a complex behavior.

Evidence-Based Best Practices for Batterer Intervention Programs: A Report From the Field on the Realities and Challenges Batterer Intervention Programs Are Facing

Partner Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly M. Wagers ◽  
Margaret Pate ◽  
Anne Brinkley
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
The United States ◽  
State Standards ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Batterer Intervention ◽  
Batterer Intervention Programs ◽  
Current State ◽  
Practitioner Education

Throughout the United States, individuals are being court-ordered to attend batterer intervention programs (BIPs). BIPs were developed as an option to punish offenders for intimate partner violence (IPV) at the misdemeanor level. The purpose of BIPs is to hold batterers accountable and reduce the likelihood of recurring battery. However, determining the effectiveness of such programs has proven difficult because of the differences across programs and the uniqueness of individual batterers. In any case, there are best practices identified in the literature for particular components of BIPs such as practitioner education and training, proper intake and assessment, and offender oversight. In this article, we review the literature on the history of BIPs as well as the best practices identified earlier. Furthermore, the article describes an exploratory study that surveyed 7 local BIP practitioners. The questionnaire assessed practitioners’ practices and their compliance with current state standards as well as evidence-based practices recommended in the literature. The responses provided insight into the difficulties that practitioners face in meeting current state standards as well as practices outlined in empirical research. We conclude with a discussion on the issue of treating all batterers the same as well as areas for future study in the field of batterer intervention.

Research-Supported Recommendations for Treating LGBTQ Perpetrators of IPV: Implications for Policy and Practice

Partner Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-504
Author(s):  
Clare Cannon ◽  
Fred Buttell
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Batterer Intervention ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Batterer Intervention Programs ◽  
Current Article ◽  
And Gender

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global social problem that results in economic, social, and health costs for individuals and their communities. Moreover, due to the stress, anxiety, and home isolation brought on by COVID-19, recent reports suggest an alarming increase in the number of reported IPV victims and, thus perpetrators the world over. In particular, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) identified people are as or more likely than heterosexuals to experience and perpetrate IPV, while they are less likely to receive media attention, social support, or legal protections. Batterer intervention programs, informed by public policy and laws, are the predominant mechanism of interventions for perpetrators of IPV in the United States. As a vulnerable population with increased health and economic disparities, how do disasters impact treatment of IPV perpetration by LGBTQ people? To answer this question, the current article reviews the literature on batterer intervention programs and IPV in sex and gender minority relationships to better understand how to deliver research-supported treatment during disasters. Next, to reduce such disparities, we provide research-supported recommendations for treating LGBTQ perpetrators of IPV and shed light on meaningful interventions in the COVID-19 context. Implications and recommendations for public policy are further discussed.

Theorizing on the Roots of Transgender Intimate Partner Violence

2020 ◽  
pp. 110-132
Author(s):  
Adam M. Messinger
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Batterer Intervention ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Prevention Education ◽  
Batterer Intervention Programs ◽  
Vital Importance ◽  
Treatment Services

Intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention education, batterer intervention programs, and victim treatment services are often designed in part to help participants identify and undermine the causes of IPV so as to facilitate rehabilitation and limit future perpetration. Thus, understanding the causes of transgender IPV (T-IPV) is of vital importance to ending it. By drawing on both the T-IPV and the broader cisgender IPV research literatures, this chapter reviews emerging theories of the causes of T-IPV. These theorized causes include many that also have been identified in the cisgender IPV literature—including rationalizing abuse, socialization into IPV-condoning attitudes, and power imbalances—in addition to several causes unique to T-IPV, including transphobia-related perpetration theories and transphobia-related victimization vulnerability theories. Supporting evidence for and gaps in our knowledge about these causes also are reviewed.

scholarly journals Motivations for Intimate Partner Violence in Men and Women Arrested for Domestic Violence and Court Referred to Batterer Intervention Programs

Partner Abuse ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoAnna Elmquist ◽  
John Hamel ◽  
Ryan C. Shorey ◽  
Lindsay Labrecque ◽  
Andrew Ninnemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Batterer Intervention ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Batterer Intervention Programs

Research has attempted to elucidate men and women’s proximal motivations for perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV). However, previous research has yet to clarify and resolve contention regarding whether motives for IPV are gender-neutral or gender-specific. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare motives for physical IPV perpetration among a sample of men (n = 90) and women (n = 87) arrested for domestic violence and court referred to batterer intervention programs. Results demonstrated that the most frequently endorsed motives for IPV by both men and women were self-defense, expression of negative emotions, and communication difficulties. With the exception of expression of negative emotions and retaliation, with women endorsing these motives more often than men, there were no significant differences between men and women’s self-reported reasons for perpetrating physical aggression. The implications of these findings for future research and intervention programs are discussed.

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