BIPS: what's your take?
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| Sun, 06-11-2006 - 7:24am |
I'm new here :) have any of you had any experience with partners doing a batterers intervention program? I'm just curious to hear your experiences. Thanks :)
~~Melanie~~
"Certified batterer's intervention programs provide services in very strict group settings to try to help batterer's learn to accept responsibility for their violence, as well as understand and change their controlling and abusive behavior.
The groups are led by certified batterers intervention counselors trained in dealing with domestic violence offenders. The programs work with the courts and victim services to help make sure that partners of batterers remain safe. The programs may involve weekly sessions of 1 to 2 hours in length. The batterer must participate in the program for a minimum of 80 hours. Group leaders feel your safety is a priority concern and will keep ongoing contact with you."
In the program in my area, it's court mandated when a domestic assault occurs...it also costs the batterers 35 bucks a week! Sometimes the blockheads get it, sometimes they don't. I don't have numbers on the success rates, but when I find them at work tomorrow, I'll post 'em.

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From what I've heard, this pretty much sums up the effectiveness of such programs- they may get it, or they may not. Like any other type of therapy, it all depends on the individual's willingness to change and accept help, which abusers are not what you want to call good at. I found this article interesting, particularly as it relates to BIPs and custody situations.
http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/djglp/articles/gen11p121.htm
It's a bit heavy going, but very interesting stuff.
I work in a shelter and am not a huge fan of bips...but our project has one and i promote it as an option...but usually last resort...beats the hell out of the "anger management" route...I sometimes wonder how dangerous it is when he's still having contact with his partner and he's all po'ed because he's dishing this cash out every week & having to talk about things he doesn't want to and being held accountable for things he doesn't feel are an issue...safety is always my number one issue with my residents and I sometimes wonder just how safe the women are who's partners participate...I'm rambling now :)
{{so I think that he really is helping a certain segment of the population who don't really fit the batterer's profile, but are men who went too far in a conflict and have learned a valuable lesson.}}
we have a separate director and it's a separate program under the umbrella of our project...but these are the men we see the most succes with, too...I'd love to see the program tweaked and taught in middle, high school & college!