Battering Intervention Programs (BIPs) Changing Abusive Behaviors
In our last "Everybody's Business" column, we talked about the new Family Violence Court that will soon provide alternative treatment and intervention options for people convicted of battering intimate partners or family members. In this column, we will discuss differences between anger management classes, which have proven to be ineffective in changing abusive behaviors and battering intervention programs (BIPs).
In New Mexico, everyone who is convicted of a domestic violence (DV) crime is supposed to complete a state certified BIP. Research shows someone completing those BIPs is less likely to re-offend.
But, in the past, many DV offenders were mistakenly ordered to anger management classes or so-called “domestic violence classes” that were not state-certified and did not follow the best research.
Anger is an emotion; abuse, violence, and control are choices. People making those choices have underlying attitudes and beliefs that allow and support their making abusive choices. Abusive partners do an excellent job of managing their anger – when they choose to do so. It is one of many choices they make in order to maintain control over another person.
When a DV offender’s abusive behavior becomes public – such as when the victim files for an order of protection or the victim’s injuries require medical treatment, the abusive person wants others to believe the abuse was not their fault. They work to convince everyone that the victim provoked them to lose control – and get angry and violent.
The reality is people choosing to be abusive display anger and violence toward their victims because it gets them what they want: power and control over the victim. They use whatever method works to get and keep control: physical violence, humiliation, isolation, financial constraints, emotional abuse, threats to children and pets, threats of suicide, pressured or forced sex... and more. Because anger is just one of the abuser’s tools, anger management classes do not curb their desire for power and control.
CAV has moved beyond quick-fix ideas to address DV from a deeper, life-long perspective by offering a state-approved DV Offender Treatment program called CHANGES.
Over the program’s 52-session course, participants take a hard look at the personal, societal, and cultural forces behind their behavior. Through group sessions, participants work toward accountability for abusive choices they have made, seek to eliminate minimizing and victim-blaming, which is prevalent with offenders, and work to end controlling and abusive behaviors.
Successfully completing CHANGES means those who have been convicted of battering learn tools of how to change controlling behavior, redefine their notion of “manhood”; develop a sense of cooperative decision-making with their partners and feel authentic empathy for their victims.
CHANGES is annually reviewed, completes ongoing risk assessments, and is part of the statewide data collection system. Studies of the efficacy of BIPs over anger management classes have found that people using battering behaviors need long-term reeducation and monitoring for accountability. That is, "getting better" for the offender means a lifelong commitment to abstinence from abuse, with many external supports. Program, community, and societal efforts to curb spouse/partner/family abuse appear to be having a positive effect.
Our community members are necessary partners in ending domestic and sexual violence in Taos – together, by not accepting excuses of “lost control” or “I was drunk/high,” or victim blaming, we can support offenders to confront their own use of abusive tactics and learn life-long skills to allow them and their partners to live healthier, safer lives.
Malinda Williams is the executive director of Community Against Violence (CAV) which offers FREE confidential support and assistance for child and adult survivors of sexual and domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and child/elder abuse; community and school violence prevention programs; re-education groups for people using power and control in their relationships; counseling; shelter; transitional housing; and community thrift store. To talk or get information on services, call CAV’s 24-hour Helpline at 575-758-9888. TaosCAV.org
