Domestic Violence Test 3 - McKee CJUS 2266

Describe the history of Batterer Intervention Programs?

The first programs started in the 1970’s, and before that, treatment included, mental health approaches, substance abuse, and marriage counseling.

What were some issues with Marital Counseling?

1. Blames the victim (Treats them as equals and are equally to blame when that’s not the case.

2. Limits the cause of DV to nuclear families.

3. Presents additional risks for victims.

What were some issues with Anger Management?

1. Ignores the fact that many batterers are skilled in their direct actions.

2. Centered around “the loss of control.”

3. Batterers are selectively violent.

What are the types of programs for Batterers?

These programs are typically offered by non-profit or private organizations. They coordinate with community violence prevention with CJ system, Battered women’s agencies, Substance abuse treatment, behavioral health services.

Describe the Psychological Perspective.

The psychological perspective looks at the mind of the perpetrator rather than other factors to see why they are violent. Symptoms of batterers include violent outbursts, lack of trust, anxiety over intimacy (leads to them blaming their partner over their anxiety, which leads to obsessive tendencies).

Dutton traces early childhood experiences that have an effect on the abusive man as what?

1. Witnessing Abuse

2. Shaming

3. Unpredictable parental emotional availability (can lead to insecure attachments).

What are some critiques to the psychological perspective?

1. Psychology is meant to treat the “abnormal”

2. Many batterers are wired into dominant/normalized thinking.

Describe the Sociological Perspective.

The idea that focuses more on treatment and other surrounding factors that lead to battering. Without proper treatment and/or criminal justice sanctions, violence will not go away. Therapy should NOT replace punishment. Have to consider how long treatment should last.

What are some factors that may be associated with decreased levels of violence with the sociological perspective?

1. If the man does not rationalize/neutralize his behavior.

2. If he perceives the violence is not working as a form of control (risky, they may move onto another form of violence).

3. If there are low levels of emotional abuse.

4. Higher levels of relationship satisfaction.

5. Low levels of drug/alcohol abuse.

What is the most widely used court mandated offender treatment?

The Coordinated Community Response (CCR) or the Duluth Model.

What is the Duluth Model?

It links together the criminal justice system, advocates, and community members. Hold the offender accountable and protect the victim. Challenges batterers’ attitudes.

How effective are Batterer Intervention Programs?

Very expensive and inconclusive. A lot of men drop out and then are more likely to reoffend. They have a small, bust statistically significant effect. Measured by Official arrest records and unofficial victim surveys.

What’s the most effective thing in BIP’s?

Programs that aim to change men’s attitudes towards women and relationships.

What does the history of shelters look like?

Battered Women’s shelters were non-existent before the 1970s. Most just went to the same shelters for catastrophe victims, alcoholics, and the homeless.

How many Domestic Violence Shelters have been created over the years?

Around 2,500 shelters across the US.

What services are provided in shelters?

1. Emergency Shelter

2. 24-Hour Crisis Lines

3. Variable Support Services

What are some challenges for Shelters?

1. Lack of funding

2. For every 1 woman that receives shelter, 3 are turned away.

3. Shelters are almost non-existent in rural areas. (More traditional values and lack of funding).

Who goes to a shelter?

Typically 35 years old, 2 children, little income, few options. They might have been experiencing violence for a while.

How long do women stay in a shelter?

Typically 30 days maximum. The mindset of “Pick yourself up and figure it out” they can’t “leech” on the system.

What is the general shelter experience?

Most women choose it as a last resort because of the amenities, the rules, and living with many other women and children. They typically describe their experience as very positive and highly effective at stopping the violence.

What does the decline for Domestic Homicides say? List the good and bad:

Good:

1. There is a Domestic Violence movement

2. Policing Strategies have improved

3. Access to shelters has improved

Bad:

1. Changes seem to have benefited men the most

2. Decline is parallel to overall crime rate

3. Better medical care/911 response

List the demographics for people who commit DV homicides:

Younger individuals are more likely to be victims and perps and African American rates of DV homicide are roughly 8 times higher than that of whites.

Men who kill do so because it’s the ultimate form of control. They usually have a history of what?

Domestic violence, substance abuse, jealousy, and firearm possession.

Why do women kill majority of the time?

Almost always in self-defense or retaliation.

Neil Websdale’s research (1998) describes two forms of violence with women. Describe Distal Precipitating Violence:

The control or abuse happened in the distant past and is not an immediate threat. Goes hand-in-hand with Battered Women’s syndrome. This is hard to argue self-defense.

Neil Websdale’s research (1998) describes two forms of violence with women. Describe Proximal Precipitating Violence:

These involve classic cases of self-defense, where a woman is attacked and tries to defend herself. An immediate attack, which is easier to prove as self-defense.

Women who commit domestic violence homicide are less likely to have a history with what?

Police, Courts, or Shelters.