NCJ Number
197539
Date Published
2001
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a survey of the content of treatment standards for batterer programs in 30 U.S. States.
Abstract
The survey solicited information on standards in the following areas: the minimum length of treatment specified; specification of treatment orientation, methods, and content; preferred or allowable modalities of treatment; whether research findings were mentioned or endorsed as a basis for development of treatment standards; the minimum education required for treatment providers; and methods for developing and revising standards. Survey results show that existing State standards give priority to victim safety and some kind of treatment for perpetrators. The standards also formalized batterer intervention as a specialty that requires training and experience not routinely offered within the training curriculum of many social and health care professions. Many States have been improving accountability and monitoring of existing as well as new treatment programs through certification. There are problems, however, with current standards. In some respects there is inadequate input from empirical research in existing standards and/or the lack of documented protocols to ensure the use of reliable, valid, and representative authoritative sources. Survey results indicate that the field is still young and in need of further research in many areas related to intervention. It can reasonably be questioned as to whether the paradigm for perpetrator treatment is sufficiently developed to warrant detailed dictates regarding preferred modes of treatment or to preclude others. At this stage, the best recommendations should facilitate the development of balanced, informed, and ethical protocol for developing and updating standards of practice. 65 references