Services for Men Who Batter: Implications for Programs and Policies

Abstract

The issue of domestic violence has been one of increasing concern throughout this country, with programs for battered women receiving much attention. However, services for men who batter, an essential component in breaking the pattern of spousal abuse, have received little attention. Due to the dearth of information on these services, research was directed at compiling and analyzing data on the services that are presently offered to battering males. Agencies identified as treating batterers were surveyed via a mailed questionnaire. It was found that: (1) most agencies are young, inadequately funded, and providing diverse services independently of each other; (2) batterers tend to exhibit certain characteristics that need specific treatment; and, (3) a paradigm for "successful" treatment is beginning to be developed. http://www.jstor.org/stable/583786