Charlie Stoops, PhD, LCSW
Graduate School of Social Work
Dominican University
Overview
 What is domestic violence and abuse? A view from a
change agent
 Is it Clinical or Is it Behavioral? A perspective on
working to end men’s use of domestic violence
 How do we facilitate change: Common components of
Partner Abuse Intervention Programs
 Does it work?
 How can the legal advocacy/process help?
A view from a change agent
Unique Form of
Violence
1. Specific Target
2. Specific Gender
3. Specific
Relationship
4. Specific Location
5. Violence is a last
resort
6. Planned &
Systematic
How many men?
 About 12% of adult men have been violent with an intimate
female partner in past year
 According to US 2010 Census, 138 Million men in US. 16.6 million men will
use violence with a partner this year.
 According to a report by the Bureau of Justice, of 3,750
reports of intimate partner violence filed in the state
courts of 16 large urban counties in May 2002:
 Most involved a female victim and a male defendant (84%).
 1 in 20 involved a defendant and victim of the same gender.
 The majority of the cases (male defendant/female victim)
were more likely to entail a history of abuse between the
victim and defendant.
 Defendant weapon use was more prevalent in cases with
female defendants and male victims than in other cases.
(Straus & Gelles, 1987; US Census 2010,; US Dept. of Justice, 2009)
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How many men?
 Male Partners commit 30% of female homicides;
Female partners commit 5% of male homicides

In Chicago from January to June 2011, detectives
have determined there were 10 general domestic
related murders. Of these murders, most
occurred in districts that averaged the lowest
domestic-related calls/day. There were 4
murders in three districts that averaged 1-9
domestic-related calls/day.
(Straus & Gelles, 1987; US Census 2010, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the
U.S. 1993-2004, 2006; Chicago Police Department — Quarterly Domestic Violence Statistical Summary — YTD - June 2011)
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Probability of Being a Man in a PAIP
 (x) Cook County IL has 1,889,934 men age 18 or older (2000
US Census)
 (y) y  x*.12: 157,495 batterers in Cook Co IL
(Straus & Gelles,
1989 found 12% of men batter in a given year)
 (z) In the year 2000, Cook County Court Dept. Social
Service (DSS) disposed 1,905 new men for intervention
related to domestic violence
 z/y = 0.012 (1.2%) . . . the approximate probability of
getting into a PAIP (via DSS) in Cook County Illinois if you
batter
 Compare Dutton rate: 4 per 1,000 (0.4%)
Conclusion
It is rare for a man who batters to be in a
Partner Abuse Intervention Program!
A perspective on working to end
men’s use of domestic violence
Intervening with men who batter
 Intervention vs. Treatment
 Mandatory vs. Voluntary
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Why do men batter?
Social Theories
 Feminist Sociological
 Patriarchal Structure of Society
 Men’s violence toward women as a sanctioned action to
maintain Patriarchy
 Ecological
 Integration of Biological, Individual, Environmental,
Feminist




Genetic Factors
Learned Behavior
Societal Structure
Gendered Analysis
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Characteristics of Men who abuse their
intimate female partners
 Environmental Constraints
 Behavioral Deficits
 Family of origin violence
 Dating Violence
 Community Violence
 Abuse of own children
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Characteristics of Men who abuse their
intimate female partners
 Feelings Management (Anger)
 Stress/Anxiety
 Depression
 Generalized Aggression /Antisocial Traits
 Personality Disorders

based on Saunders, D (1995)
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Common components of Partner
Abuse Intervention Programs
How do we Intervene!
 Accountability
 Men's
 Programs
 Beliefs
 Communication Skills
 Sexism, Racism, Classism, Homophobia
 Feelings Management vs. Anger Management
 Empathy - Impact on Women, Children & Self
 Impact of Other Issues & Referrals
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Intervening with men who batter
 Treatment/Intervention for Co-occurring
Conditions
 Environmental
 Physical
 Psychiatric
 Substance Misuse
 Personality Disorders
 Neurological
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What we don’t do!
Contraindicated Approaches
“Anger Management”
Pastoral Counseling
Individual Therapy
Couples Therapy
Personal Confrontation
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Why NOT Anger Management?
Most men who batter have
no problem controlling
anger when they are angry
at a boss, or a banker, or a
police officer. Usually they
will stop an assault if a
child, parent, or neighbor
enters the room.
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Yes – Maybe – No
Is Intervention Effective?
 Most who re-offend do so early in programs/or
while on waiting list
 Modest effectiveness in general
 Only 6 randomized studies to date
 2 - small positive effects - 4 - no significant effects
when using official records
 No significant effects when using victim reports
 After 5 years, 75% of partners/victims of
completers report feeling safe!
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Reasons for Small Effect of BIPs
 Unidentified and untreated substance abuse
and mental illness
 Poverty, culture, and “stake in conformity”
issues
 Applying person-level solutions to a societallevel problem
 Failure to sanction non-compliance
 No intervention for the really bad guys
Cook County Study
 Study done for Cook County Adult Probation
available at :
 http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchRep
orts/CookCountyDVInt.pdf
(Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s
website)
 Shows 75% completion rate in Cook Co. and that
completion reduces incidence of re-arrest by 39 –
62%
 Class predicts completion better than disorders
 Marital Status, Employment, Education, Income
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Is Intervention Effective?
 What works with whom?




Culturally-matched Interventions/Facilitators
Cognitive Behavioral with more Antisocial
Process-oriented with those with “Stake in Society”
Combined with case management
 Victim is best predictor!
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How can prosecutors & defense attorneys
help in the process?
Prosecutors can…
 Be understanding when a victim chooses not to
proceed
 The victim knows best!
 She maybe safer with the perpetrator
 Encourage victim to use DV Advocates and Victim
Services
 Include in sentence or plea
 Mandate to PAIP rather than jail or anger managment
 Mandate to additional services
Public Defenders can…
 Understand SOP of Men who Batter
 Minimize Deny & Blame
 It’s her or the drugs or ….
 “you know how women are”
 Encourage defendant to….(at plea or sentencing)
 Attend PAIP rather than jail or anger management
 Enroll in Additional services as needed
Thank you!