About Rehabilitation of Domestic Violence Perpetrators

There are always two sides to every domestic violence case: the victim’s and the perpetrator’s. Most often, during legal proceedings, victims are rehabilitated to cope with the trauma and recover eventually.

But what about the perpetrators? Are they qualified for such amenity?

The fact that perpetrators can undergo rehabilitation and actually change from their violent ways has been a subject of debate in the legal industry, particularly among Las Vegas domestic violence attorneys, and even in the entire state of Nevada where a certain Batterer’s Intervention Program exists. Nevada’s Committee on Domestic Violence coordinates, tracks, and handles these rehabilitation programs for perpetrators in line with NRS 228.470 and NAC Chapter 228.

The Fundamentals of the Intervention

According to the State of Nevada’s Batterer Treatment Standards, an intervention for domestic violence perpetrators consists of “a variety of theories, modalities and techniques”. A domestic violence perpetrator is considered different from other violent offenders and should be treated using a different approach.

The primary aim of an intervention is to put an end to the violence and prevent recidivism or the repetition of the criminal act of the convicted. Looking profoundly into it, a treatment program aims to build compassion for the perpetrators and make them recognize that their behavior is negative and entails consequences like incarceration.

Rehabilitation for domestic violence perpetrators is still relatively new, but with the desire to eliminate the root of violence which is in the perpetrator, the community and the legal system are pushing hard for its implementation. Currently, there are different rehabilitation programs available which cater to different people, regardless of gender, age and, social standing.

How Does Perpetrator Treatment Work?

Domestic violence perpetrators can enlist themselves voluntarily for a program, but 80% of attendees are involved because of a court order. An intervention is done during the accused’s probation.

Through the State’s sponsorship, the treatment ensues within a running date of more than 24 weeks, while the shortest time is 12 weeks.

During a treatment, therapists use different program models as a syllabus for a perpetrator’s road to enlightenment. These are the following:

The Duluth Model

This philosophy focuses on dominance and force. It lets the perpetrators realize that they are accountable for their violent behavior.

The Feminist Socio-Political Theory

This model denotes that the violence of a male perpetrator is due to a mind-set of gender inequality. The Feminist Socio-Political Theory aims to teach to male perpetrators that genders are equal.

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy

From the name itself, the cognitive is tapped upon the use of this model. The mind is a powerful force and therapists use this to develop ways of thinking that will eventually manifest on actions.

Psycho Educational Model

This approach utilizes education to treat a perpetrator through tangible means like worksheets, visualizations, and activities.

The Effectiveness of the Program

Just like any other forms of therapy, the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program for a perpetrator varies. There are numerous studies that show its increased effectiveness, while there are also opposed findings.

It’s essential to understand the side of a perpetrator in a domestic violence case, no matter how appalling it may seem. Intervention programs for domestic violence perpetrators exist because of one reason: the hope that an individual can improve.

If you want to know more about rehabilitation for domestic violence perpetrators, get in touch today with Ross Goodman, the trusted domestic violence attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada! 

The Battered Woman Syndrome

Regarded as a psychological disorder especially on legal proceedings, the Battered Woman Syndrome is a theory developed in 1970 by psychologist Lenore Walker, and is associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

This mental health disorder develops on a woman who is a victim of abuse and has developed a “learned helplessness” or the mind-set that she cannot fight and get out of the abusive relationship.

Most often, the victim will want to stay with her abuser in hopes that she won’t be abused again, continually strengthening her syndrome. The woman deliberately denies the act of violence perpetrated by her partner and simply dismisses it as something inevitable. She’ll eventually reconsider and conclude that there’s a problem but will blame herself for it. This is a dangerous disorder that puts a woman’s life and everyone around her at risk.

Las Vegas ranks as one of the top cities with a staggering rate of domestic violence in which a woman was killed, largely due to the syndrome. So the community, which is composed primarily of medical specialists and attorneys, is doing its best to help victims overcome Battered Woman Syndrome.

The Cycle

A Battered Woman Syndrome is formed due to the actions carried out both by the woman and her abuser. Basically, it starts with an abuser performing diminutive deeds that eventually escalate to a full-fledged act of violence that can be physical, emotional, or psychological in form. When the tension calms down, the abuser goes on great lengths to atone for the act. The woman eventually forgives her abuser and the cycle starts again.

Simply put, due to the perpetual cycle, the woman creates a wrong viewpoint that the abuse is only natural and as usual, things will be amended. Victims of abuse also build up guilt, believing that they’re at fault, prompting them to be passive about the abuse and accept it a sign of their penance.

Diagnosing a Battered Woman Syndrome

There are many ways to spot a woman who is a victim of abuse and experiences the Battered Woman Syndrome. One clear sign is depression, however this can be easily concealed. Another sign which is easier to spot is the agitation of the woman with a Battered Woman Syndrome when her abusive partner is around. Women with Battered Woman Syndrome also usually turn to alcohol or other types of substance abuse for means of subconscious escape.

If you suspect that someone is experiencing a Battered Woman Syndrome, talk to them without the presence of the supposed abuser. If she takes the blame for the whole act or if she believes that nothing is going to help her from her abuser, then she most certainly is experiencing the Battered Woman Syndrome.

When in front of professional help, a woman with Battered Woman Syndrome needs to be assured by the prober that she isn’t at fault no matter what she did to provoke her abuser, and that it’s for her own self-preservation if she ever struck back. Additionally, there should be certain boundaries that need to be set, like not covering sensitive questions or not touching the woman at all.

Battered Woman Syndrome and the Law

The law recognizes Battered Woman Syndrome as a defense that can be used in court for women who were harmed or killed their abusers. The syndrome can help establish mitigating circumstances such as self-defense, provocation, insanity, and diminished responsibility.

There are numerous organizations that offer help for women with the syndrome, while the law enforcement is also on high alert regarding it. Therapy and case progress will help someone with a Battered Woman Syndrome get better.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’re experiencing anything that has been mentioned above, or if you know someone who does, hurry and seek the aid of a trusted domestic violence attorney in Las Vegas like Ross Goodman now!