DO's & DON'TS
Some friendly reminders:
A. DO'S
1. Do recognize that a man’s participation says nothing about his behavior outside the batterer program sessions. It's been demonstrated over and over again, too often with tragic results, that the way a man behaves in the program does not translate into how he treats his intimate female partner. (Sadly and importantly, we know stories of this about staff of batterer programs, and it has also proven true with members of our own staff.)
2. Do hold participants 100% accountable for what you can hold them accountable for . . . nothing more, nothing less. You can absolutely hold each participant accountable for abiding by the policies and practices of a NY Model batterer program.
3. Do urge the court to use the most serious penalty possible at the earliest possible moment, based on the severity of the crime committed by a domestic violence offender. The seriousness and swiftness of the court’s response is key to any community’s criminal justice response and signals the court’s zero tolerance for men’s violence against women.
4. Do be ready and willing to evolve and change continually by updating curriculum, policies and procedures as new information unfolds.
B. DON'TS
1. Do not suggest that participation equals recovery, rehabilitation, cessation of abuse, etc.
2. Do not participate in research on individuals, either those who comply with court orders or those who don’t. Remember, the NY Model focuses on the need for systemic change in the handling of domestic violence crimes and offenses.
3. Do not support so called "recovered men" or "reformed batterers" to appear on TV or in other media. The man who speaks glowingly about his changes to an audience of millions – gives false hope to many and could even undermine a listener’s commitment to safety planning. It can be tragically misleading. “Star participants” have too often continued their abusive behavior.
4. Do not support any partner contact whatsoever. Leave interacting with battered women to victim service agencies – well set to provide those services. In a NY Model batterer program, orders to attend are between the court and the person ordered.
5. Do not allow the community to think that a NY Model program is treatment, rehabilitation, psycho-education, education, or behavior modification.
6. Do not mislead the general public or anyone else on "success rates."
7. Do not allow there to be a confidentiality policy. Since this is not "treatment," it is unnecessary and inappropriate.
8. Do not punish participants. Setting and maintaining limits is not punishment. NY Model programs act respectfully toward participants at all times.
1. Do recognize that a man’s participation says nothing about his behavior outside the batterer program sessions. It's been demonstrated over and over again, too often with tragic results, that the way a man behaves in the program does not translate into how he treats his intimate female partner. (Sadly and importantly, we know stories of this about staff of batterer programs, and it has also proven true with members of our own staff.)
2. Do hold participants 100% accountable for what you can hold them accountable for . . . nothing more, nothing less. You can absolutely hold each participant accountable for abiding by the policies and practices of a NY Model batterer program.
3. Do urge the court to use the most serious penalty possible at the earliest possible moment, based on the severity of the crime committed by a domestic violence offender. The seriousness and swiftness of the court’s response is key to any community’s criminal justice response and signals the court’s zero tolerance for men’s violence against women.
4. Do be ready and willing to evolve and change continually by updating curriculum, policies and procedures as new information unfolds.
B. DON'TS
1. Do not suggest that participation equals recovery, rehabilitation, cessation of abuse, etc.
2. Do not participate in research on individuals, either those who comply with court orders or those who don’t. Remember, the NY Model focuses on the need for systemic change in the handling of domestic violence crimes and offenses.
3. Do not support so called "recovered men" or "reformed batterers" to appear on TV or in other media. The man who speaks glowingly about his changes to an audience of millions – gives false hope to many and could even undermine a listener’s commitment to safety planning. It can be tragically misleading. “Star participants” have too often continued their abusive behavior.
4. Do not support any partner contact whatsoever. Leave interacting with battered women to victim service agencies – well set to provide those services. In a NY Model batterer program, orders to attend are between the court and the person ordered.
5. Do not allow the community to think that a NY Model program is treatment, rehabilitation, psycho-education, education, or behavior modification.
6. Do not mislead the general public or anyone else on "success rates."
7. Do not allow there to be a confidentiality policy. Since this is not "treatment," it is unnecessary and inappropriate.
8. Do not punish participants. Setting and maintaining limits is not punishment. NY Model programs act respectfully toward participants at all times.