Are Current State Standards for Domestic Violence Perpetrator Treatment Adequately Informed by Research?: A Question of Questions

• Published in: Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma maltreatment & trauma, 2001-09, Vol.5 (2), p.21-44
• Main Authors: Maiuro, Roland D., Hagar, Tamara S., Lin, Hsin-Hua, Olson, Natalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Domestic violence; domestic violence research; Family Research; Family Violence; intimate partner abuse; Offenders; Partner Abuse; perpetrator standards; state standards; States (Political Subdivisions); Treatment Programs; United States of America
• ISSN: 1092-6771; 1545-083X
• DOI: 10.1300/J146v05n02_03

An empirical review and critique of existing state standards for batterer programs in the domestic violence field appeared timely, given the current debate about their status and utility. Although there has been a considerable amount of polemic discussion of the topic, relatively limited data have been reported. The present article surveyed the content of standards developed in 30 states within the United States. Five categories of interest were examined including: (1) the minimum length of treatment specified; (2) specification of treatment orientation, methods, and content; (3) preferred or allowable modalities of treatment; (4) whether research findings were mentioned or endorsed as a basis for development of treatment standards; and (5) methods for developing and revising standards. A related area, the minimum education required for providers, was also included as an area of interest to further describe the current pool of practitioners targeted for regulation. An analysis of the content of these standards was then performed with regard to existing peer-reviewed research in the field. The results are discussed in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of current standards, the areas in which further research is needed, and specific recommendations regarding steps that might be taken to improve existing efforts.