Comparing women in batterer intervention programs with male batterers and female domestic violence victims

While much has been written about both male batterers and the effectiveness of intervention with men who batter (Edelson & Syers, 1990; Eiskovitz & Edelson, 1989; Feazell, Mayers, & Deschner, 1984; Roberts, 1982; Stordeur & Stille, 1989), little information is available about women who have been adjudicated as batterers (Martin, 1994; Steinmetz, 1977--78). The issue of women in batterer intervention programs has become more significant in light of increases in "dual arrest." Dual arrest refers to the practice of arresting both parties in a domestic violence situation. As a result of dual arrest, more women are being charged with domestic violence (Buzawa & Buzawa, 1990; Martin, 1997). The recent dual arrest phenomenon coupled with the lack of empirical research on female batterers has left practitioners treating women in batterer intervention programs with little to guide them.;The purpose of this study was to provide information about the characteristics, arrest history, victimization history, social service utilization history, and trauma symptomology of women receiving treatment in batterer intervention programs. Toward this end, women in batterer programs (n = 67) were compared with men in batterer programs (n = 54), and women receiving domestic violence victim services (n = 51).;Study variables included: (1) gender; (2) victimization history; (3) arrest history; (4) trauma symptomology; (5) service utilization history; and (6) client label. The incidence of dual arrest in each of the three groups was also examined.;Findings indicated significant differences between the women and men in batterer intervention groups on all study variables. Analysis of the two women's groups indicated no statistical differences in the areas of victimization history, social service utilization, and most areas of arrest history. The female victims had the highest trauma symptoms, followed by the women in batterer programs. Male batterers had the lowest trauma the highest trauma symptoms, followed by the women in batterer programs. Male batterers had the lowest trauma scores. The women in batterer groups reported higher dual arrest rates than their male counterparts, and significantly higher dual arrest rates than the female victims. Outcomes suggest that given the differences in arrest history, victimization history, social service utilization history and trauma symptomology, women in batterer intervention programs, may have different treatment needs than their male counterparts.