Batterer Intervention Programs

What is a certified batterer's intervention program?

 Batterer's intervention programs are counseling programs for people who abuse their partners.

The court can only order an abuser to go to a program that has been "certified" by the state.

Most certified batterers intervention programs work in the following way:

• The abusive person has to go to a few intake sessions.
• The program might not accept him. Not all abusive people are a good fit for these programs.
• If he gets into the program, he must sign an agreement saying that he will finish the program, that he will not be violent, and that he will not use drugs or alcohol while he is in the program.
• He will have to pay for the program. Not all programs cost the same. Some programs may have a sliding fee. If he has a low income, he might be able to get help paying for the program.
• He will probably have to go to 80 hours of sessions. The sessions are usually 2 hours long and run for 40 weeks. Most sessions are in groups, but he may get to talk to a counselor by himself too.
• This is not like a private counseling program. The program can share things he says and does with the court and some other agencies. The program will also tell the court how many sessions the person attends.
• If you want, the program will tell you when the abuser finishes the program. The program may also warn you about things he says, such as threats or any violent things he says about you.
• The program will refer the abusive person to other services he needs, like drug/alcohol programs, employment training, parenting skills classes, etc.

A person does not have to wait for a court to order him to go to one of these programs. He can go on his own.

These programs usually use group counseling sessions to teach the abusive person what is wrong with the way he has been acting. The programs try to do two things:

• Stop the person from acting abusive and controlling, and
• Keep the abusive person's victims safe.

Certified batterer intervention programs work with batterers to hold them accountable for their abuse and to help them change their behavior.

Certified batterer intervention programs (BIPs) currently operate in every county of Massachusetts.   BIPs work to increase the safety of all domestic violence victims.  BIPs provide educational groups for batterers to stop their abusive behavior. Batterers are taught about the damaging effects of abuse on victims and children.   BIPs also teach batterers to use respectful and non-abusive behaviors with their intimate partners and their children. 

Certified batterer intervention programs are not the same as anger management programs.  Only certified batterer intervention programs focus entirely on domestic violence and intimate partner abuse. 

The Batterer Intervention Program Services unit of the Department of Public Health certifies and monitors certified batterer intervention programs.  

Here is a list of certified batterer intervention programs in Massachusetts.   The list has links to each program's website. 

Judges can refer or order batterers to attend BIPs. 

• When a judge issues a restraining order, he or she can "recommend to the defendant" to attend a certified batterer intervention program.

• When a defendant has violated a restraining order, the judge can order the defendant to participate in a certified batterer intervention program.

• When a Probate and Family Court orders visitation for an abusive parent, the court can "order the abusive parent to attend and complete, to the satisfaction of the court, a certified batterer's treatment program as a condition of visitation."