About Batterers

You may be hoping your partner will change. Our experience shows that once a person begins to be abusive, the problem is likely to get worse. It is important to understand and pay attention to the warning signs of abusive behavior or what is sometimes referred to as the cycle of violence. Abusers may feel guilty and apologetic after an abusive incident, and often promise themselves and their partners that they will change. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, most batterers do not stop being abusive without outside assistance.

We believe that battering and abuse are learned behaviors. Like other social problems, an end to domestic violence requires change at the individual and societal levels. Counseling and education for abusive individuals is one aspect of this change. Grassroots, institutional and cultural efforts are also necessary to stop battering, rape, child abuse, and other degrading and violent treatment of women, children and men. Key to ending these crimes is building a non-sexist society.

If you want to:

• learn about certified batterer intervention programs in Massachusetts,
• find a local certified batterer intervention program in your community,
• see aggregate data on clients served by certified batterer intervention programs,
• download information and documents related to certification at MDPH, such as the MA Guidelines and Standards for the Certification of Batterer Intervention Programs

then visit the Batterer Intervention Program Services site on the Department of Public Health website.