Perpetrator Programmes

We recognise that dometic abuse can occur in all types of relationships and that both men and women can be the perpetrator. however, owing to local demand we only run groups for male perpetrators at this time.

We believe that some perpetrators can change their behaviour if they are given the opportunity and support. We deliver groups for perpetrators in Wiltshire and Bristol. Our programme is based on the Duluth Model and was accredited by Respect in November 2010.

What is the Duluth Model?

Since the early 1980s, Duluth—a small community in northern Minnesota — has been an innovator of ways to hold batterers accountable and keep victims safe. The "Duluth Model" is an ever evolving way of thinking about how a community works together to end domestic violence.

A community using the Duluth Model approach:

• Has taken the blame off the victim and placed the accountability for abuse on the offender.
• Has shared policies and procedures for holding offenders accountable and keeping victims safe across all agencies in the criminal and civil justice systems from 911 to the courts.
• Prioritizes the voices and experiences of women who experience battering in the creation of those policies and procedures.
• Believes that battering is a pattern of actions used to intentionally control or dominate an intimate partner and actively works to change societal conditions that support men’s use of tactics of power and control over women.
• Offers change opportunities for offenders through court-ordered educational groups for batterers.
• Has ongoing discussions between criminal and civil justice agencies, community members and victims to close gaps and improve the community’s response to battering.

(source: http://www.theduluthmodel.org/about/index.html, Aug 2011)

Why the Duluth Model Works

The Duluth Model is successful because it is grounded in the experience of victims, helps offenders and society change, and pulls the whole community together to respond.

What works:

Agencies work together to try new approaches.

When agencies—from 911 to the courts—work together to create policies and procedures that interweave together, the whole system works in coordination to more effectively hold batterers accountable. Each agency has a part in identifying and rectifying gaps that hurt women. Each agency can do its job better.

It keeps women safe because it is developed from their own voices of experience.

Sometimes policies or plans that are developed and thought to help women who are battered actually cause more harm than good. The Duluth Model approach keeps the voices of victims central to any policies or plans that are made by including victims and the advocates who work closely with them in all decision making.

We realize that to keep women safe, we have to help abusive men change.

When the Duluth Model first began, women told us that they wanted us to work with their partners—that helping their partners change is what would most keep them safe. So, we began nonviolence courses to help abusive men look more closely at their actions, intentions and beliefs and the effect their actions had on their partners and others. Because it helps men get to the core of their actions and beliefs, our men’s nonviolence program is the most replicated program for men who batter in the world.

It has been tested by research and replication.
Research has found that by applying all the components of the Duluth Model, 68% of offenders who move through Duluth’s criminal justice system and men’s nonviolence classes do not reappear in the system eight years out. Communities worldwide that have adopted components of the Duluth Model have also found significant reductions in re-offense rates.

(source: http://www.theduluthmodel.org/about/why-works.html, Aug 2011)