Great Britain: New study: Counseling doesn't change abusive men's behavior

Off Our Backs, Jan/Feb 2002 by Elliot, Farar, Douglas, Carol Anne, Kulla, Bridget, Maclay, Amanda, Et al

Europe

The Home Office of Great Britain recently released the results of a study indicating that men who abuse their wives or partners are the least likely of all types of criminals to improve their behavior with treatment. In fact, says Harry Fletcher of the National Association of Probation Officers, there is evidence that men who go to domestic violence counseling sessions "actually become more cunning in the way they disguise their violence."

Because of these findings, Great Britain is eliminating funds for programs aimed at rehabilitating batterers. The money cut from therapy programs will be used for domestic violence shelters, enforcement of injunctions, and electronic tagging to keep violent men away from their victims. There are around 835,000 domestic violence incidents annually in Great Britain.

--info from The Guardian