DVIS developed the first Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) in Oklahoma. The program is highly regulated by the Oklahoma Attorney General, who mandates the program be a minimum of 52 weeks long, cover 11 subjects, and be offered only in a group setting.
Offenders often try to gain power and control over their partners. Some may use physical violence to do this, but others do not. Their attitudes and behaviors give them a sense of privilege, dominance, and/or control in their relationships. With this in mind, DVIS’s BIP aims to hold offenders accountable for their abusive behavior and helps them learn to let go of their desire for control over others.
Before starting the program, clients must also agree not to use violence and to follow all state and federal laws. DVIS does not provide individual counseling for offenders or couples counseling.
BIP is the only program at DVIS with an associated fee. Offenders are required to pay for each group session they attend and cannot miss more than six total or three consecutive groups in the 52-week period.
Before starting BIP, clients pay for an assessment that allows our team to determine if the program is right for them. The process includes paperwork and a one-on-one interview with a counselor. If the program is a good fit, our counselors provide more detailed information about BIP. If not, we recommend other services that will better fit the individual’s needs.
DVIS has BIP groups available for men in both English and Spanish and for women in English only. To receive offenders’ counseling at DVIS, you must be ordered by the Court or recommended by DHS. Self-referred BIP clients will be considered on a case-by-case basis guided by DVIS’s current capacity to serve individuals.
Program topics:
- Abuse and violence as a form of control, and an explanation of the need to give up all forms of controlling and coercive behavior
- A detailed explanation of the range of abusive power and control behaviors, including coercive behavior, chronic verbal abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse/mistreatment, psychological/mental abuse, physical abuse, abuse of animals, and use of the children as weapons
- Support for and perpetuation of abuse are based on traditional gender roles and privilege
- Non-abusive communication techniques
- Effective coping strategies
- The impact of battering on children and the incompatibility of violence and abuse with responsible parenting
- The batterer must be able to identify all abusive conduct, the pattern of that conduct, and the culture which legitimizes or excuses both individual acts and the larger pattern of battering. This may include but not be limited to accepting personal as well as financial responsibility for child support, court costs, restitution, and BIP related costs
- Developing healthy relationships; including techniques for achieving non-abusive, non-controlling attitudes and behavior.
- Non-abusive behavior planning for the prevention of violent, controlling and abusive behavior
- Effects of domestic violence on victims from a victim perspective
- The potential consequences of domestic violence to the batterer.
Program goals:
- Batterers’ intervention programs are educational programs based on a model of power and control designed to encourage batterers to end violent and coercive behaviors in their relationships by challenging their belief systems and holding them accountable for their behavior.
- Program focus shall be victim safety and batterer accountability. The service shall be based on non-victim blaming strategies.
- Batterers’ intervention shall not be confused with anger control or management, substance abuse treatment, and/or mental health treatment.
For more information about BIP, call 918-585-3163.