Under conditions of victim initiated complaints, permitting victims to drop charges significantly reduced their risk of future violence. This reduced risk was attributed to the increased empowerment which the victim may have gained by having the criminal justice system in alliance to maintain her safety, although actually dropping the charges may not have increased the woman's safety. Batterer Intervention Programs Batterer intervention programs, which seek to educate or rehabilitate known perpetrators of IPV to be nonviolent, have proliferated since the 1980s, under the auspices of both the criminal justice system and mental health system. Three theoretical approaches to the conduct of these programs have been consistently documented. The feminist model of intervention educates men concerning the impact of these social norms and values, and attempts to resocialize men through education, emphasizing nonviolence and equality in relationships.
Many programs adopt components of each approach.
The most widely evaluated intervention model for men who batter are group interventions using cognitive-behavioral techniques, often in combination with feminist content. However, other reviews have pointed out that methodological problems in the studies limit conclusions about the effectiveness of such programs. These studies may clarify our understanding of the effectiveness of these programs. Evidence of the efficacy of court-mandating men to treatment as a means of increasing program completion are mixed. Some studies report increased completion, while others suggest reduced completion.