Batterer Intervention Programs in Nova Scotia: A Qualitative Examination of Offender Experiences

Abstract

The present study examined the experiences of men court-mandated to one of two batterer intervention programs in Nova Scotia. Eight men participated in 45 minute—1 hour-long semi-structured interviews and spoke to a number of themes including their likes and dislikes of the program, what tools they had learned, and how beneficial they found the intervention program. In addition, two program facilitators were interviewed and provided insight into the theoretical basis of the programs as well as their experiences with the program. The narratives provided by participants indicated that both intervention programs provided offenders with a safe space to discuss intimate and uncomfortable details of their lives. In addition, both programs provided offenders with valuable tools for deescalating potentially volatile situations. Future research should focus on offenders who fail to attend sessions as well as the implications of intimate partner violence on the children of offenders.