Batterer Intervention Programs in Spain: An Analysis of Their Effectiveness

• Published date: 01 March 2018
• Author: Victoria A. Ferrer-Perez,Esperanza Bosch-Fiol
• Date: 01 March 2018
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X16672455
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X16672455

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2018, Vol. 62(4) 885 –897

© The Author(s) 2016

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X16672455

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Article

Batterer Intervention

Programs in Spain: An

Analysis of Their

Effectiveness

Victoria A. Ferrer-Perez1 and Esperanza Bosch-Fiol1

Abstract

Intimate partner violence against women is a social and women’s health concern. Much

effort has gone into providing services and support for victims of this violence. By

contrast, intervention programs focusing on the batterers themselves have received

far less attention. The purpose of this article is to provide a systematic review of

the evidence regarding the effectiveness of batterer intervention programs (BIPs)

implemented in Spain as provided by research published in peer-reviewed journals

and scientific reports. The results obtained show that assessment focuses mainly on

evaluating whether there is an improvement in the psychological variables of abusers.

In cases where the rate of success or failure is analyzed, it is important to note the

high drop-out rates observed, and the wide variability in success and improvement

rates obtained. In summary, the results obtained in this revision allow to corroborate

the assumption that associated with BIP is a lot of controversy, since its construction,

its implementation, its assessment, and its effectiveness.

Keywords

intimate partner violence, batterer, treatment, effectiveness

Introduction

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a major social and women’s

health concern (Devries et al., 2013). Overall, 35% of women worldwide have experi-

enced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual

1University of Balearic Islands, Spain

Corresponding Author:

Victoria A. Ferrer-Perez, Department of Psychology, University of Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa

km. 7,5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Email: victoria.ferrer@uib.es

672455IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X16672455International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyFerrer-Perez and Bosch-Fiol

research-article2016