Stopping Domestic Violence Where It Starts

From the capitol rotunda, members of the Center for Violence Prevention and other advocates announce the Duluth Model curriculum as a way to help change the actions of abusers.

Mississippi has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports on a new program by the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl, aimed at stopping the cycle of violence.

Hundreds of Mississippi families are terrorized by domestic violence. Mary Libby Payne with the batterer's intervention advisory board says women are being held responsible for these acts because of the frustrations of men.

“And it’s a sexiest attitude but until we can intervene and give tools to men who believe that it’s ok to beat-up on their wives it’s gonna continue.”

After months of research, Sandy Middleton with the Center for Violence Prevention says the organization has chosen the Duluth Model curriculum because of its national success in helping change the actions of abusers.

“You know we have these shelters and we spend all our time and energy trying to address the affect. And for the first time this gives us an opportunity to step into the cycle of violence on the cause side and try to facilitate a change on the batterer’s behavior and try to change his behavior.”

Hinds County Justice Court Judge, Frank Sutton says for too long the focus of intervention has been on stopping the violence, not fixing or ending the problem.

“Most time we try to put a, somewhat of a saran wrap covering over things that need to be dealt with at the foundational aspect. But I’m saying through this program we’re able to go to the immediacy of the need and supply the necessary tools to help take out that control mechanism so people will have the fresh start of trying to treat people like human beings.”

Perpetrators are court ordered into the 24 week program which is designed to confront the abuser with his abusive conduct. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.