Researcher: Lynette Renner (School of Social Work)

Intimate partner violence (IPV) includes physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse by an intimate partner. It affects more than one-third of all women can have harmful consequences on the health, well-being, and safety of individuals, families, and communities. Most courts in the U.S. mandate participation in batterers’ intervention programs (BIPs) as part of domestic violence/IPV convictions, yet most BIPs are never evaluated. The purpose of this community-engaged project is to evaluate the BIPs run through Domestic Abuse Project (DAP), a Minneapolis-based non-profit agency whose mission is to build communities free from violence. An estimated 60 participants will complete surveys at multiple time points to assess changes in behaviors towards their partner, attitudes toward violence, resilience, accountability, and mental health during participation in a 24-week BIP. The findings from this community-engaged project have the potential to create real-world impact by enhancing the safety and well-being of families and communities across Minnesota and beyond.