| Domestic violence is one of the silent and hidden | | | | of the underlying, contributing factors of the violence. |
| epidemics affecting millions of families in this country. | | | | Court-ordered domestic violence classes must meet |
| Generally regarded as the physical, emotional or | | | | both state and county standards and are approved |
| verbal abuse of a spouse or partner, domestic | | | | by the court. In general, if classes are court-ordered |
| violence usually occurs through manipulation, | | | | the classes cannot be taken online. However, in some |
| intimidation and coercion. While in most cases the | | | | cases this may be allowed, but the decision is up to |
| victim of domestic abuse is the woman in the | | | | the jurisdiction in which the offender resides. For |
| relationship, this is not always the case. Women | | | | classes held in a classroom setting, men and women |
| often batter and abuse their partners as well. As the | | | | are separated and do not attend classes together. |
| courts have seen more and more cases of domestic | | | | The issues of power, control, manipulation, coercion |
| violence, attending domestic violence classes has | | | | and oppression are explored. In most cases, those |
| often become a stipulation or condition ordered by | | | | attending the classes are required to pay a fee, |
| the courts. It is very likely that the majority of those | | | | which is usually based on a sliding scale. |
| attending these classes have been ordered to do so | | | | Domestic violence classes are also available for the |
| by the court, but there are some who attend of | | | | victims of domestic violence. These classes support |
| their own free will after coming to the realization that | | | | and encourage the victim, and they attempt to help |
| help is needed. | | | | the victim understand that they are not at fault for |
| The purpose of domestic violence classes is to | | | | the violence they suffer. Since domestic violence is |
| educate the perpetrator, either male or female, of | | | | cyclical in nature, these classes are designed to help |
| the effects and consequences of domestic violence | | | | victim's better see and identify their spouse or |
| on his or her family. Not only is the abusers spouse | | | | partners behavior patterns. It is often difficult, if not |
| or partner harmed by domestic violence, but the | | | | impossible, for the victim to escape the violent |
| children living in the home may be extremely | | | | relationship based on a myriad of factors including |
| negatively impacted by the violence they witness or | | | | fear, lack of resources, and children. Many domestic |
| experience. These classes attempt to teach the | | | | violence victims have been isolated from family and |
| batterer the importance of taking responsibility for | | | | friends, and a support network is highly important to |
| their actions. Another objective is to help the abuser | | | | the victims healing process. |
| differentiate between anger that is appropriate and | | | | Whether court-ordered or self-referred, classes that |
| those behaviors that are considered violent and | | | | address the causes and consequences of domestic |
| inappropriate. The classes also attempt to confront | | | | violence can be beneficial for both the perpetrator |
| the abusers beliefs and attitudes that may be some | | | | and his or her victims. |