Beyond Violence: A Prevention Program for Criminal Justice-Involved Women

• In Event: Beyond Violence: An Intervention for Women with Violent Offenses

Abstract

Beyond Violence (BV) is an evidence-based manualized curriculum for women in criminal justice settings (jails, prisons, and community corrections) with histories of aggression and/or violence. It addresses the violence and trauma they have experienced, as well as the violence they may have committed. This curriculum is based on the Social-Ecological model of violence prevention which considers the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors. It addresses the factors that put people at risk for experiencing and/or perpetuating violence. This model is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and was used in the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) research on women in prison. Beyond Violence applies a gender lens to the social-ecological model to create a program specific to women’s life experiences. It is the first manualized intervention for women that focuses on violence-prevention. It utilizes a multi-level approach and a variety of evidence-based therapeutic strategies (i.e., psycho-education, role playing, mindfulness activities, cognitive-behavioral restructuring, and grounding skills for trauma triggers). This presentation will provide an overview of the theoretical foundation, structure, and content of the curriculum.

Author

• Stephanie Covington, Center for Gender and Justice