Maine State Prison program seeks to change behavior of domestic violence offenders

The participants have a history of domestic violence. The most serious charge for a prisoner in the class was attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault against a partner, she said.

Wotton said she believes the program impacted the participants.

“I saw some real critical thinking. They challenged themselves. At first they had a real hesitation about the program, but after a few weeks, they really opened up to what the class was about, and they talked about real things and noticing ways of being abusive that they had not noticed before,” she said.

The prisoners realized that their violence was not just physical but emotional, economic, psychological and sexual, Wotton said.

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/01/19/news/state/maine-state-prison-program-seeks-to-change-behavior-of-domestic-violence-offenders/