The underlying principles of a NOMAS Model program are grounded in the feminist analysis that includes the premise that domestic violence is an extension of sexism. We recognize that domestic violence is carried out by individual men*, and reflects their individual values and beliefs. However, we also recognize that these values and beliefs are taught and supported by the cultural values and norms of our society’s existing patriarchal structure.

The principles work with the assumption that we must collaboratively challenge and change these values and norms.

*And those of other dominating group identities

Commitment to community, societal, systemic, and cultural change

The NOMAS Model for DV Offender Programs is committed to community, societal, systemic, and cultural change. We believe that domestic violence stems from social and cultural attitudes and beliefs, and that these attitudes and beliefs impact women and children more profoundly because of the power imbalances between men and women that exist in our society. We believe that individual people can change. Individual change however, will only be effective when it is supported and enhanced by widespread social change. The implementation of the NOMAS Model DVOP in a community is intended to be consistent with these goals.

The NOMAS Model for DVOP was built within the context of the predominant criminal justice response to domestic violence. The program uses this entrée point and seeks social change, through the radical concept that holding dv offenders accountable is counter to the pre-existing permissions for men to hold control over women in our society.

Connection to NOMAS and anti-oppression principles

NOMAS recognized early on that all oppressions (the “isms”) are linked. Fighting against a single oppression (e.g., sexism) without recognizing that it is intertwined with all other oppressions (e.g., racism, classism, heterosexism) will not move us toward the creation of a just society. In furthering this end, NOMAS is committed to actively and continually examine and challenge any and all oppressive beliefs and behaviors in ourselves, our organization, our communities and the systems that govern our lives. This commitment should be part of all NOMAS Model Domestic Violence Offender Programs–from instructor training to executive management to relationships with referring agencies and the community.

Language matters

How we label, discuss, and reference has much to do with how we think, feel, and act. NOMAS Model programs focus on language, centering offender accountability, awareness of victim blaming, and gender bias as it is embedded in everyday language. Exposing and redressing conscious and unconscious bias on behalf of men and unfavorable to women is vital to the development and implementation of the NOMAS Model.

Definition of domestic violence

Deeply rooted in history, laws and cultures is a patriarchal system, under which males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.  In the domain of the family, fathers or father figures hold authority over women and children.  It is these patriarchal systems that manifest domestic violence, specifically men’s violence toward women.

The term “domestic violence” has referred to men’s abuse of women who are (or were) their intimate partners, using a pattern of controlling tactics, from everyday indignities (name calling, public and private humiliations, threats, etc.) to physical and sexual assaults.

Today, “domestic violence,” often called, “intimate partner abuse,” refers to any person’s use of similar abusive strategies to control an intimate partner’s life, supported by unjust but historic privilege. Therefore, our definition includes actions, behaviors, and tactics that are not against the law.

Two Clarifying Points:

Many men in the USA,Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), are not entitled, or privileged in our society generally, but are entitled over the women in their own communities.

These forms of privilege may be based on race, social class (who has more money and/or education), immigration status, who is “out” in family and/or work, etc.

Respect

NOMAS Model DV Offender Programs treat participants with respect.  NOMAS Model DV Offender Programs are not punitive in policies or practices.  If anything, courts levy punishments. The program gives each participant the opportunity to comply with the order to attend and complete the program.

We believe that every man is competent and capable of interacting respectfully with all the women in his life, most specifically his intimate partner…if he chooses to.

Connection to Battered Women’s Movement and/or Domestic Violence Coalitions

NOMAS Model programs operate in relationship to the battered women’s movement and their local domestic violence coalition. Programs that do not do this undermine the leadership that battered women’s programs have in the community.

Community Connections

NOMAS Model programs operate in coordination with, and not independent of, community coalitions to end domestic violence. We recognize any program’s limited ability to promote social change. Social change best occurs when organizations and individuals join together in community messaging and raising of awareness.

Commitment to ongoing learning

“Batterer programs” were created in the early stages of the movement to end men’s violence against women; with the limited knowledge available at that time. Principles, practices, and state standards were put in place based on that limited knowledge. As the movement matured, it became apparent that some principles, practices, and standards were out of sync, antithetical, and potentially harmful. Programs must be willing to discard, adjust, and innovate practices, policies, and standards to maintain fidelity to the movement.

Accountability, consequences, and education

Accountability: It is important to remember that US patriarchal history means that systems and institutions were set up by men, to serve men. That is especially true within families. Centuries later, laws notwithstanding, husbands have not been held accountable for their acts of abuse against wives and, by extension, men have not been held accountable for abuse against their intimate women partners. The battered women’s movement successfully exposed this phenomenon and the phrase “offender accountability” has become ubiquitous. NOMAS Model programs bring real meaning to that phrase.

• NOMAS Model programs center accountability. Program participants are held accountable to comply with achievable program policies in order to fulfill their obligation to the mandating agent that ordered them to attend.
• Consequences: NOMAS Model programs define consequences as tangible responses to non-compliance. These are consistently and respectfully applied.

• Courts or mandating agents hold offenders accountable for their acts by issuing a consequence that is in keeping with the seriousness of the offenses committed. If the consequence is no more serious than a warning (ACD’s or CD’s in New York, for example), an additional mandate to a DVOP adds importance to the court’s accountability mechanisms.
• Programs issue consequences in response to non-compliance with program policies and requirements. Consequences range from dismissals from individual classes to termination from the program.
• Courts also must agree to issue an additional consequence if a participant is terminated from the DVOP (an additional consequence might be a mandate to re-start the program at class one).

Education: The NOMAS Model focuses on providing education about the foundations of domestic violence and ending domestic violence.  The NOMAS Model program provides comprehensive information that examines the systemic roots of domestic violence, patriarchy, and male supremacy. The content explores institutional, systemic, and individual strategies to end domestic violence in society. This information offers individual men the greatest opportunity to alter their abusive behavior, should they choose to do so. The content replicates the material that is provided to community or professional organizations.