HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Domestic battery cases continue to be a big problem in Hutchinson and Reno County. Most of these cases involve relationships between a man and a woman.

Once a person is convicted of battery, they have to go through programs to help change their behavior.

During the Reno County Commission meeting this week, Director of Reno County Community Corrections Randy Regehr talked about the change in thinking when dealing with these types of cases.

“Traditionally, when someone goes through the court process and convicted of battery – domestic violence, in the past they would be asked to do an anger management type of class. Research has kind of shown that’s not the best program. One of the things they found with anger management groups was that they actually made someone a better batterer. It made you more skilled in controlling your anger and you would be less likely to get caught because you wouldn’t act out with your anger, you would be more targeted with that.” said Regehr.

He says they now use what’s called a Batterers Intervention Program in partnership with the Kansas Department of Corrections, which he says is a benefit to clients because it is free.

Before, you payed $150.00 for an assessment and anywhere from $25.00 to $40.00 for a session.

“For our clients, it’s a big benefit and for officers, for us it’s a big benefit because now you no longer have this barrier with somebody, well I can’t go to group because I don’t have the money, I don’t have a job, so we’re really making sure they have a service they need,” said Regehr.

This is one of the ways that Community Corrections and the Kansas Department of Corrections are working to stop those convicted of battery-domestic violence from being a repeat offender.