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Is Maine Overlooking the Most Effective Way to Combat Domestic Violence?

AUGUSTA, Maine - In his inaugural address Wednesday, Gov. Paul LePage spoke about his plans to continue his focus on reducing domestic violence in Maine. But just how to do that is a complicated question.

In a recent piece in the Bangor Daily News, reporter Erin Rhoda explores one treatment that she says has proven to be effective in preventing convicted batterers from offending - but says it's used in less than a third of cases in Maine.

It's called batterers' intervention, and focuses on helping abusers understand their behavior. Nora Flaherty spoke this morning with Rhoda, who says most experts and state agencies agree intervention is much more effective than counseling or anger management programs, where courts more commonly send people convicted of domestic violence crimes.

Nora is originally from the Boston area but has lived in Chicago, Michigan, New York City and at the northern tip of New York state. Nora began working in public radio at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor and has been an on-air host, a reporter, a digital editor, a producer, and, when they let her, played records.