Domestic Violence Program

The program goal is to end the abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) and replace it with new thinking and behaviors, which will lead to healthy relationships. Emphasis is placed on victim safety, probationer accountability, close monitoring and victim intervention. The program is comprised of three principal components: Enhanced Supervision, Victim Outreach and Offender Intervention Programming.

Enhanced Supervision:

• Probationer accountability
• Victim Safety
• Frequent field contacts by probation staff
• Drug testing, breathalyzers
• Enhanced relationships with local police and domestic violence advocates
• Non-compliant probationers referred to the Domestic Violence Court Program

Victim Outreach:

• Probation staff has frequent contact with the victims
• Partnership with Chrysallis Domestic Violence Shelter
• Grant partnership provides a victim advocate for the caseloads

Offender Intervention Program:

• Offender participates in a minimum of a thirty-two (32) week offender intervention treatment program
• Cognitive intervention
• Focus on offender responsibility and accountability

For a case to be accepted for supervision, it must meet the criteria:

• The present offense involves violence against a partner or family member regardless of the charge, or the probationer has a prior criminal history for domestic violence and there are current victim or partner safety concerns.
• Probationers who are experiencing symptoms of diagnosed mood or thought disorders will be staffed for (dual) supervision.

Typical Probationer Characteristics

• Present offense involved physical abuse of partner or stalking
• Probationer avoids responsibility and blames others (mostly the victim)
• Abusive history common (but not always reflected in criminal history)
• Controlling individual - especially with family
• Extremely manipulative "master of deception" (may appear to be a compliant probationer)
• Family viewed in terms of ownership
• Behavior blamed on loss of control, alcohol, anger or other outside factors
• Use of power to hide from feelings of inadequacy

Program Characteristics

• Reporting instructions ordered for field/office visits, and community treatment
• Financial responsibility fostered, including payment for restitution, fines, assessments, reimbursement, and probation service fees
• Appropriate placement in community programs of assistance, counseling and/or therapy
• Drug use prohibited and monitored
• Supervision level is tied to overall risk to re-offend