Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards

Holding offenders accountable while supporting their opportunity to change.

Established pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 46b-38l (now falling under CGS 46b-38j and CGS 46b-38m), the state's domestic violence offender program standards fall under the oversight of the Domestic Violence Criminal Justice Response and Enhancement Advisory Council. The Council's Court-Based Issues Subcommittee is charged with promulgating, reviewing and, as necessary, amending Offender Program standards.

Domestic violence, as a learned behavior, is supported by a system of beliefs and attitudes that requires a variety of approaches to prevent, reduce, and eliminate it.

Domestic violence offender programs must emphasize the accountability of individual perpetrators while educating them and teaching skills that support a non-violent lifestyle and promote healthy relationships. The program standards are intended to serve as a framework for new and existing program providers to develop and deliver services to people arrested for committing violence against a current or former intimate partner or people identified as needing services in order to prevent acts of domestic violence.
 

CT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER PROGRAM STANDARDS (REV 2019)

 

APPROVED PROVIDERS - AGENCY (10/2024)     APPROVED PROVIDERS - INDIVIDUAL (10/2024)

 

---

 

Becoming an approved provider.

The Court-Based Issues Subcommittee accepts applications from individuals or agencies that perform domestic violence intervention services in the community and wish to be included on a list to be used in adult criminal court proceedings. Only those individuals or agencies that are on the list can be utilized by defendants that are charged with a family violence offense as a part of resolving the pending criminal case. Each individual or agency will adhere to a formal Provider Agreement, which must be reviewed, signed and notarized.

The standards were revised in 2019 to also include a deviation consideration. The Subcommittee understands that some effective programs will have components that do not comport with the CT Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards. There is now a process which allows agencies or individuals to request consideration of their program despite this barrier. The Advisory Council will review each request for deviation on a case-by-case basis. The Advisory Council will review each request for deviation on a case by case basis. A deviation will not be granted if the proposal is in conflict with the Guiding Principles of the CT Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards.