David Mandel & Associates LLC Domestic Violence Program Consultant I. General Program Information Name of program Domestic Violence Program Consultant Type of program Domestic Violence Consultant Location of program CTDOC Central Office Length of program Fiscal 07-08 II. Program History (Facility & Community Based Domestic Violence Programs to be overseen by Contractor) Length of operation Facility Based Domestic Violence program was started in 2002. Community Based Domestic Violence Programming was started in 2004. Background of program There is an expectation that the Department of Correction (DOC) should do whatever it can to assist offenders to make a successful transition to the community. Successful transition to the community means, among other things, that the DOC should do everything it can reasonably do to reduce rates of recidivism. This does not mean the public is necessarily willing to accept more risks with offenders. In short, it means that the DOC will have to continue its emphasis on public safety, but broaden that to include this mandate. One of the areas in which this has played out is in the manner that the DOC has dealt with those incarcerated for domestic violence. Like all other states, the DOC has always had incarcerated offenders who had committed acts of domestic violence, even though it was rare for them to be incarcerated for domestic violence unless the domestic violence resulted in death or serious injury. Husbands or domestic partners have always assaulted women, but it was not until recently that these men have been held accountable.
In Connecticut change came in 1986 as a result of Title 46b of the General Statutes. This law, which occurred on the heels of a nationally publicized domestic violence incident, required that an arrest be made whenever police thought there was probable cause that violence had occurred among intimate partners. No longer was it necessary for the victim to file a complaint. While not everyone who is arrested is incarcerated, the passing of this law resulted in a large increase in men incarcerated for domestic violence in the DOC. A decision was made to create an addition to the DOC s computerized classification system. A DV sub-code was instituted in March of 2001. Upon admission or as a result of regular classification reviews, offenders who were involved in a domestic violence incident were classified as such in the new sub-code. A review one-year later demonstrated that the DOC had many more such offenders than it had imagined, 2530 sentenced male offenders. This included those whose instant offense was an act of domestic violence and also those who had at some other time committed an act of domestic violence. When the DOC learned just how many such offenders it had in its custody, it was clear that a department-wide initiative was in order. That led to a closer examination of programming. In 2002 in consultation with other providers and researchers, we developed a curriculum that was designed to not only address issues specific to domestic violence, but also address other areas absolutely essential with this population. These will include accessing needed social services, maintaining employment, and managing mental health and substance abuse problems. In the Spring of 2003 a facility-based and a community-based curriculum was completed and training sessions held for any interested party in State of Connecticut. By statute, offenders remanded to the custody of the DOC for two years or less, may be released into the community after they serve fifty per cent of their sentence. This release mechanism, referred to as Transitional Supervision, includes having a sponsor with whom the person can live. Community Enforcement officers provide supervision of the offender until sentence completion. Given the perceived risk of placing domestic violence offenders in the community, virtually no
offender was placed in the community. This fact was the next thing subjected to scrutiny. Philosophy of program The group is designed to help inmates, who have a history of domestic violence, become more motivated to stop their violence and abuse and replace them with more positive behaviors patterns. General goals of program During the facility-based program offenders, are expected to assume some degree of responsibility for the domestic violence. They are encouraged to examine their beliefs and attitudes that may contribute to the domestic violence. If an offender cannot positively participate in the group the DOC took the position that he would not be an appropriate candidate for the community-based component of the program. The community based group format chosen was a twice-weekly group conducted for an hour and a half. The offenders have to complete twelve weeks (twenty-four sessions). These groups are contracted out with providers who had experience working with batterers. III. Services Offered Five training sessions per year to CTDOC staff Two New facilitator training s (Fall & Spring)- Two days each. One In-service training for current Domestic Violence Program facilitators. Planning and execution of the annual domestic violence meeting (Fall 2007). Review and modification of the existing Domestic Violence Program Modifications will be conducted to update the curriculum as indicated by any emerging literature. Improve continuity between the Facility Based Domestic Violence Program and the Community Based Domestic Violence Program.
Identify key domains to be covered in a certification process for Domestic Violence Program facilitators. Notification of the CTDOC on emerging literature regarding batterer intervention programs and the significance of culturally based intervention. Two reports will be provided to summarize emerging trends. Attend bi-monthly central office domestic violence meetings. IV. Eligibility and Exclusions Eligibility requirements (type of clients served) Connecticut Department of Correction male offenders ALL exclusionary criteria Extensive criminal (especially violent) history; History of stalking; History of extremely violent domestic violence; No history of employment. If the DOC has a victim notification filed with its Victim Services Unit the victim is contacted to determine if they had any concerns about placing the offender in the community based program. In addition, notification is sent to the judicial department s Office of Victim Services. V. Admission Process The facility based program should be assigned for offenders who: Have a DV sub-code (Upon admission or as a result of regular classification reviews, offenders who were involved in a domestic violence incident were classified as such in the new sub-code). Mittimus from court directs it. Have been charged with a domestic violence charge. The community based program should be assigned for offenders who: Have completed the facility-based program. Are eligible for community release. VI. Specific Program Policies Contractor Fee: $14,750.00
VII. Discharge Planning and Aftercare To be considered for placement in the community based domestic violence program an offender has to first complete the facility-based component. All offenders considered for the program are placed on electronic monitoring. The logic behind this was that the DOC wanted to provide extra structure to assist them to follow their conditions of release and also to help identify those offenders who needed some other intervention. VIII. Program Outcome Measures All those domestic violence offenders who complete the facilitybased programs will be placed in two categories, those recommended for the community program and those not. Those recommended for the community program will be placed in a first-come, first-served manner that essentially will produce the same result as random assignment. Since there will be more approved offenders than community openings, this will allow the department to compare these two groups while avoiding the all too common selection bias problem. These groups will be followed for several years to determine if placement in the community program has any impact on rates of recidivism. The Contractor David Mandel will assist in reviewing the data that is compiled this year from that process.