American Probation and Parole Association

An informational and resource site for probation and parole

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Bellingham-Whatcom Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

Findings and Recommendations for Prosecution and Probation Responses

Safety Audit Coordinator: Sue Parrott, Director, Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence

This audit explored the question: How do prosecution and probation recognize and respond to the complexities of risk and safety for all victims of domestic violence in the City of Bellingham Whatcom Three agencies offered their policies, practices, and case files for review during this audit, as well as contributed members to an audit team: the Bellingham City Prosecutor's Office, the Whatcom County Prosecutor's Office and the Whatcom County District Court Probation. The team's findings are based on information gathered during two community focus groups of battered women and their advocates, 35 individual interviews with a relevant practitioners, 40 observations of court and probations activities, and text analysis of case files from the City and Attorney's offices and District Court Probation.

View Article » Bellingham_Whatcom_Audit_Report.pdf

Domestic Violence and Probation

Fernando Mederos for BWJP

This article offers specialized management techniques that probation officers can use to monitor batterers and intervene in domestic violence cases more effectively. The author offers suggestions on how to manage offenders on probation, respond to common excuses, and handle those offenders least likely to be held accountable.

View Article » Domestic_Violence_and_Probation.pdf

Enhanced Penalties for Domestic Violence

State Statute Chart

Eve Zamora

The following is an alphabetical listing of all states that have enacted statutes enhancing penalties for domestic violence crimes. The term "enhanced penalties" as used in this document encompasses sentencing, charging, fines, protection order violations, repeat offenders and mandatory treatment. An updated 2009 version will be available soon.

View Article » Enhanced_Penalties_2005.pdf

Safety and Accountability Audit of Probation Supervision in Domestic Violence Cases

Carolyn Ham and Stephanie Avalon, edited by Denise Gamache, BWJP

Report of Hennepin County Probation Audit, findings and recommendations. The safety audit was directed toward two questions of interest: 1) Do probation officers have adequate information to enable them to refer domestic violence offenders to an appropriate batterer intervention program?, and 2) How does the communication of probation officers with domestic violence victims contribute to victim safety and offender accountability?

View Article » Safety_Accountability_Audit_Probation_Supervision_in_DV_Cases.pdf

State Legislative Approaches to Bail or Pretrial Release Conditions for Domestic Violence Offenders

Carolyn Ham

This article summarizes and explains various approaches states have taken to increase victim safety through the imposition of release conditions on domestic violence offenders. A chart of state statutes is included.

View Article » State_Approaches_to_ Bail_or_Pretrial_Release_for_DV_Offenders.pdf