Code of Maine Rules
03 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
201 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/GENERAL
Chapter 15 - BATTERER INTERVENTION PROGRAM CERTIFICATION
Section 201-15-4 - BIProgram Model

Universal Citation: 03 ME Code Rules ยง 201-15-4

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

4.1 BIProgram Format

A. BIPrograms must be:
1. held in anin-person group format with no more than 15 participants nor less than 3 participants registered, unless the program is granted a waiver by DOC;

2. educationally oriented;

3. restricted to perpetrators of domestic abuse;

4. comprised of the same gender; and

5. have rolling or open admission (no waiting lists).

B. The group must be co-educated by appropriately trained male and female co-educators, except that a group serving female domestic abuse offenders may be co-educated by two female co-educators. "Co-educated" means that each co-educator contributes substantially equally in the facilitation process. (See section 4.5 for definition of appropriately trained.) At the discretion of the program director, exceptions may be made for individual classes to accommodate special circumstances, including, but not limited to, illness, vacation, weather, etc.

C. There shall be no recording of an in-person class except for quality assurance purposes by educators and/or monitors only. Recordings must not be disseminated. Each BIProgram shall have a protocol in place to ensure that any recording is destroyed within 30 days after the recording is made.

4.2 Inappropriate BIProgram Format

A. The following formats, methods, and treatment modalities must not be used by certified BIPrograms working with domestic abuse offenders:
1. individual counseling;

2. couples or conjoint counseling;

3. anger management;

4. systems therapy;

5. addiction counseling (identifying violence as an addiction);

6. family therapy; or

7. medication management.

B. Unless specifically authorized in these standards, educators must not concurrently provide services to a domestic abuse offender and the offender's victim, current partner or minor children.

4.3 Target Population

A. These standards are specifically designed for adults who abuse their intimate partners, although other domestic abuse offenders may participate in BIPrograms. It is important that appropriate models be implemented for men who abuse their female partners, for women who use violence against their male partners, and for same sex or trans gender abusers.

4.4 Length of the BIProgram

A. BIPrograms must be a minimum of 48 classes over a minimum of 48 weeks in duration.

B. Each weekly session must be at least 90 minutes long, with check-in consuming no more than 30 minutes.

C. Each participant's attendance must occur at a rate of one class per week counted towards the 48 class requirement.

D. The BIProgram intake must not be considered one of the 48 weeks.

E. Domestic abuse offenders who have completed a minimum 48 week BIProgram should be given the opportunity of voluntarily continuing their participation or returning to the BIProgram at a later date.

4.5 BIProgram Staff Selection, Supervision, and Training

A.
1. Staff must have had no convictions or protective court orders or court-approved consent agreements for offenses involving violence during the last ten years.

2. Staff must not have had any criminal conviction within the last ten years, unless granted a waiver to work for the BIProgram from the DOC.

3. Staff shall not be on administrative release, probation, parole, supervised release for sex offenders, or other supervision post- conviction, or deferred disposition for any state or federal criminal offense.

4. The BIProgram shall develop and maintain hiring criteria.

B. All BIProgram staff having direct contact with domestic abuse offenders must:
1. receive training in a curriculum used by the BIProgram that is based upon, and adheres to, models developed by acceptable nationally recognized programs or similar training in a curriculum determined to be sufficient by the DOC and that is consistent with these standards;

2. provide certification of completion of this training prior to or within 6 months of being hired to co-educate groups;

3. be provided with on the job training with an experienced supervisor, to include a minimum of observation of six sessions of group, followed by co-educating an additional six sessions of group with a trained experienced educator prior to assuming responsibility for a group; and

4. attend a minimum of 6.25 hours per year continuing education on topics agreed upon by MCEDV, WWC, and the Maine Association of Batterer Intervention Programs (MABIPS). It will be the responsibility of the primary supervisor of the BIProgram to maintain training records.

C. Any individual identified as the Program Director or a "primary supervisor" must have at least two years documented experience in the following areas:
1. direct work with victims;

2. direct work with domestic violence perpetrators;

3. group work; and

4. supervision of employees.

4.6 BIProgram Curriculum

A. The BIPrograms must include at a minimum in their curriculum that:
1. stress, a life crisis, and chemical dependency are not causes of domestic abuse, but ongoing substance abuse increases the risk of re-offense;

2. domestic abuse is a choice a domestic abuse offender makes to use power and control over an intimate partner;

3. domestic abuse offenders are solely and exclusively responsible for their controlling and abusive behavior;

4. the effect of abuse on victims, including children who witness abuse, is harmful; and

5. abuse is never justified.

4.7 BIProgram Fee Structure

A. Except for federal, state, or charitable organization funding (which must not include insurance), a domestic abuse offender is solely responsible for paying for participation in a BIProgram.

B. A domestic abuse offender must be charged at least a nominal fee. Programs may charge on a sliding fee scale.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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