(DV) Court

History and Background

The Fourth Judicial District Domestic Violence (DV) Court began in August of 2012. The court was created to increase accountability, support and monitoring of felony and misdemeanor domestic violence offenders who have been unsuccessful during traditional supervised probation programs, or are repeat offenders with multiple domestic violence cases. Utilizing many components of the Problem Solving Court model, DV Court is an alternative to incarceration. The DV Court focuses on creating opportunities for personal insight, behavioral change and non-violent living while encouraging victim input and participation in the court process and increasing victim safety. Through a system of individualized incentives and consequences, offenders are supported as they progress toward their goals while being held accountable for their conduct along the way.

The DV Court currently receives no funding. The DV Court Team consists of the judge, program Coordinator, a probation officer, a DV treatment provider, a substance abuse treatment provider, a prosecutor, a public defender, a confidential victim advocate, a CASA representative and a law enforcement officer. Other members attend on a case by case basis (e.g. Department of Human Service caseworker, private defense attorney, civil attorney, mental health professional, etc.) All participants have committed to participating on the team without additional compensation.

Mission and End Goal of the Domestic Violence (DV) Court

The mission of the 4th Judicial Domestic Violence Court Program is to prevent future Acts of intimate partner abuse and reduce the impact on children and families by high risk domestic violence offenders involved in the criminal justice system through a coordinated, multidisciplinary team approach.

This Mission is accomplished through a coordinated, multidisciplinary team approach with monitoring and responses to ensure offender accountability and that victims receive necessary services, advocacy, and safety. The program encourages the offender to have a personal commitment to change and demands honesty and accountability through domestic violence treatment competencies. The program aims to increase offender stability, promote healthier intimate relationships, reduce recidivism, and enhance ongoing victim safety all by addressing underlying issues and removing barriers by providing resources to the offender.

The primary goals of the DV Court Program are:

1. Provide domestic violence offenders with treatment to identify patterns of power, coercion, and control and assist in breaking those patterns of thinking and behavior along with creating new healthy coping mechanisms.
2. Enhance the safety and confidentiality of victims and reduce the negative impact of domestic violence on the victim, children, and families, by listening to them.
3. Provide domestic violence offenders with additional treatment for support in other areas of life to promote success. 

Benefits to the Public

Successful completion of the DV Court program benefits not only the offender, but improves the quality of life for the victim and any children in the home of the offender, (many couples remain in an intimate relationship or continue contact regarding the children.) Successful completion of the DV Court program has the potential to break the multi-generational cycle of domestic violence.
 

Program eligibility Considerations

Target population:

DV Court participants will include offenders convicted of felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crimes, who are currently sentenced to supervised probation. DV Court will also include repeat domestic violence offenders whose cases include a negotiated disposition to include DV Court, and defendants with an individual DV case requiring greater intensity of supervision and accountability.

Eligibility considerations include the following:

• Criminal History/Charges/Convictions indicate substantial history Domestic Violence (DV) and power/control dynamics
• New charge(s) must be DV related; may include other probation revocation case(s).Probation revocation case(s) only (no new charges involved) must be DV related.
• Defendant’s Criminogenic risk and DV risk/lethality is assessed as high risk/high need
• Defendant is probation eligible: Has not and/or would not likely be successful on standard probation
• Defendant’s willingness to voluntarily participate in the DV Court Program and treatment requirements, and is amenable to change
• Victim informed per Colorado’s Victim Rights Amendment

Exclusion considerations include the following:

• Criminal History/Charges/Convictions, Probable Cause Affidavit’s and/or other factual information do not indicate substantial history of DV and power/control dynamics: Rather indicate history such as: general violence, primarily a mental health/substance abuse driven incident(s) and problem, isolated incident and/or low level offenses, there is a question of who holds the power and control in the relationship
• Treatment needs beyond the scope of the program (ex: severe mental health needs), or other needs cannot be reasonably accommodated
• Homicide
• Sex offense(s) conviction that requires registration and offender specific treatment

 
Risk/Need Screening, Assessment, and Evaluation Tools:

• Inventory of Risks, Needs, and Strengths Assessments (IORNS)
• Domestic Violence Risk Needs Assessment (DVRNA)
• HB 1873 Assessments (LSI, ASUS, SSI)
• Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI)
• Screen/Interview process 

Referral Process – how participants get into the program:

Potential participants are referred for screening by probation officers, public defenders, prosecutors, private defense counsel or judges. Referring court divisions send defendants to Domestic Violence (DV) Court for observation and screening, after plea has been entered. Potential participants observe a DV Court session; requirements of the program are explained by the judge and any questions are answered. The defendant’s case will be screened by the DV Court team which will include victim in-put, review of Defendant’s criminal and probation history, and review of the Probable Cause Affidavit. Screening will determine the defendant’s risk/needs and program eligibility status. Defendant’s will also meet with the DV Court Coordinator for the screening/interview portion, at which time the requirements and expectations of the DV Court program will be discussed and a copy of the contract will be provided.

If DV Court finds the defendant acceptable, the referring division will be notified. Sentencing will occur by the DV Court Judge and the defendant will begin the program.