Report 2021-113 Recommendation 19 Responses
Report 2021-113: Batterer Intervention Programs: State Guidance and Oversight Are Needed to Effectively Reduce Domestic Violence (Release Date: October 2022)
Recommendation #19 To: Contra Costa County Probation Department
To ensure that program providers comply with the probation department's standards and state law, Contra Costa Probation should develop and follow formalized policies and procedures for approving, renewing, and conducting comprehensive ongoing monitoring of program providers by April 2023. These policies should specify the frequency of monitoring, the documentation the department will require of program providers to demonstrate compliance, and the specific actions the department will take when a provider is noncompliant.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2024
As reported in our previous response, the Contra Costa County Probation Department developed a Certification Officer procedure that outlines and details the expectations of the Certification Officer, and includes what the officer is to review when conducting an evaluation of a Batterer Intervention Program for certification or recertification. Additionally, the Probation Department's "Batterer's Treatment Provider Site Visit Certification Report" further specifies the required documentation needing review, and includes the authorities guiding these protocols (PC 1203.097 compliance). This same report, as well as the Certification Officer procedure, includes the many sections of PC 1203.097 that guides the officer as to what to evaluate when observing a counseling session. The Probation Department routinely utilizes these documents to assist the Certification Officer in detemining certification or recertification. The supporting documentation has been provided.
- Completion Date: October 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Although Contra Costa Probation has made progress toward implementing this recommendation, it has not demonstrated that it has established comprehensive program standards, which are necessary component of program compliance. Further, Contra Costa Probation's policies for approving, renewing, and monitoring program providers do not include the frequency of monitoring and they are inconsistent with is procedures. For example, the policies cite different expectations related class length and the maximum number of attendees allowed per class than stated in the department's procedures. Until Contra Costa Probation establishes comprehensive program standards, aligns its policies and procedures for approving, renewing, and monitoring program providers to those standards, including its expectations for the frequency of program monitoring, we will continue to evaluate this response as partially implemented.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
A proposed procedure outlining the duties and responsibilities of the BIP Certification Officer was submitted on March 6, 2023. This procedure will serve to enhance our current standards and practices to better inform BIP providers of both their legal requirements and our expectations. The procedure was approved by Probation Administration and is currently in effect. Also as previously reported, Contra Costa Probation restructured the duties and responsibilities of the Certification Officer in December of 2022. This designated person is to focus solely on the implementation of the recommendations.
- Completion Date: October 2023
- Response Date: October 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
Contra Costa Probation has not demonstrated that it fully implemented our recommendation. In our review of its program certification process, we found that the process is not comprehensive in that it does not specify the documentation that it expects department staff review to verify a program's compliance with state law and Contra Costa Probation's program standards or what it should evaluate while observing a counseling session. We look forward to reviewing Contra Costa Probation's progress in implementing this recommendation during its next annual response.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
6-Month Agency Response
As previously reported, Contra Costa Probation restructured the duties and responsibilities of the Certification Officer in December of 2022. This was done so that this designated person can focus solely on the implementation of the recommendations and implementation of the newly proposed DV policy and BIP Certification protocol.
- Estimated Completion Date: 10/1/2023
- Response Date: April 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
In December of 2022, Contra Costa Probation restructured the duties and responsibilities of the Certification Officer. This was done so that this designated person can focus solely on the implementation of the recommendations. The Committee is reviewing our current practice and procedure and will submit their recommended revisions in January of 2023 with a planned implementation timeframe of April 2023 or soon thereafter.
- Estimated Completion Date: 4/1/2023
- Response Date: December 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2021-113
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.