Report 2021-113 Recommendation 30 Responses

Report 2021-113: Batterer Intervention Programs: State Guidance and Oversight Are Needed to Effectively Reduce Domestic Violence (Release Date: October 2022)

Recommendation #30 To: San Joaquin County Probation Department

To ensure that offenders are held accountable for complying with the conditions of their probation, San Joaquin Probation should, by April 2023, formalize and implement comprehensive policies and procedures for domestic violence case management that clearly describe the department's expectations for probation staff's compliance with state law.

1-Year Agency Response

We will not be adding Lexipol Policy for our Domestic Violence program. We did, however, revise our Standards for Client Programs and Certification Officer Procedure and Manual. We have a Lexipol policy that directs staff on the supervision of Probation clients; it is not specific to Domestic Violence alone. The supervision policies may not target domestic violence specifically, but they do model much of the domestic violence supervision strategy with assessments and risk needs. The officer procedure manual and guide was updated and adopted in 2023. Our Domestic Violence officer procedure manual is more detailed for particular guidance on how to work with DV clients. Also of note, our department has specific DV units that deal with our DV clients, and they are given and directed to use the procedure guide. It starts with an introduction to the California State Legislature, an overview of the PC, and an overview of how we will accomplish the California Mandate. It then goes into Program Format and who we will refer to. We added a section on Group Ratios and how that should be laid out for the program. Next, we cover Attendance Requirements. Since in the past officers were using the absence forgiveness too liberally, we have outlined that programs may allow only three absences during a 52-week session, and the fourth absence will automatically result in termination from the program. An absence cannot be excused except by order of the court. We cover Leave of Absence and how that functions. We cover Program content and what should be in a DV program per PC. We cover Program/staff requirements, staff education, and qualifications. It covers Administrative operations as well as program record retention. We outline the program fee policy and sliding scale pay. We cover referrals, enrollment, enrollment reports, progress, completion, termination, and readmission. Last, we cover the Probation Department's program certification procedures.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

San Joaquin Probation did not provide documentation for us to assess the sufficiency of the procedures it claims to follow and whether its expectations of its probation staff comply with state law.

6-Month Agency Response

The department is continuing to update its policies and procedures for domestice violence case management that clearly describe the department's expectations for probation staff's compliance with state law.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The San Joaquin County Probation Department has policies and procedures that are comprehensive and are currently being updated to clearly describe the department's expectation for probation staff. Accountability is currently being met through staff meetings, DV providers meetings, case audits of clients and training with staff.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing San Joaquin Probation's updated policies and procedures for domestic violence case management and its staff's compliance with state law during future responses.

All Recommendations in 2021-113

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.