Protecting Victims Through Community Supervision of 
Intimate Partner Domestic Violence Offenders

Intimate partner domestic violence offenders are being arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced in greater numbers than ever before. However, not enough attention has yet been focused on the supervision of these offenders when they are released in the community on probation or parole. Attention to appropriate sentencing, effective judicial oversight, and vigorous supervision of offenders is a vital part of a comprehensive approach to protecting victims and holding intimate partner domestic violence offenders accountable. 

The Office on Violence Against Women of the U. S. Department of Justice awarded funding to the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) for a project that will: 

• compiled information on sentencing and community supervision practices for domestic violence cases,

• convened a Working Group to assist with the development of guidelines for community supervision of intimate partner domestic violence offenders,

• developed a training and technical assistance curriculum based on these practice principles and guidelines,

• recruited jurisdictional teams willing to implement the guidelines, and

• provided the jurisdictional teams with training and technical assistance to enhance their supervision of intimate partner domestic violence offenders.

APPA forged a partnership with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV) to conduct this project. The project collected information on court and community corrections practices in sentencing and supervising domestic violence offenders. A Working Group has been convened to assist the project with developing practice principles and guidelines for effective sentencing decisions, judicial oversight, and supervision of domestic violence offenders released in the community.

For further information on the project, visit our expanded web pages :

Project Contact:

Carrie Abner
Research Associate
American Probation and Parole Association
PO Box 11910
Lexington, KY 40578-1910
Phone (859) 244-8031
Fax (859) 244-8001