California Domestic Violence (DV) Classes – How It Works

A Batterers’ Intervention Program (“BIP”) is a set of 52 weekly domestic violence classes. Persons convicted of certain domestic violence offenses must complete this program as part of their terms of probation and sentencing.

California domestic violence laws make it a crime to harm, or threaten to harm, an intimate partner.

Two examples in California include:

• Penal Code 243(e)(1) “domestic battery,” and
• Penal Code 273.5, “inflicting corporal injury on an intimate partner.”

Most DV convictions result in probation (regardless of whether the offense was a misdemeanor or a felony). This means most people convicted of DV must take and complete DV classes.

DV classes are a combination of education and counseling and it specifically focuses on:

• The causes of abusive behavior and family violence and intimate partner violence;
• The effects of the use of violence and abusers have on a victim; and,
• Changes that must take place to prevent repeat domestic violence offenses and law enforcement domestic violence intervention.

Offenders in the program meet once a week for two hours. And, they must successfully complete a final evaluation to fully comply with the program’s demands.

A defendant that fails to complete a BIP is technically in violation of his domestic violence probation. As a result, the party may face jail time and/or fines. This is true no matter if the offender was on misdemeanor probation or felony probation.

Our California criminal defense attorneys will discuss the following in this article:

• 1. What is the batterers’ intervention program?
• 2. In what cases are domestic violence treatment required?
• 3. What is the curriculum for DV classes?
• 4. What happens if a person drops out of the program?
• 5. Are there other terms of probation?
• Additional resources

A Batterers’ Intervention Program (“BIP”) is 52 weeks of DV classes.

1. What is the batterers’ intervention program?

A domestic violence conviction in California results in a minimum sentence of three years of probation.¹

As a condition of probation, an offender must complete a Batterers’ Intervention Program. Also commonly called DV classes, this is a 52-week class whose members meet once a week for two hours at a counseling center. An offender must complete the court-ordered classes within 18 months of the order granting probation.

The goal of a certified batterer intervention program is to stop domestic violence.² The program focuses on the following:

• The causes of domestic abuse;
• The effects physical abuse has on a victim; and,
• Changes that must take place to prevent repeat DV offenses and promote nonviolence and victim safety.

A BIP is a combination of education, counseling, and anger management classes with mental health professionals to help prevent abusive relationships and foster healthy relationships by stopping violence against women and men.

Members are only allowed a maximum of three absences during the program. And, absences are only authorized if a member can show good cause. The court may require the defendant to show proof of enrollment.

An offender must pay for the program out of his own pocket. The overall cost, though, typically depends on the defendant’s financial status.

2. In what cases are domestic violence treatment required?

For the most part, any DV offense will result in probation (regardless of whether the offense was a misdemeanor or a felony). This means if a person is guilty of DV, he must complete a BIP treatment program. And, he must do so as a condition of probation.

California domestic violence laws make it a crime to harm, or threaten to harm, an intimate partner. Common DV crimes in California include:

• Penal Code 243(e)(1) “domestic battery,” and
• Penal Code 273.5, “inflicting corporal injury on an intimate partner.”

California Family Code 6211 FC provides a more detailed definition of domestic violence. According to this section, DV is abuse committed against any of the following persons:

• A spouse or former spouse;
• A person the defendant lives with or used to live with;
• A person the defendant is dating or did date;
• A person with whom the defendant has had a child with; and/or,
• A person related to the defendant by kinship.³

If the victims of domestic violence are any of the above parties, then California law says that the offender must be placed on probation for a minimum of three years.⁴

And again, a BIP is a condition of every DV probation in California.⁵

A BIP is a combination of psycho-educational education and counseling

3. What is the curriculum for DV classes?

As stated above, domestic violence courses focus on:

• The causes of domestic abuse;
• The effects abuse has on DV victims; and,
• Changes that must take place to prevent repeat offenses.

A batterer program is a combination of education and counseling and it includes:

• Lectures,
• Classes,
• Group discussions, and
• One-on-one counseling sessions.⁶

Under California Penal Code 1203.097 PC, a few of the program’s components are:

• An initial intake where an offender learns of the different types of domestic abuse and the techniques for stopping them;
• Strategies to hold the defendant accountable for the violence in a relationship;
• Programming that looks at the effects of abuse on children;
• Periodic progress reports; and,
• A final evaluation.⁷

Persons in a BIP must attend group sessions free of chemical influence and substance abuse.⁸

Further, attendees must sign a confidentiality agreement that prohibits the disclosure of information learned, or obtained, through participation in the program.⁹

At the end of the program, participants get a certificate of completion.

4. What happens if a person drops out of the program?

A Batterers’ Intervention Program is a condition of domestic violation probation. This means that if an offender fails to complete the program, he is in violation of his probation and may face

• jail time and
• fines.

Please note that there are two types of probation in California – misdemeanor probation and felony probation.

Typically, if a party was convicted of misdemeanor DV, he will be placed on misdemeanor probation. If he was convicted of a felony DV, he will be placed on felony probation.

Regardless of the type of probation, the main benefit of probation is that any jail sentence for the underlying offense (and other penalties) is suspended.

Under California Penal Code 1203.3, the court can revoke, modify, or change its order of suspension of a sentence if a person is guilty of violating probation.¹⁰

This essentially means that upon probation violation, the court may decide to no longer suspend any penalties for the underlying crime. If no suspension, then the offender may be subject to:

• Imprisonment for the offense (if applicable);
• Any related fines; and,
• Possible other penalties.

5. Are there other terms of probation?

Attending DV classes is one condition that an offender must meet in order to comply with domestic violence probation.

Other possible terms and conditions of this probation include:

• A criminal court protective order that protects the victim from further acts of violence, threats, stalking, sexual abuse, and harassment¹¹;
• Notice to the victim regarding how a case is being handled;
• Community service; and,
• A minimum payment by the defendant of $500.

Please also note that offenders will lose their gun rights following DV convictions. And courts have repeatedly ruled that such restrictions do not violate a person’s Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Additional resources

Just some of the California court-approved providers of domestic violence classes are the following (but check with the court clerk beforehand to make sure they still recognize the provider):

• Course for Violence
• Adaptive Skills
• DV Class
• S2SDVonline
• Stop DV Class

Legal References: