Report 2021-113 Recommendation 18 Responses
Report 2021-113: Batterer Intervention Programs: State Guidance and Oversight Are Needed to Effectively Reduce Domestic Violence (Release Date: October 2022)
Recommendation #18 To: Contra Costa County Probation Department
To ensure program compliance with state law, Contra Costa Probation should, by April 2023, formalize comprehensive program standards for program providers that present clear guidance on the department's expectations and the documentation it will review to verify compliance with state law. The probation department should distribute these standards to program providers during their initial application and approval process and again annually during the renewal process.
1-Year Agency Response
The Committee submitted a proposed procedure outlining the duties and responsibilities of the BIP Certification Officer 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. This procedure was approved as of 9/29/2023 and is currently in effect.
- 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 this recommendation. In our review of its certification process, which includes the elements of program standards, we found that Contra Costa Probation did not specify the documentation that it will review to verify a program's compliance with state law. It also did not provide evidence that it provided its certification process or standards to program providers during its initial application and approval process or annually during the renewal process. 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
The Committee submitted a proposed protocol outlining the duties and responsibilities of the BIP Certification Officer on March 6, 2023. This protocol will serve to enhance our current standards and practices to better inform BIP providers of both their legal requirements and our expectations.
- Estimated Completion Date: 10/1/2023
- Response Date: April 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
Contra Costa Probation is working on a protocol that will outline the duties and responsibilities of the BIP Certification Officer. This will include enhancing our current standards and practices to better inform BIP providers of both their legal requirements and our expectations. This protocol is being drafted by The Committee and is on the same timetable for initial draft submission and well as implementation as Recommendation 1.
- 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.