Section 0490-01-.04 - ACCOUNTABILITY(1) Program accountability.(a) Certified Programs are responsible for providing the criminal justice system with information related to a batterer's noncompliance with the Certified Program's contract, group rules, and other requirements so that the criminal justice system can impose any appropriate sanctions.(b) Certified Programs shall invite a cooperative working relationship with local battered women's programs and Victim Advocates.(c) Certified Programs shall establish procedures for consultations with the criminal justice system and other appropriate entities, including local battered women's shelters, for information sharing, mutual problem solving, victim safety, informing the criminal justice system, and making programmatic changes.(d) Certified Programs shall establish clear and expeditious lines of communication with the justice system.(e) Certified Programs shall participate in community-based efforts to stop violence against women and other domestic abuse victims and to hold batterers accountable.(f) Certified Programs shall compile adequate documentation that shall ensure continuity of interventions with batterers.1. Such documentation also may be used to establish a database for research purposes, provided that the maintenance of the data and the research based on the data are carried out in a manner that insures victim safety.(g) Certified Programs shall include in their programming efforts that are aimed at preventing domestic abuse. Such efforts should include the following:1. The development of materials and programs aimed at increasing community awareness of domestic violence and of available resources; and2. Community efforts to reinforce the community's understanding of the need for and the support of batterer accountability.(2) Batterer accountability.(a) Certified Programs shall be designed with the goal that batterers who complete the Certified Program shall:1. Stop abusive behavior.2. Hold themselves accountable for abusive behaviors.3. Recognize that domestic violence and other forms of coercive behavior are wrong.4. Recognize that they are solely responsible for their violence.5. Understand that abusive behavior has negative effects and consequences.6. Stop denying or minimizing their abusive behaviors.7. Stop any victim blaming.(b) As critical components of batterer accountability, Certified Programs shall require batterers to do the following:1. Sign a contractual agreement with the Certified Program.2. Pay a fee for intervention services, except as follows:(i) If a batterer is determined by the court to be indigent, the batterer may be required to make some form of restitution to the community in lieu of a fee; and(ii) If the Certified Program is a jail based program, the Certified Program may waive the fee or not assess a fee.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0490-01-.04
Original rule filed September 30, 1999; effective December 9, 1999.Authority: T.C.A. § 38-12-110.