Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 244 - Batterer's Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee
Here’s a detailed summary of Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 244 – Batterer’s Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee (BIPSOC) 🌐:
1. 🌟 Overview & Authority
Title 244 establishes the Batterers Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee (BIPSOC) under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 12‑29‑5 et seq.) (rules.sos.ri.gov).
BIPSOC is tasked with developing, certifying, and monitoring batterer intervention programs that serve court‑mandated domestic violence offenders, and adjudicating appeals, complaints, and variance requests (rules.sos.ri.gov).
2. 🎯 Purpose & Scope (Part 2 – Comprehensive Standards)
Section 244‑RICR-00‑00-2.2 clarifies that the standards guide program design, ensure offender accountability, promote non‑abusive behavior, and prioritize victim safety (law.cornell.edu).
3. 📌 Definitions (Part 1, § 1.2)
“Comprehensive certification”: Full compliance with standards; valid for two-year intervals (law.cornell.edu).
“Provisional status”: Temporary accreditation given to agencies working toward full compliance (law.cornell.edu).
“Variance”: Authorized deviation from standards, subject to review and reporting (regulations.justia.com).
4. 📋 Rules of Practice & Procedure (Part 1 – Rules)
Adopted under the Administrative Procedures Act (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42‑35) to regulate BIPSOC operations (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
1.2 Statutory duties include setting minimum program standards (e.g., ≥ 40 contact hours over 20 weeks), monitoring compliance, certification, and handling appeals and variances (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
5. ✅ Certification Standards & Operations (Part 2 – §§ 2.4+)
Programs must:
Adopt written policies reflecting key standards, victim safety, and offender accountability
Maintain participant records and permit compliance monitoring (regulations.justia.com).
Client records: Securely kept for at least 3 years; must include progress reports, discharge summaries, and incident reports (regulations.justia.com).
Victim/community responsibilities: Programs must:
Report threats to police/victims
Avoid contacting victims unless initiated
Maintain service segregation if serving both offender and victim populations (regulations.justia.com).
Confidentiality: Transparent limits on confidentiality; client info may be released for monitoring or safety reasons (regulations.justia.com).
Complaint procedure: Written policies, recordkeeping for 3+ years, and informing complainants of BIPSOC appeal options (regulations.justia.com).
Non-discrimination: Programs must prohibit discrimination (e.g., race, gender, orientation) (regulations.justia.com).
6. 🔄 Variances, Appeals & Petitions
Variance process: Requires formal request; approval contingent on monitoring outcomes; follow-up reporting within 6–12 months .
Appeals & Complaints: Programs and individuals can appeal decisions; hearings scheduled promptly and notifications issued within 5 business days (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
Petitioning for rule changes: Any person can petition BIPSOC to amend rules or standards; under APA timelines, BIPSOC must respond within 30 days (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
7. 🧩 Oversight & Governance
BIPSOC consists of 13 members, including designees from the Department of Corrections, Attorney General, law enforcement, judiciary, service providers, and public representatives (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
Includes subcommittees:
Review Subcommittee: Evaluates certification and complaints; members avoid conflict of interest (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
Rules & Standards Subcommittee: Updates standards and procedures (risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com).
✅ Quick Snapshot Table
| Topic | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Authority | Statutory mandate under R.I. Gen. Laws § 12‑29 |
| Certification | ≥ 40 contact hrs/20 weeks; renew every 2 years |
| Oversight | Onsite reviews; record maintenance; safety protocols |
| Confidentiality | Limited—reporting allowed for safety/compliance |
| Complaint/Appeal | Written process; formal hearings; variance mechanisms |
| Structures | 13-member Committee + Review & Rules subcommittees |
🔍 Need Specific Info?
Let me know if you'd like:
Full text of Sections 2.6 (client enrollment) or 1.2 (definitions)
A copy of the Rules of Practice & Procedure PDF
Details on hearing timelines or subcommittee membership
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