Section 244-RICR-00-00-1.2 - DefinitionsA. "Appeal" means a request by a program for reconsideration of a decision made by the Oversight Committee with respect to its certification as a batterer's intervention program.B. "BIPSOC" means the Batterers Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee.C. "Comprehensive certification" means the process by which batterer's intervention programs are certified by the Batterers Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee as being in compliance with each of the Batterers Intervention Program Comprehensive Standards for programs that provide services to court mandated domestic violence offenders. Certification is based upon representations by the program, with review of documentation and verification of a sample of selected standards by representatives of the Oversight Committee. Comprehensive certification status is awarded for two (2) years, and is subject to review for renewal at two (2) year intervals, or other time period specified by the Oversight Committee [see Renewed Comprehensive Certification, § 1.5 of this Part].D. Courtesy certification of programs in other jurisdictions can be requested for programs that are certified in another jurisdiction, and/or that meet the statutory minimum standards as outlined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-5.2(a)(1) through (3). Such reciprocity is applicable only for individuals who have been adjudicated in Rhode Island and who have been authorized to attend a program in another state.E. "Post-enrollment certification applications" means the same as in R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-5.2(b), those applications made to the Committee by a batterer mandated to attend a certified batterers intervention program in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-5 who has, prior to adjudication, enrolled in a program not certified by the Committee.F. "Provisional status" means a time limited status granted to an agency that is not currently certified as a batterers program in the state of Rhode Island. The primary purpose is to enable an agency that has demonstrated certain qualifications to become eligible for court mandated referrals so the process of achieving comprehensive certification can be completed.G. "Renewed comprehensive certification" means the process by which comprehensively certified batterers intervention programs in Rhode Island seek to renew their certification status. This is based upon a cooperative process between the program and the Batterers Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee to affirm the program as being in compliance with each of the Batterers Intervention Program Comprehensive Standards for programs that provide services to court mandated domestic violence offenders. Renewed comprehensive certification is based upon representations by the program, with review of documentation and verification of a sample of selected standards by representatives of the Oversight Committee, including on-site observations of batterer's intervention groups. Comprehensive certification status needs to be renewed at two (2) year intervals, or other time period as specified by the Committee.H. "Variance" means an accepted deviation from established standards for program content and/or format granted by the Oversight Committee in response to a specific request by a batterer's intervention program to create alternative standards within a specific context. A batterer's intervention program must request a variance in writing and receive approval prior to implementing any program feature that would not otherwise be consistent with the established Comprehensive Standards.244 R.I. Code R. 244-RICR-00-00-1.2
Adopted effective 1/17/2019