Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 244 - Batterer's Intervention Program Standards Oversight Committee

23 Jun 2025 --
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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.)

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

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 ).

3. 📌 Definitions (Part 1, § 1.2)

“Comprehensive certification”: Full compliance with standards; valid for two-year intervals

“Provisional status”: Temporary accreditation given to agencies working toward full compliance

“Variance”: Authorized deviation from standards, subject to review and reporting

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

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

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

Client records: Securely kept for at least 3 years; must include progress reports, discharge summaries, and incident reports

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

Confidentiality: Transparent limits on confidentiality; client info may be released for monitoring or safety reasons

Complaint procedure: Written policies, recordkeeping for 3+ years, and informing complainants of BIPSOC appeal options

Non-discrimination: Programs must prohibit discrimination (e.g., race, gender, orientation)

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

Petitioning for rule changes: Any person can petition BIPSOC to amend rules or standards; under APA timelines, BIPSOC must respond within 30 days )

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

Includes subcommittees:

Review Subcommittee: Evaluates certification and complaints; members avoid conflict of interest

Rules & Standards Subcommittee: Updates standards and procedures

✅ 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