Domestic Violence Assessment and Supervision Unit
Also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends, or cohabitation. Besides batteries and assaults, crimes of domestic violence include stalking, orviolation of a protection order, and crimes against one’s children.
What it is?
The Advocate Program’s Domestic Violence Assessment and Supervision Unit began in 1992, and is responsible for assessing (when ordered) and supervising all criminal (diversion and probation) and civil cases referred by the 11th Judicial Circuit’s Domestic Violence Court.
How it works
When a domestic violence case is referred to the Unit, it is reviewed periodically by a Supervision Specialist while the client participates in the program. The Specialists will notify clients when they are not in compliance with any of their court-ordered conditions. If and when a client fails to comply with the conditions, their Supervision Specialist will inform the referring court accordingly, based on their type of case.
The Goal
To assess and supervise clients and make appropriate treatment referrals and recommendations so they may benefit from those interventions and live a violence-free life with their partners and families.
Criminal case supervision
In criminal court cases, the Unit employs a Court Coordinator whose primary responsibility is to report the status of all cases on the Judicial Review Calendar (JRC). The Coordinator notifies all domestic violence treatment providers of their respective cases on calendar for the JRC, prepares all necessary documents, and in the presence of the defendant, the state attorneys and public defense cousel, will communicate with the Judge regarding those cases.
Learn More about Domestic ViolenceCivil case supervision
Unlike criminal cases, civil cases are not placed on the JRC. Civil cases are only placed on the JRC if the respondent in the case is no longer in compliance and the Supervision Specialist has returned the case to the court and placed on the Civil Contempt calendar. In this instance, the Coordinator’s function is to notify the court that respondent is no longer in compliance with the terms of the order.
Batterer Intervention Programs (BIPs)
BIPs are psycho-educational groups designed for those who are court-ordered to receive domestic violence treatment or those who choose to receive treatment on a voluntary basis. Programs are located throughout Miami-Dade and are monitored annually by the Advocate Program, under a contract with the Court.
