Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0490-01-.02 - NATURE OF BATTERERS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS

(1) These rules apply to Certified Programs that provide intervention services to persons who are court ordered to attend such Certified Programs:

(a) as part of their incarceration,

(b) as a condition of their probation or parole,

(c) as an additional requirement of other non-jail sentencing,

(d) as an alternative, in whole or in part, to incarceration, or

(e) as a complement to incarceration or to alternative sentencing options under the Tennessee Code Annotated.

(2) Definitions. For purposes of these rules:

(a) The term "batterer" means an individual who commits acts of domestic abuse against a victim. The terms "domestic abuse" and "victim" are defined in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-3-601 (1998 Supp.).

(b) The term "intervention" means the use of a time-limited, structured, educational group activity that requires batterers to face the consequences of their behavior, accept responsibility for their abusive actions, confront their rationalizations and excuses, and learn and practice alternative, non-violent behaviors.

(c) The capitalized phrase "Certified Program" means any individual, group, agency, or organization that provides batterers intervention services and is certified under these rules as a "certified batterers intervention program."

(d) The capitalized phrase "Victim Advocate" means an employee or volunteer of a victim services agency who works under the supervision of such an agency and has had training and experience working with victims of domestic abuse.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0490-01-.02

Original rule filed September 30, 1999; effective December 9, 1999.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 38-12-110 and 36-3-601.