Celebrating DOCCR’s Intimate Partner Violence program area

In recognition of the success and growth of the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) supervision program, colleagues and partners gathered on March 26 to celebrate.  

Part of the Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR), the IPV program was created in 2023 in response to a noticeable disparity in domestic abuse cases, where access to court-ordered programming was challenging for some defendants. That led to probation extensions and, sometimes, violations, said Field Services Area Director Julie Rud.  

The critical change, Rud said, was “we moved the treatment as close to the behavior as possible.” By stepping in and breaking down financial and logistical barriers, providing targeted and immediate access to resources and programming, DOCCR was able to help set clients on a meaningful path of rehabilitation and decrease victimization.  

“Hennepin is leading the way,” Rud said. “What we're doing in this program area is being modeled elsewhere.” 

The IPV program is among several probation areas in DOCCR that focus on the unique needs of clients—making individual well-being and community safety a priority through early intervention and holistic prevention strategies.

This specialized focus led to a revised version of the Domestic Violence Screening Instrument, which is an important tool in assessing clients’ needs and risks. The program also relies on partnerships with Human Services, the courts, community service providers, and victim services to reach its goal of improving outcomes for clients, victims and communities, said Division Manager John Ekholm.

But most important to the success of the IPV program has been the staff and probation officers, as Program Manager Brian Hanson said: “None of this is possible without your dedication to the work and your clients.”