Intimate Partner Violence Intervention (IPVI)

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Office implements a program designed to hold perpetrators of intimate partner violence accountable for their actions by emphasizing consequences, aiming to change behavior, and providing support to individuals who have been victimized.

• Agency: Ulster County District Attorney’s Office
   
• Location: Kingston, N.Y.
   
• Department size: Small (< 50 employees)
   
• Practice started: March 2017
   
• Active

The World Health Organization defines intimate partner violence (IPV) as behavior in an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behaviors. It is commonly considered separate from other types of violence due to its personal nature. Intimate partner violence makes up about 15 percent of all violent crime, and more than 50 percent of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners.

After reviewing domestic violence victim data reported by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Ulster County implemented the Intimate Partner Violence Intervention model to reduce the harm to victims and survivors.

Program Description

Ulster County implemented the National Network for Safe Communities’ Intimate Partner Violence Intervention (IPVI) model in 2017. The model aims to address the root of intimate partner violence, emphasizing perpetrator accountability and addressing victim needs through an interagency approach. The main goals are to reduce harm to intimate partners by intervening early in cycles of victimization, and to deter future violence by helping perpetrators recognize their damaging behavior and holding them accountable for their actions.

The model’s accountability structure classifies perpetrators into tiered severity categories, tailors criminal justice responses based on that classification, and matches support services to the needs of victims. This takes the burden of IPV prevention away from the victim to place responsibility on the perpetrators of abuse, and relies on a team of law enforcement professionals, criminal justice agencies, advocates and victim assistance programs to provide resources and support.

There are two key components to Ulster’s implementation of the model: a program manager who works within the Ulster County District Attorney’s office, and the Ulster County IPVI Task Force. The Task Force meets twice a month to review new cases, elevate classifications of perpetrators where needed, discuss accountability and supervision approaches taken, and examine perpetrators whose actions may require more attention. The program manager organizes Task Force meeting agendas, coordinates tasks, and synchronizes information across agencies and various victim and offender service providers. Task Force members include program decision makers from Ulster County police departments; the Crime Victim Assistance Program; the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, and Probation Department in Ulster County; parole; representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), and the National Network for Safe Communities.

Classification Levels

A New York State Domestic Incident Report prompts an individual’s screening for risk of offending. Law enforcement transmits completed reports to the Ulster County IPVI program manager for entry into the program’s Domestic Incident Report Database. Then, police officers from the Task Force classify perpetrators into hierarchical categories. Criminal and domestic violence histories and local IPV data determine categorization. Accountability methods begin once a perpetrator is categorized.

• D-Level consists of the lowest intensity perpetrators. No charges are filed against D-Level perpetrators, but police complete a Domestic Incident Report, and the perpetrator’s information is entered in the database.
   
• C-Level perpetrators are classified at the first non-violent chargeable offense.
   
• B-Level perpetrators have two domestic violence charges or have violated probation as a C-level perpetrator.
   
• A-Level is the highest intensity, reserved for undeterred, serious perpetrators. A-Level perpetrators have been charged with their third domestic violence offense or a violent felony. Law enforcement addresses A-Level perpetrators using the pulling levers approach, which sanctions perpetrators by any legal means possible.

Supervision

Law enforcement communicate accountability approaches to the perpetrator based on their tiered classification, providing candid warnings about enhanced agency attention toward perpetrators, and potential pulling levers. Once classified, a perpetrator can remain at the same level or increase in severity, depending on whether they have incurred additional IPV charges. Perpetrators are not removed from categorization.

• D-Level - receive a letter from a uniformed patrol officer notifying them of close police monitoring within 48 hours of their first Domestic Incident Report, a community moral message against IPV, and a warning of personal legal consequences for further offenses.
   
• C-Level - receive a personalized letter delivered by law enforcement. This letter is similar to the D-Level letter with firmer warning language and explicit indication that their behavior will not be tolerated. Police also hold informal face-to-face discussions with C-level perpetrators explaining the IPVI model and the potential for further legal consequences such as increased bail, reinforced prosecution, and additional probation conditions.
   
• B-Level - receive a formal, in-person custom notification where law enforcement and other Task Force members provide moral and legal messaging against domestic violence and offer service referrals and resources to help to change their behavior.
   
• A-Level - warnings to perpetrators at the A-Level cease. Perpetrators receive pulling lever actions on other related actionable offenses if instances of IPV cannot be charged or if victim safety is in jeopardy. Examples of pulling lever actions include a probation or parole violation. A-Level perpetrators are subject to immediate prosecution without notice.

Victim outreach is a critical part of the IPVI model. The Crime Victim Assistance Program works alongside the IPVI team and follows up with any victim in danger. Local nonprofit domestic violence service providers contact victims promptly within 48 hours of a reported incident to offer aid, crisis intervention, emotional support and counseling; inform victims of their rights; provide referrals to resources and shelters, support groups, safety planning, etc. The response type also varies depending on the perpetrator’s classification level. Victims receive parallel notifications informing them of the status of the perpetrator, associated behavioral intervention(s) for the perpetrator, any law enforcement contact with the perpetrator, and reassurance that intimate partner violence is not the victim’s responsibility to end.

As noted earlier, the program manager maintains a database and logs the names and case history of perpetrators. The database includes classification tiers, summarizes case details, highlights perpetrator behavior patterns, and maintains case tracking between agencies. From 2018 through 2023, Ulster County categorized over 850 IPVI perpetrators.

Funding

A grant from the federal Office on Violence Against Women supports technical training assistance from that office and the National Network for Safe Communities provides technical training assistance in Ulster County jurisdictions outside of Kingston. DCJS provides funds through its Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative to support the National Network for Safe Communities’ technical assistance and training in Kingston. The county provides funding for the project manager, who works within the District Attorney’s Office.

 

Relevant Partnerships

Ulster County collaborates with many partners to implement their IPVI program. Primary affiliations include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, DCJS, Kingston Police Department, Ulster County District Attorney, Ulster County Probation, Ulster County Crime Victim Assistance Program, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Ulster Police Department, New Paltz Police Department, Saugerties Police Department, service providers, and community members.

Supportive Research

The Intimate Partner Violence Initiative is based on a focused deterrence policing strategy, also known as pulling levers, which targets specific criminal behavior committed by a small number of chronic perpetrators. Law enforcement confronts these individuals, informs them that violence will not be tolerated and offers services to change their behavior.

Based on a systematic review of 10 studies, researchers found “Pulling Levers” focused deterrence strategies to be associated with a statistically significant positive effect in crime reduction. A systematic review found overall a medium-sized effect across participating studies, with a statistically significant effect for programs tailored to high-risk individuals.

An evaluation of the Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative in High Point, North Carolina, and replication of the initiative in Lexington, North Carolina, provided an assessment of a similar focused deterrence program model. It found that perpetrator accountability through law enforcement follow-up makes victims more likely to report future acts of intimate partner violence. There was a noted decrease in intimate partner related homicides after program implementation.

Critical Success Factors

• Hire a program manager to oversee the initiative, ensure adherence to the model and coordinate required actions between participating organizations.
   
• Customize the model and perpetrator categorizations based on the needs of each locality. This helps tailor responses to the needs of the community, rather than using a model designed for another community. 
   
• Establish a database for perpetrator classification and history. This makes tracking and sharing information between partner organizations faster, simpler, and more reliable.
   
• Convene task force meetings regularly. These facilitate open discussion and maintain focus on the highest-level perpetrator accountability and victim safety.
   
• Develop partnerships for enhanced collaboration. It is critical to facilitate information sharing among task force members and trust among program partners. This also enables timely responses by law enforcement (police, parole, probation, prosecutors) to hold perpetrators accountable.
   
• Establish a method of communication that is accessible to key team members, such as a shared email address. This helps organize and quickly deliver notifications to all partners for immediate law enforcement response and outreach to victims.
   

Lessons Learned

• Foster difficult conversations among partners to promote collaboration, strengthen relationships and reduce departmental isolation. Open communication leads to a higher likelihood of decreasing intimate partner violence.
   
• Consider internal policies of partner agencies and organizations when assigning roles and expectations. Understanding any potential challenges can streamline processes and maximize strengths.
   
• Recognize that the program grows and develops over time in each community. Gradual growth leads to program success and addressing specific needs.
   
• Understand the additional strain on limited time and resources of the primary victim assistance service provider. Placing too much stress on the provider can quickly hinder productivity and their ability to assist victims.

Print this profile

Published 04/2025