1. (a) An approved program must develop and implement written policies and procedures in accordance with the provisions of this chapter that

   1. (1) express a primary commitment to the safety of domestic violence victims, including children;
   2. (2) recognize that the goal of intervention is to stop domestic violence;
   3. (3) express an intent to operate a program that holds perpetrators of domestic violence solely responsible for their behavior regardless of the presence of psychological problems, interpersonal skills deficits, or substance abuse;
   4. (4) recognize that participation in a program cannot guarantee violence-free behavior;
   5. (5) recognize that a perpetrator of domestic violence is a violent offender who requires a specialized form of intervention;
   6. (6) recognize that the program is part of a larger criminal justice system comprised of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocates, correctional agencies, and judges who work together to hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their violence and to prevent further domestic violence;
   7. (7) recognize that it is inappropriate and dangerous for a victim and the perpetrator of domestic violence against the victim to participate in counseling in which both the victim and perpetrator are present;
   8. (8) identify program participants who have not been the principal physical aggressor in instances of domestic violence and provide separate program services for those participants;

   9. (9) provide for the dissemination of

      1. (A) new or revised policies and procedures to all staff and volunteers;
      2. (B) a summary of the policies and procedures to local victim advocacy agencies, criminal justice agencies, the department, and the council; and
      3. (C) a complete set of policies and procedures to an agency specified in (B) of this paragraph, upon the written request of the agency;
   10. (10) provide a written description of each service that the program offers;
   11. (11) provide a personnel management system that includes minimum training and qualifications for staff and volunteers as required by 22 AAC 25.060, written job descriptions, and lines of authority within the program;
   12. (12) provide a code of ethics for the conduct of staff and volunteers;
   13. (13) impose a duty to warn potential victims of the threat of violence by a program participant, including guidelines for identifying situations that involve a duty to warn, and make that policy and procedures available for review and input by local victim advocacy agencies;
   14. (14) require program staff to advice program participants of the program's obligation to warn potential victims of threats of violence by program participants; and
   15. (15) establish a process for the prompt notification of law enforcement agencies and the victim of threats of violence by the program participant.

2. (b) In developing and implementing its policies and procedures, and in delivering services, an approved program must

   1. (1) communicate on an ongoing and regular basis with a local victim advocacy agency, if there is one that serves the community, and document the communication;
   2. (2) communicate on an ongoing and regular basis with local criminal justice agencies, and document the communication;
   3. (3) identify the resources within the area serviced by the program that provide the same, or similar, or supplementary services to perpetrators and victims of domestic violence; and
   4. (4) consider the characteristics, concerns, and distribution of the populations to be served, including the population's culture, heritage, traditions, and language.

(Eff. 11/13/98, Register 148)

Authority: AS 44.28.020