Batterers are much less likely to return to abusing their partners if they complete an intervention program required by the courts, according to the California State Auditor, but many of them do not finish the courses.
The courts, probation officers and those running the intervention programs routinely let batterers slide when they fail to appear for the classes, Acting California State Auditor Michael Tilden wrote in a letter submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.
Tilden strongly recommended that the three appoint a statewide oversight agency, saying such a group could track domestic violence data, establish program standards, oversee providers, and more adequately supervise offenders.
