The proposed bill enacts R.S. 13:842.5 to establish a two-year pilot program known as the Domestic Violence Intervention Court (DVIC) within the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. This initiative aims to address the significant public safety and health issue of domestic violence by creating a post-adjudication specialty court for defendants convicted of domestic abuse-related offenses. The DVIC will focus on reducing recidivism through evidence-based interventions that combine judicial supervision with treatment and victim safety planning. Participation in the program is voluntary and will be ordered as a special condition of probation, with eligibility determined by the presiding judge.

The DVIC will provide various services, including batterer intervention programming, clinical assessments, and support for victims, ensuring that victim safety is prioritized throughout the process. A coordinated team, including judges, attorneys, probation officers, and victim advocates, will oversee the program. Data collection on recidivism rates, program completion, and victim safety will be conducted, with evaluations submitted to the legislature and the Louisiana Supreme Court at the end of the pilot period. The program is set to operate for two years, with the possibility of extension by the legislature.