This bill establishes new standards for court-ordered counseling programs for domestic violence offenders in New Jersey. It mandates that any counseling program, as ordered by the court, must facilitate offender accountability and include specific components. These components consist of risk assessments that identify the dynamics of domestic violence and escalating risk factors, educational information regarding power and control tactics, a protocol for documenting attendance and reporting noncompliance to the court, and regular compliance reviews by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families for Batterers Intervention Programs.

The bill aims to enhance the effectiveness of domestic violence counseling by ensuring that programs are structured to address the complexities of domestic violence and hold offenders accountable for their actions. It aligns with the recommendations from the June 2023 report of the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice, specifically implementing Recommendation #28. The proposed changes are intended to improve the judicial process and support victims of domestic violence through more rigorous offender rehabilitation efforts.