The letters “CBIP” stand for “Certified Batterer’s Intervention Program.” I receive this question (What is a CBIP in Maine?) from clients who are facing domestic violence charges in Maine. Local organizations get “certified” by the State of Maine to offer a Certified Batterer’s Intervention Program.
The State of Maine recognizes that domestic abuse in the home has seriously negative effects on the victims, as well as on any children living in that household. Therefore, it is in the State’s interest to reduce the incidence of domestic abuse and domestic violence. The answer to the question (What is a CBIP in Maine?) is that a CBIP attempts to change the defendant’s behavior in order to prevent the domestic violence defendant from re-offending. In this way, just like the DEEP course is intended to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses, the CBIP attempts to reduce the likelihood that a domestic violence defendant will re-offend.
CBIP in a Sentence in Domestic Violence Cases
When you are convicted of domestic violence in Maine, the penalties can include fines and possibly jail time. Your criminal defense lawyer can argue for a plea bargain that includes a CBIP program. In many instances, the District Attorney will agree to a plea bargain that includes completing a CBIP course within a certain time frame.
If you are successful in completing the required CBIP on time, and you stay out of trouble, then you would get the benefit of the plea bargain. A common benefit is that the domestic violence charge gets dismissed. On the other hand, if you do not complete your CBIP on time, then you would not get the benefit of the plea bargain. In other words, if you do not take your CBIP, then you might end up getting convicted of the domestic violence charge.
CBIP Courses Required Along With Other Treatments
If you are required to take a CBIP course, and depending on the unique facts of the domestic violence case, you could also be required to take part in various related evaluation and/or treatment programs, including:
- Substance Abuse Evaluation
- Substance Abuse Treatment/ Counseling
- Anger Management Evaluation
- Anger Management Treatment/ Counseling
Where can I find a CBIP?
In Maine, there are several local organizations that have been “certified” by the State to offer batterer intervention courses. Here is a short list of organizations in Cumberland County, Maine and York County, Maine:
- Violence No More
- A Different Choice
- Choices
- Opportunity for Change
Usually, people choose take a CBIP program that is located closest to home.
How do I sign up for a CBIP?
You can sign up for a CBIP program by registering with the individual organization offering the CBIP program. For a complete list, please refer to the resource list provided by the State of Maine. For example, to sign up for a CBIP at Violence No More, you would contact the Violence No More program directly.
Our committed legal team is determined to take immediate action to seek a positive outcome for your unique case. If you or someone you know is charged with domestic violence in Maine, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free legal consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney. We will take the time to answer your questions and to put your mind at ease as we work with you to determine a defense strategy.
It is well worth your time to check out:
If you would like to call us now at (207) 571-8555, we can begin to develop your case strategy.
If you enjoyed the answer to the question (What is a CBIP in Maine?), you may also want to read:
Share your perspective