Change & Accountability: HALT Program

The goals of HALT, VIBS' offenders program are to hold abusers accountable for their actions; to change abusive, violent and controlling behavior; and to monitor compliance with program requirements. Many referrals for the program come from the courts, and many of the groups are structured through a partnership between VIBS and Suffolk County Probation. Some offenders call on their own.

While VIBS believes that offenders CAN choose to be non-abusive, victims of domestic violence are cautioned NOT to have expectations that the violence will go away, or that it won't come back after program completion. Victims of abuse should have good safety plans, and make decisions based on their own needs and their partners' behavior rather than their promises.

There is a sliding scale fee for participation in HALT.