Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program (DVOIP)

Trauma doesn’t just shape a person’s past—it can influence their entire life path. This is particularly true when it comes to individuals who commit domestic violence. According to a study examining Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in male sexual offenders, those individuals had far higher rates of childhood trauma compared to the general population. They were over three times more likely to have experienced child sexual abuse, twice as likely to have suffered physical abuse, thirteen times more likely to have endured verbal abuse, and more than four times as likely to have been emotionally neglected or raised in a broken home. Nearly half of those surveyed reported an ACE score of 4 or more.

Internal reviews at Synergy Services show even more alarming data: male participants in Synergy’s Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program (DVOIP) had an average ACE score of 5.8. These numbers underscore the importance of trauma-informed interventions that focus not only on stopping harmful behaviors but also on addressing the root causes behind them.

A Crisis In Missouri

Missouri ranks third in the United States for the highest rates of intimate partner violence, with 42% of women and 35% of men reporting experiences of physical or sexual violence or stalking by a partner. In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, Missouri reported nearly 37,000 domestic violence incidents, involving over 42,000 victims. In 2020, 32 women in Missouri were fatally shot by intimate partners. In Kansas City, domestic violence led to 22 homicides in 2023.

Each year, around 19,000 offenders are released back into Missouri communities. Understandably, there is concern about the potential for these individuals to reoffend. However, research shows that with the right support and behavioral interventions, many can and do change for the better.

A Proven Path To Change

Since 2015, Synergy Services has been operating its Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program (DVOIP), certified by Missouri Probation and Parole. DVOIP offers education and treatment to individuals who have committed domestic violence offenses, helping them understand the impact of their actions and guiding them toward positive, nonviolent behaviors.

The program has seen significant growth. In Fiscal Year 2023, DVOIP served 448 domestic violence offenders and 21 children—a 71% increase from the 320 individuals served in FY 2021. This growth reflects the program’s expanding role in the community and increasing referrals, including a rise in participants coming through the 16th Circuit Court's Diversion Specialty Court, which works to reduce domestic violence-related homicides. DVOIP is currently working with 42 clients through that system.

How The Program Works

The goal of DVOIP is to break the cycle of violence by helping participants confront and change harmful attitudes and behaviors. This is not a quick or easy process—it requires deep, often painful self-reflection and a strong commitment to change.

Participants work through several key stages:

• Gaining Awareness: Understanding how their actions have harmed others, particularly intimate partners and children.
• Accountability: Taking full responsibility for past and future behavior.
• Commitment to Change: Deciding to pursue a life free of violence and abuse.
• Skill-Building: Learning and practicing non-abusive communication, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution.
• Trauma Recovery: Exploring unresolved trauma that may contribute to emotional dysregulation and abusive patterns.

The program uses both group and individual counseling sessions to support these changes. Services are trauma-informed and rooted in best practices that help offenders rebuild their lives while also keeping their communities safer.

Meeting Local Needs

DVOIP addresses multiple community needs by offering a comprehensive network of services for offenders and their families. These include:

• Group and Individual Therapy: Focused on behavior change, emotional regulation, and healthy relationship skills.
• Assessments and Case Management: Each participant receives a full needs assessment and an individualized treatment plan.
• Victim Services: DVOIP includes support services for victims and children impacted by domestic violence, including case management, individual counseling, and play therapy for young children.

Community Impact & Future Vision

With continued support from Jackson County COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax), DVOIP is strengthening its partnership with the Diversion Specialty Court and broadening its reach to those most at risk. Although services are not delivered at COMBAT "hot spot" locations, many clients come from these high-violence areas. By targeting those individuals before their behavior escalates further, the program works proactively to prevent tragedies.

DVOIP’s vision is simple but powerful: to reduce and ultimately eliminate domestic violence-related homicides by intervening early with offenders and helping them adopt healthier, nonviolent lives.

With an ambitious target of helping 90% of participants successfully complete the program, Synergy Services is committed to measurable outcomes. By empowering individuals to confront their trauma and take ownership of their actions, DVOIP aims to transform lives—and make Missouri communities safer for everyone.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.