Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP)

While providing safe shelter and support for victims of domestic violence is our focus, URI recognizes that the key to ending domestic violence is prevention. The Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP) aims to reduce recidivism among convicted offenders in New York City and Westchester County, NY.

Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP)
Ending domestic violence requires more than crisis response. It requires prevention, accountability, and change.

At the Urban Resource Institute (URI), we believe survivor safety is strengthened when people who cause harm are held accountable and supported in changing their behavior. URI’s Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP) and Respect + Responsibility (R+R) work together as part of a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach to interrupt cycles of violence and build safer relationships and communities.

What We Do
URI operates two complementary intervention programs for people who have caused harm in intimate partner relationships:

Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP) is a structured, court-mandated and voluntary program for individuals charged with intimate partner violence–related offenses.
Respect + Responsibility (R+R) is a community-based program offering both group sessions and one-on-one support for individuals seeking to take responsibility for harmful behavior and build healthier relationships.

Both programs focus on:

Accountability for abusive behavior
Understanding power, control, and the impact of harm
Emotional regulation and nonviolent conflict resolution
Challenging harmful beliefs and patterns
Developing skills for healthy, respectful relationships

These programs are grounded in a core principle: trauma does not excuse violence, but addressing trauma is often essential to preventing it from happening again.

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Accountability
APIP and R+R are professionally facilitated by trained staff who balance clear expectations with compassion and structure. Participants are required to take responsibility for their actions while learning tools to respond to conflict without harm.

Support may include:

Group-based intervention and discussion
Individual support and referrals
Case management and clinical connections when appropriate
Continued accountability beyond program completion

Who We Serve
Participants in URI’s intervention programs are primarily adults who have caused harm in intimate partner relationships. Many come with complex histories that include exposure to violence, trauma, and instability.

An independent evaluation of URI’s Trauma-Informed APIP found that:

Nearly 90 percent of participants had experienced at least one form of trauma
Many had histories of childhood abuse, community violence, or prior victimization

Understanding this context is essential to designing interventions that support accountability and reduce future harm.

What the Research Shows
A recent independent evaluation by the Urban Institute identified URI’s Trauma-Informed Abusive Partner Intervention Program as a promising practice in domestic violence prevention.

Key findings include:

Participants were less likely to be re-arrested within 12 months compared to a matched group
No participants received a new prison sentence within one year of program completion
Participants demonstrated increased understanding of accountability, empathy, and nonviolent conflict resolution

While continued refinement and investment are needed, the findings suggest that trauma-informed, accountability-centered interventions can play an important role in reducing future harm and improving survivor safety.

Why This Work Matters
APIP and R+R are survivor work. Many survivors cannot safely leave their relationships due to financial barriers, children, housing, or fear. When survivors want the abuse to stop, programs like APIP and R+R help increase safety by addressing the behavior at its source.

Together, these programs are part of URI’s broader strategy to end domestic violence, alongside survivor shelter and housing, legal advocacy, youth prevention, and economic empowerment. This integrated approach reflects URI’s belief that violence can be unlearned and prevention is possible.

Learn More or Get Involved
To learn more about Respect + Responsibility (R+R) or to get involved, email RRinfo@urinyc.org.

Learn more about URI’s intervention programs or read the full evaluation here.

Support URI’s work to end the cycle of violence