Domestic violence classes by state · Colorado
Court-Ordered Domestic Violence Classes in Colorado
If a Colorado court ordered you into a domestic violence class, the order is for a batterer or domestic-violence intervention program, not a generic anger-management class. Here is how long it runs, whether it can be done online, and how to find one your court will accept.
Based on 4 cited official sources · Reviewed Sep 2026
If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 911. To talk to someone about domestic violence — as a survivor or if you're worried about your own behavior — the National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7: call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.
- ProgramDVOMB-approved treatmentNot anger management
- Typical lengthNot a fixed numberLevel A, B or C is set at intake
- Online?VariesDepends on your court or county
- Who approves itDVOMB
Anger management is not the same thing. Read anger management vs. batterer intervention to make sure you sign up for the right program the first time.
At a glance
| What courts order | DVOMB-approved domestic violence offender treatment (level-based, competency-based — no fixed week count) |
|---|---|
| When it's required | Under C.R.S. 18-6-801, a person convicted of any crime whose underlying factual basis includes domestic violence must be ordered to complete a treatment evaluation and a treatment program that conform to the standards adopted by the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB) under C.R.S. 16-11.8-103(4). Evaluation and treatment may only be provided by providers on the DVOMB Approved Provider List. |
| Typical length | Not a fixed number of weeks. Colorado uses a competency-based, level-based model: an intake evaluation using the Domestic Violence Risk and Needs Assessment (DVRNA) places you at treatment Level A (low intensity), B (moderate), or C (high), and you complete treatment by demonstrating core competencies rather than serving a set week count. In practice treatment commonly runs many months, and a year or longer at higher levels. |
| In person or online? | Varies by court / provider |
| Format & approval | Colorado DV offender treatment is delivered by DVOMB-approved providers, typically in weekly group sessions after a standardized intake evaluation. The DVOMB has issued policy guidance on teletherapy, and some approved providers offer virtual sessions — but whether a virtual format is acceptable for your case is decided by your provider, probation officer, and the court, so confirm before you enroll. The Colorado court that sentenced you or your probation officer decides what counts — confirm the specific certified program and format before you enroll or pay. |
| Who certifies / approves it | The Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB), housed in the Division of Criminal Justice (Colorado Department of Public Safety), adopts the statewide Standards for treatment of court-ordered domestic violence offenders and maintains the official Approved Provider List. Only approved providers may evaluate, treat, or monitor court-ordered DV offenders anywhere in Colorado. |
Colorado-specific rules to know
- CRITICAL DISTINCTION: a generic anger-management class is NOT DVOMB-approved domestic violence offender treatment. Colorado law requires treatment conforming to DVOMB Standards from a provider on the Approved Provider List — an anger-management certificate will not satisfy a domestic-violence sentence.
- The requirement is statutory and statewide: C.R.S. 18-6-801 mandates treatment evaluation and treatment per DVOMB Standards (adopted under C.R.S. 16-11.8-103) for convictions with a domestic-violence factual basis.
- Treatment length is honestly unknowable up front: it is level-based (Levels A, B, C set by the DVRNA intake evaluation) and competency-based — you finish when you demonstrate the required competencies, not after a fixed number of weeks.
- Only providers on the DVOMB Approved Provider List may evaluate or treat court-ordered DV offenders anywhere in Colorado; provisionally approved providers are limited to listed judicial districts. Use the official search at dvombsearch.state.co.us.
- You pay for the evaluation and treatment. Your provider reports progress to a multidisciplinary treatment team including probation, so missed sessions become supervision violations. Confirm provider, level, and format with the court or your probation officer before enrolling and paying.
Find an accepted domestic violence program in Colorado
A certified program is not the same as a class you find on your own, so the safest move is to confirm the specific provider with the Colorado court that sentenced you or your probation officer before you pay:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for certified domestic violence programs in Colorado — then check any provider against your court's order, and confirm it is on the certified/approved list, before enrolling.
Source & accuracy: compiled from official Colorado statutes and certifying-agency sources. Requirements change and vary by court and case — always confirm the certified program, format, length, and deadline with the court that ordered you before enrolling. Sources: dcj.colorado.gov/dcj-offices/odvsom/dvom-board, dvombsearch.state.co.us, dcj.colorado.gov/sites/dcj/files/documents/DVOMB-Standards-July-2025_1.pdf, womenslaw.org/laws/co/statutes/ss-18-6-801-domestic-violence-sentencing.