Community Corrections for Professionals

Celebrate Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week

CC Pro — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:28:00 GMT

"Making Your Mark on the Community" is the theme for 2008 and a challenge to community corrections professionals to forge stronger bonds with their communities. The engagement of neighborhood and civic organizations provides community corrections professionals with an opportunity to educate the public on the goals and functions of community supervision. Additionally, establishing relationships with community organizations can provide community corrections personnel with valuable information to help safeguard communities, and offer support and structure to offenders re-integrating into society. For a resource kit and ideas on how to increase positive interactions with your community, click here.

American Probation and Parole Association Annual Training Institute

CC Pro — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:21:00 GMT

The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), a leading educational resource for community corrections professionals, will hold its 33rd Annual Training Institute in Las Vegas, August 3-6, 2008. Over 70 educational sessions ranging from evidence-based practices, managing high-risk offenders, and officer field safety will be offered. Attendees will have an opportunity to network with their peers, obtain Continuing Education Credits (CEC), discover the latest technological innovations in community supervision, and enjoy all the amenities that Las Vegas has to offer. For further information and registration, click here.

Evidence-Based Practices Tool Kit for Community Corrections

CC Pro — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:39:00 GMT

The term "evidence-based" is used widely in describing effective interventions in fields ranging from medicine to corrections. But what is the definition of and the guiding principles that indicate whether individuals and agencies are engaging in proper decision-making for the treatment and supervision of their clients? The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio Institute on Correctional Best Practices, Institute for Excellence in Justice has provided a clear and concise best practices tool kit for community-based corrections professionals that answers these and other questions. This report also highlights the polices and practices of jurisdictions that have adopted an evidence-based model for operations and supervision. Report here.

Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections

CC Pro — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:35:00 GMT

If your community corrections agency is interested in the latest in electronic monitoring, drug and alcohol testing, information technology, and management issues, the 9th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference is the place for you. The Rocky Mountain Regional Center of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center will be spotlighting the newest and developing technological advances for community-based corrections that can assist agencies in reaching their mission goals.

Family Involvement in Community Supervision

CC Pro — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:25:00 GMT

The American Probation and Parole Association and Family Justice, with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, is offering a free audio teleconference/webcast on Engaging Families in Community Supervision Practices: An Evidence-Based Approach to Public Safety. The presenters will provide information on how families and social networks can assist community supervision officers in attaining supervision goals. Space is limited - Click here to register.

More Lessons Learned in Implementing GPS

Eileen Conway — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:52:00 GMT

The Center for Evidence-Based Corrections, at the University of California, Irvine, has just posted the results of the first analysis of implementation and outcomes for GPS monitoring of high risk sex offender parolees in California. In Implementation and Early Outcomes for the San Diego High Risk Sex Offender (HRSO) GPS Pilot Program, the authors report on issues encountered with equipment, data use guidelines, effect on parolee recidivism, etc., useful findings as the pilot is in the process of expanding statewide.

Do You Need an Effective Tool to Monitor Sex Offender Computer Usage?

CC Pro — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:56:00 GMT

With almost 70% of sex offenders under community supervision, an effective way to manage and monitor their computer usage is essential to community corrections professionals. The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) offers, free of charge to community corrections agencies, such a tool. Field Search, while not a forensic software application, is "designed as a fast and user-friendly investigation and management tool for field agents not trained in computer forensics." For further information and system requirements, click here.

How Effective is GPS in Monitoring Sex Offenders?

CC Pro — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:00:00 GMT

A recent report by the New Jersey State Parole Board on Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of sex offenders chronicles their initial experience with this technology. A pilot program to track sex offenders deemed most likely to re-offend, and who were not incarcerated or under civil commitment was initiated in October 2005. The monitored offenders were required to wear a transmitter on their ankle and carry a small cell-phone sized device anytime they left their residence. Of the 225 sex offenders monitored since 2005, only one individual in the program was implicated in a new sexual offense, and thanks to the monitoring device was apprehended at the scene. Twenty-four left the state.

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2006

CC Pro — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:18:00 GMT

The latest statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, on probation and parole populations in the United States at year end 2006 are available here.

Workload Allocation in Probation and Parole

CC Pro — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:09:00 GMT

Probation and parole populations has grown steadily since 1980. The number and types of offenders, along with the growth of special supervision conditions, have strained agency resources and the ability of community corrections professionals to effectively manage their caseloads. How then does an agency devise effective strategies that satisfy the mandates of public safety and treatment? The American Probation and Parole Association has taken an important first step in assisting probation and parole managers in differentiating between caseload size and workload effort. This document urges probation and parole administrators to articulate clearly defined goals, to implement directed strategies to achieve them, and the importance of owning the outcome.

Are You Considering a Global Positioning System for Community Supervision?

CC Pro — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:08:00 GMT

How valuable would it be to know the successes and challenges other agencies faced in using global positioning systems (GPS) before deciding what would work for yours? Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology for Community Supervision: Lessons Learned affords you such an opportunity. Whether the use of this technology is mandated by legislation, to relieve facility overcrowding, a component of intensive supervision, or for victim protection - this document provides valuable insights concerning GPS hardware components, vendor selection, geographic and environmental factors, and alternative supervision program tools/treatments that will keep agencies from having to "re-invent the wheel."

Washington State Expands Monitoring of High Risk Sex Offenders

CC Pro — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:58:00 GMT

The Washington State Department of Corrections has been tasked by the Governor to craft a plan with local law enforcement agencies to increase the usage of electronic global positioning systems (GPS) to monitor highest risk sex offenders. The Community Corrections Division will have the responsibility of installing the equipment and selecting and managing the offenders to be monitored. This inter-agency initiative is being financed from the state's emergency fund.

2007 Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference

CC Pro — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:20:00 GMT

Selected presentations from the 8th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference held June 3-6, 2007 in St. Louis, MO are available here.

Dealing With Sex Offender Reentry

CC Pro — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Sex offender reentry presents unique challenges in terms of supervision, treatment, public safety and perception. The Center for Sex Offender Management provides a brief that will assist both institutional and community-based agencies in developing collaborative strategies that promote the "successful transition of sex offenders from prison to the community while ensuring victim and community safety."

A Site for Electronic Monitoring Resources

CC Pro — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:41:00 GMT

The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (Rocky Mountain Region) has introduced the Electronic Monitoring Resource Center. This site is designed for provide "law enforcement and correctional agencies with assistance in the development and maintenance of electronic monitoring programs." A prominent feature of this site is the ability of members to directly communicate with each other and discuss relevant concerns. Members will also have access to the latest information regarding legislation, legal issues, and on-line assistance for technical and programmatic issues. In order to maintain a secure environment for the exchange of information and ideas, membership is strictly limited to law enforcement and corrections professionals.