OFFENDER REENTRY: A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY

Court Support Services Division

Probation Areas of Focus:

Manageable Caseloads

Programs and Treatment

Warrant Service

OFFENDER REENTRY: IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY

Strategies, programs and treatment

that focus on preparing probationers

to lead non-criminal lives in our local

communities.

OFFENDER “REENTRY”

There are approximately 57,000 offenders serving a term of probation.

There are approximately 11,500 split sentence cases currently under probation supervision.

In 2006, 5,400 offenders were placed on probation immediately following a period of incarceration.

REENTRY THROUGH PROBATION SUPERVISION

Research continues to demonstrate

the importance of continuing

supervision and treatment after an

offender leaves prison in reducing

recidivism (Simpson, et. al., 1999).

REENTRY SERVICESEFFECTIVENESS

Source: Central Connecticut State University (2006)

RESEARCH FINDINGS: CT PROBATION TRANSITION PROGRAM

(PTP)

SOURCE: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY 2006

26%

14%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

46% Reduction (PTP)

Technical Violations

PTP Control Group

PTP

Source: Central Connecticut State University (2006)

41%

17%

05

101520253035404550

58% REDUCTION (PTP)

REINCARCERATION RATES

PTP ControlGroup

PTP

RESEARCH FINDINGS:CT PROBATION TRANSITION PROGRAM

(PTP)

SOURCE: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY 2006

MANAGEABLE

CASELOADS

Manageable caseloads when coupled

with quality client engagement and

evidence-based treatment have been

correlated with reductions in recidivism

(Taxman, 2006).

COMMUNITY SUPERVISION

Who the probationer is

What we are asking our officers to do with the probationer

What we hope to accomplish

Manageable caseloads are determined by:

WHAT IS AMANAGEABLE CASELOAD?

Monitoring compliance with supervision conditions

vs.

Monitoring compliance ANDfacilitating behavior change

THE CHANGING FOCUS OF PROBATION SUPERVISION

Assess risk, needs and strengths. Evaluate and enhance motivation to

change. Target interventions. Facilitate pro-social behavior. Assess probationer improvement and

behavior change.

COMPONENTS OF EVIDENCE-BASED SUPERVISION

“It’s not just about condition compliance, but addressing all client needs and issues. It takes much more time and energy.”

“The goal is not only seeing clients, the goal is to change their circumstances that contribute to their criminal behavior.”

CONNECTICUT PROBATION OFFICER

FOCUS GROUP

CASE CLASSIFICATION STANDARD

Intensive 25-35

Sex Offender 45

High 65

Medium 175

Administrative N/A

Warrant 400

Average # cases per officer 104

PRESENT CASELOAD STANDARDS

Caseloads reaching these levels

make it extremely difficult to work

individually with probationers to

change behavior.

CURRENT CASELOAD STANDARDS: THE PROBLEM

Total Supervision Officers = 272

Number Exceeding Standard = 194

Percent Exceeding Standard = 71%

NON-INTENSIVE OFFICERS EXCEEDING CURRENT

CASELOAD STANDARDS

Pre Sentence Investigations Ordered 2006 vs. 2007January-October

171

295

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Month

Nu

mb

er

2006

2007

Cheshire Tragedy

7-23-2007

PROPOSED CASELOAD STANDARDS

Case ClassificationLong-

TermShort-Term

Intensive 25 25

Sex Offender 25 25

High 45 55

Medium 90 110

Administrative N/A N/A

Warrant 200 200

Total Officers Needed 555 496

Total Officer Shortage -158 -99

Average # Cases Per Officer 60 70

Lower recidivism

Reduced violations

Decreased victimization

Reduced incarceration

CASELOAD REDUCTION OUTCOMES

Manageable caseloads when coupled

with quality client engagement and

evidence-based treatment have been

correlated with reductions in recidivism

(Taxman, 2006).

EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION

OFFENDER TREATMENT AND

PROGRAMS

For nearly 20 years sound research on the

effects of correctional treatment programs

have consistently demonstrated positive

effects on reduction of re-offending

(Lipsey, etal, 1998).

TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS

The US Surgeon General, after an

extensive survey of existing research

concluded that well run correctional

interventions and services for violent

offenders are effective (US Surgeon

General, 2001).

PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS

“Washington’s adult corrections system will be more successful in reducing recidivism rates if policy focuses on proven evidence-based approaches” (Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2006).

Some Examples (% Reduction in Recidivism) Intensive Supervision and Treatment (21.9%) Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (8.2%-31.2%) Drug Treatment in the Community (12.4%)

SPECIFIC PROGRAMEFFECTIVENESS

“The results show that offenders who

have high attendance at treatment

sessions have lower arrests.”

(Bogue, 2007).

CONNECTICUT EVALUATION

A significant network of programs exists, with challenges: Geographical area service gaps Wait lists for services

508 clients on residential treatment wait list (11-27-2007)

Significant increase in Behavioral Health Services Referrals over the past 2 years

JUDICIAL BRANCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Transitional and Supportive Housing Mental Health Services Intensive Outpatient Drug Treatment Domestic Violence Programs Sex Offender Services

In total the program expansion recommendations could serve up to 3,000 offenders annually.

PROGRAM ANDTREATMENT NEEDS

WARRANT SERVICE

Sanctions for probation violations are more likely to be effective when they are prompt, consistent, and proportionate to the violation severity (Carey, 2005). Graduated Sanctions Violation of Probation Warrants

PROBATION SANCTIONS

Warrants served annually = 8,977

Present un-served warrants = 6,228

70 percent of these warrants are more than one year old

Extensive field investigation required for many warrants

VIOLATION OF PROBATION WARRANT SERVICE DATA

Undermines system integrity

Offenders are not being supervised

Re-offending behavior may continue

UNSERVED WARRANTS: POTENTIAL IMPACT

Establish and staff Regional Probation Warrant Units.

Legislative initiatives Detention of wanted persons On-site arrest for violation of probation Partnerships with federal and state

agencies

WARRANT SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS

Reduce probation caseloads

Increase targeted treatment and

specialized services

Improve warrant service

A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO

PUBLIC SAFETY

Increased Satisfactory Completion of

Probation Supervision

Reduction in Probation Violation

Reduction in Recidivism

Reduction in Prison and Jail Overcrowding

Cost Effectiveness