OFFENDER REENTRY: A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY

1. OFFENDER REENTRY: A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY Court Support Services Division

2. OFFENDER REENTRY: IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY Probation Areas of Focus: • Manageable Caseloads • Programs and Treatment • Warrant Service

3. OFFENDER “REENTRY” Strategies, programs and treatment that focus on preparing probationers to lead non-criminal lives in our local communities.

4. REENTRY THROUGH PROBATION SUPERVISION • 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.

5. REENTRY SERVICESEFFECTIVENESS Research continues to demonstrate the importance of continuing supervision and treatment after an offender leaves prison in reducing recidivism (Simpson, et. al., 1999).

6. RESEARCH FINDINGS: CT PROBATION TRANSITION PROGRAM (PTP) SOURCE: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY 2006 Source: Central Connecticut State University (2006)

7. RESEARCH FINDINGS:CT PROBATION TRANSITION PROGRAM (PTP) Source: Central Connecticut State University (2006) SOURCE: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY 2006

8. MANAGEABLE CASELOADS

9. COMMUNITY SUPERVISION Manageable caseloads when coupled with quality client engagement and evidence-based treatment have been correlated with reductions in recidivism (Taxman, 2006).

10. WHAT IS AMANAGEABLE CASELOAD? • 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:

11. THE CHANGING FOCUS OF PROBATION SUPERVISION Monitoring compliance with supervision conditions vs. Monitoring compliance AND facilitating behavior change

12. COMPONENTS OF EVIDENCE-BASED SUPERVISION • Assess risk, needs and strengths. • Evaluate and enhance motivation to change. • Target interventions. • Facilitate pro-social behavior. • Assess probationer improvement and behavior change.

13. CONNECTICUT PROBATION OFFICER FOCUS GROUP “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.”

14. PRESENT CASELOAD STANDARDS

15. CURRENT CASELOAD STANDARDS: THE PROBLEM Caseloads reaching these levels make it extremely difficult to work individually with probationers to change behavior.

16. NON-INTENSIVE OFFICERS EXCEEDING CURRENT CASELOAD STANDARDS Total Supervision Officers = 272 Number Exceeding Standard = 194 Percent Exceeding Standard = 71%

19. CASELOAD REDUCTION OUTCOMES • Lower recidivism • Reduced violations • Decreased victimization • Reduced incarceration

20. EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION Manageable caseloads when coupled with quality client engagement and evidence-based treatment have been correlated with reductions in recidivism (Taxman, 2006).

21. OFFENDER TREATMENT AND PROGRAMS

22. TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS 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).

23. PROGRAM 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).

24. SPECIFIC PROGRAMEFFECTIVENESS “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%)

25. CONNECTICUT EVALUATION “The results show that offenders who have high attendance at treatment sessions have lower arrests.” (Bogue, 2007).

26. JUDICIAL BRANCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES • 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

27. PROGRAM ANDTREATMENT NEEDS • 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.

28. WARRANT SERVICE

29. PROBATION SANCTIONS 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

30. VIOLATION OF PROBATION WARRANT SERVICE DATA • 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

31. UNSERVED WARRANTS: POTENTIAL IMPACT • Undermines system integrity • Offenders are not being supervised • Re-offending behavior may continue

32. WARRANT SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS • 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

33. A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY • Reduce probation caseloads • Increase targeted treatment and specialized services • Improve warrant service

34. 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