Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Division of Community Services

1. Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Division of Community Services Residential Provider Oversight Presented by: Carl Brown, Deputy Commissioner John T. Smith, Legislative Affairs Racquel Watson, Residential Services

2. Mission and Vision of Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice • Mission • To protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding young offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of services and sanctions in appropriate settings and by supporting youth in their communities to become productive and law-abiding citizens. • Vision (Offer Hope and Youth Change) • The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice will lead the nation in preparing young people in our care to develop and sustain productive lives.

3. Legal Definitions • CHINS is a child who habitually and without justification is truant, disobedient, ungovernable or commits an offense applicable only to children (curfew violation, runaway, etc.) • Delinquent child is a child who has committed a delinquent act and is in need of treatment or rehabilitation • Commitment – custody to DJJ for up to 2 years • Designated Felon (DF) – juveniles who commit certain felony offenses or are repeat offenders (committed to DJJ for a time period specified by the court. Time spent in restrictive custody is at judicial discretion) • Superior Court commitments (SB 440) – under OCGA 15-11-28 & 62: Custody of a child 13 to 17 years old may be given to the GDC for specified felonies (“7 deadly sins”): • Murder, voluntary manslaughter. Rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, armed robbery w/ firearm

4. Commitment to DJJ • Commitment: A juvenile court disposition that places a youth in the legal care and control of the Department, subject to the limitations of the court order and the remaining rights and responsibilities of the parents or guardian.

5. Designated Felons

6. PREA • The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 affirmed the protection of incarcerated individuals from sexual abuse. The Act called for the creation of a national Commission to study the causes and consequences of sexual abuse in confinement and to develop standards for correctional facilities nationwide that would set in motion a process of the elimination of prison rape. • The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) mandates a ZERO TOLERANCE toward all forms of sexual abuse and harassment - See more at: http://www.djjnewsandviews.org/preageorgia/#sthash.gLxpPk2t.dpuf

7. PREA • DJJ contracted vendors must report all critical incidents-to include PREA-within 1 hour of the incident. • All PREA-related incidents that occur at a DJJ secure or a contracted residential facility, must be addressed immediately by the DJJ Office of Investigation. • All PREA-related incidents that occur at a DJJ residential facility must also be addressed immediately be the facility’s assigned Regional Treatment Services Specialist, and the facility’s assigned Residential Placement Specialist • Such investigation will address not only PREA violations, but will also require a physical plant and a programmatic audit by the RTSS and RPS.

8. Residential Placements • PRTF: Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility • RBWO: Room Board Watchful Oversight • Alcohol & Drug Programs • Therapeutic Foster Care

9. Room Board and Watchful Oversight (RBWO) • DJJ has contracts with (78)residential facilities statewide also known as Child Caring Institutions(CCI) and\or Child Placing Agency(CPA) with an estimated bed capacity of 1,400 beds.  • (65) are joint residential facilities between DJJ and DHSwith an estimated bed capacity of 1,273 beds. • (13)are exclusively DJJ residential facilities with an estimated bed capacity of 127 beds. 

10. Room Board and Watchful Oversight(RBWO) • DJJ RBWO Oversight and Compliance Team consist of: • (4) Regional Treatment Services Specialists(RTSS) and (6) Residential Placement Specialists(RPS) who provide programmatic and contract compliance oversight to the 78 contracted RBWO facilities. • DJJ conducts (3) Planned Site Visit per calendar year to all contracted RBWO vendors. • (1) Planned Announced Site Visits is conducted in conjunction with the vendor’s Bi-Annual Utilization Review. This visit consist of auditing both the programmatic compliance based on RBWO Standards; Regulatory Child Care Licensing Regulations; and DJJ –Specific Contract and Policy requirements. • (2) Planned Un-Announced Site Visits to also audit programmatic, licensure, RBWO Standards, and DJJ-Specific Contract and Policy requirements. • Other Un-Announced Site visits will occur due to critical incidents that will require DJJ’s immediate response within 1-5 days(including weekends and holidays)

11. Room Board and Watchful Oversight(RBWO) • The facility must address all deficiencies that are identified during an Announced or Un-Announced site visit. A Deficiency Report that is provided to the facility within 24-72hrs after the site visit. • The facility must develop and submit a Corrective Action Plan within the identified timeframe on the Deficiency Report. • DJJ will closely monitor the facility over the next 30-90 days for compliance with the Corrective Action Plan. This monitoring may consist of an Un-Announced visit to specifically address the Corrective Action Plan. • DJJ will provide Technical Assistance to the facility as needed to assist them with maintaining compliance as needed.

12. QUESTIONS