RD206 - Community Corrections Status Report - July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009


Executive Summary:
This is a status report on the Statewide Community Based Corrections System as required by the 2009 Appropriations Act, Chapter 781, Item 387-A.

FY2009 was dominated by discussions and actions designed to address budget reductions. Technical probation and parole violators returning to prison, prisoner Reentry services, expansion of evidence-based practices (EBP), and sex offender supervision and monitoring are continuing issues. However, we had some significant accomplishments which included:

* increased Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) conditional release supervision

* ongoing partnerships to reduce outstanding absconder warrants and DNA samples

* expanding use of an automated risk/needs assessment instrument (COMPAS)

* continuing to increase the use of Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)

* introducing a new Offender Management System (VirginiaCORIS)

* cooperation with the SJ 318 Joint Subcommittee on the impact of alcohol and other drug use

* assistance to the Alternatives for Non-Violent Offenders Task Force

* expansion of the use of voice recognition telephonic monitoring (RoboCuff)

* completion of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) for all units

* management of our activities within budget allocations

* introduction of the National Computerized Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS)

* extensive collaboration with other agencies on the above issues

Much remains to be done. We are confronted with large workloads including many offenders re-entering communities from prison with significant barriers to housing, jobs and supportive services. Sexual offenders, mentally disordered offenders, illegal aliens and substance abusers require extensive and intensive services and monitoring.

Despite these major challenges at all levels of our Division, our central mission to “supervise and assist” offenders to live pro-socially and our fundamental “Balanced Approach” supervision principles have not changed.

We will continue to:

* identify offenders’ risks and needs and give priority to those offenders who pose the greatest risk to public safety

* develop and follow-up supervision plans that address identified risks and needs

* exhaust every available evidence-based service to respond to individual needs and reduce the risk of recidivism

* quickly and assertively respond to compliance and non-compliance with proportionate incentives and sanctions

When an offender’s documented, habitual non-compliance or overt actions threaten public safety, we will act decisively to exercise our arrest authority and advise the Court or Parole Board of recommended actions and sanctions.

It remains the province of the judiciary and Parole Board to determine whether to docket “show cause” or final violation hearings and decide the type and duration of any sanction.

We will continue our efforts to seek adequate resources, emphasize “evidence based practices” in our services, focus on “value added” activities, collaborate with other agencies, reduce barriers to full civic participation, develop a computerized offender management system, and incorporate newly validated methods to achieve our mission.

Our people’s work is important and vital to the public safety of the Commonwealth. We need to stay abreast of growing caseloads while doing “what works” to reduce recidivism.