RD195 - Community Corrections/Institutions Status Report - July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012


Executive Summary:
This is a status report on the Statewide Community Based Corrections System as required by the 2012 Appropriations Act, Chapter 3, Item 385-A.

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)

• continuing to use the 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 for low risk cases in the community

• update of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) for all units

• management of our activities within budget allocations

• continued use of the National Computerized Interstate Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS)

• extensive collaboration with other agencies on the above issues

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, 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

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, develop a computerized offender management system, and incorporate newly validated methods to achieve our mission.

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.

Our work is important and vital to the public safety of the Commonwealth. We need to stay abreast of growing caseloads while seeking to reduce recidivism.

Harold W. Clarke
Director