Search

Discusses the policies the state Court Support Services Division's (CSSD) Sex Offender Unit (probation officers), and Department of Correction's (DOC) Parole and Community Service's Special Management Unit (parole officers) follow to regulate housing and treatment of sex offenders released from prison into the community. Updates OLR research report 2012-R-0300.

Empathy is a core correctional practice in the field of probation. Empathy conveys to the speaker that the listener understands their point of view. Empathy is displayed through consistent efforts by the listener to reflect back to the speaker what is being said so be sure they are understanding the speaker. Empathy has been linked to more positive client outcomes, which can have profound effects on individuals on probation, as well as public safety. The following study is a secondary data analysis examining the effect of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) training on probation officers' interactions. A sample of probation officers from the State of Connecticut were trained in CBT techniques and evidence-based-practices over a nine-month span. Participating probation officers submitted three audio-recordings of interactions with clients before starting training, and three audio-recordings after training concluded. Audio-recordings were coded for variables consistent with motivational interviewing and empathy-two elements that have been shown to positively contribute to a working relationship. Coding procedures were done as part of a larger study pre-approved by an Institutional Review Board. I will be analyzing coded levels of empathy as secondary data. Comparing the presence of empathy before and after training will reveal if the program was successful in infusing officers with an important foundation for creating a positive working relationship. Results suggest that the training program led to increased levels of probation officer empathy. Additionally, increased levels of empathy remain for at least one year following training. Instituting this training program can potentially lead to better client outcomes, reduced recidivism, and less taxpayer money used to incarcerate offenders.

Offenders who are arrested and convicted outside their home state usually are required by the courts to complete their sentences where they are convicted. For offenders who are placed under community supervision, this creates a difficult situation because they must live away from their families and establish residency in a new state. To address these situations, the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) was created in 1937 as a way for states to transfer the supervision of convicted offenders to other states. Under this agreement, convicted offenders serve their sentences in their home states under the supervision of probation and parole staff from their home state. While this program is widely used and has been operating for over 70 years, little research has been conducted on the types of offenders participating in this program or its effectiveness. The primary aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of those probationers transferred into Connecticut and to assess their recidivism rates. The study employed a secondary analysis of existing data and data were obtained electronically from the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division (CSSD). The sample consisted of 377 probationers that were first admitted into Connecticut under the Interstate Compact Program during the 2010 calendar year. Probationers with a high risk supervision level were more likely to recidivate than all other supervision levels. Those probationers with lower levels of supervision were lower risk and were most likely to be convicted of minor traffic offenses. Those probationers with a high supervision level were at a greater risk level are more likely repeat, minor offenders but whose charges were not serious enough to warrant more lengthy jail or prison sentences. Overall, these finding were not overly surprising and parallel consistent findings across all types of offenders.

"This 72-page report describes how more than 1,000 courts in several US states delegate tremendous coercive power to companies that are often subject to little meaningful oversight or regulation. In many cases, the only reason people are put on probation is because they need time to pay off fines and court costs linked to minor crimes. In some of these cases, probation companies act more like abusive debt collectors than probation officers, charging the debtors for their services."--Publisher's website.

Presentation giving an overview of Kansas Department of Corrections Community and Field Services Division with information on interstate compacts for adult offender supervision and statistics on supervised offenders and recidivism rates.

More and more, criminal offenders are being sentenced to a term of probation supervision rather than other forms of punishment. While on probation, offenders often encounter significant difficulties in securing legitimate employment. Prior literature has shown numerous benefits of offender employment, including reductions in criminal behavior and success on probation. The present study utilizes an existing database of inactive Connecticut probation cases to examine the relationship between employment and probation success. Other variables including probationer gender, ethnicity, age, education, legal charges and total Level of Service Inventory --Revised (LSI-R) score were also examined to see if they had any significant relationship to probation success. Data regarding probationer demographics, employment status and probationer outcome was gathered from a total of 291 offenders who were sentenced to a period of probation in 2007. Various categories of employment were analyzed both at the commencement and completion of probation. As hypothesized, the results of the study suggest that a strong relationship exists between employment, especially full-time employment, and success on probation. The most significant findings of the study were that probationers who were employed on a full-time basis were 9.82 times more likely to successfully complete probation in comparison to the remainder of the sample. Additionally, full-time employed probationers were 8.66 times more likely to successfully complete probation in comparison to probationers who were employed, but not on a full-time basis. The results also indicated that the LSI-R was validated as an accurate probationer risk assessment, White probationers had higher rates of probation success than Non-White probationers and Hispanic probationers had lower rates of probation success than Non-Hispanic probationers. The findings of this study are significant as they further the understanding of the effect of employment on probation success and may assist in the advancement of Connecticut's Adult probation system.

Presentation giving an overview of Kansas Department of Corrections Community and Field Services with statistics on supervised offenders and recidivism rates.

Discusses policies the Court Support Services Division's Sex Offender Unit (probation officers), and Dept. of Correction's Parole and Community Service's Special Management Unit (parole officers) follow to regulate sex offenders' housing and treatment when released from prison into the community.

Discusses whether if someone on probation can travel outside of the state, whether for a single night or an extended period. Also discusses whether the state is part of an interstate compact that governs out-of-state travel by probationer.

Discusses the number of people sentenced to prison for violating probation and what their underlying crimes are.

Discusses number of adult probationers by town and for a map displaying the number as a percentage of a town's population.

Discusses the number of sex offenders on probation in each community.

Discusses probationers with open cases under supervision.

Provides information on monthly releases from prison to probation by town.

Discusses whether the courts, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and probation and parole officers are authorized to set release conditions that place restrictions on residence, jobs, hours outside of the home, and movement, including their ability to require electronic monitoring. Discusses the authority and duties of sex offender units in the Office of Adult Probation (OAP).

Explains what a probation officer does to make sure probationers are not taking illegal drugs.

Discusses whether a therapist may reveal information he learns in a court-ordered group therapy session involving people on probation.

This report contains the findings and recommendations of the Probation Services Task Force, an 18-member body formed in August 2000 to undertake a comprehensive examination of probation in California. The report details the scope of the Task Force's examination, summarizes input from stakeholders around the state, makes recommendations focused on enhancing probation in California, and lays out a research agenda for future study.