1. Accountability Courts Conference Director, Probation Operations
GEORGIA
Department
of Corrections
Probation Operations
Probation Updates
Presented at:
Accountability Courts Conference
By: Stan Cooper
Director, Probation Operations
May 22, 2013 1

2. Mission: PUBLIC SAFETY SERVE THE COURTS
Probation Operations
Mission:
PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVE
THE COURTS

3. Probation Operations Who We Are
1,445 staff
1100+ Sworn staff (812 POs)
300+ Administrative staff and counselors
158,445 Offenders (as of )
Active Supervision: 107,611
Standard risk offenders: 84,870 (78.9%)
High risk offenders: 10,283 (9.6 %)
Special Level (SPS,IPS,DRC) 12,458 (11.6 %)
49 Probation Circuits (aligned with judicial circuits)
100+ local Probation Offices
15 Day Reporting Centers (DRC’s)
4 Community Impact Programs (CIP’s)
4 Administrative Areas of Operation (regions) statewide
208 Superior Court Judges
$97,180,947 Budget (FY’12)

4. Notice the steep trend line
10-year Growth
( )
29%!
Notice the steep trend line
Sentence length is 2x the national average 4 4

5. Probation Population by Crime Type

6. Focus Prior to
New Supervision Model
Standard
High
Special

7. New Probation Supervision Model Began September 1, 2011
PURPOSE:
Assess offender’s need and risk
Supervise high risk offenders / manage low risk offenders
Balance surveillance and treatment
Promote community supervision
Respond swiftly, certainly and proportionately to violations
EXPECTATIONS:
Effectively identify and mitigate probationer risk and needs
Efficiently apply available resources
Greater officer presence in the “field”
Reduced Recidivism = ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY!

8. Active Probation Caseload Sizes (Excludes Unsupervised)
APPA Recommends
GDC Target
Caseload
Actual Caseload
Special (Intensive, Sex Offender, DRC)
20:1
40:1
58:1
High
50:1
60:1
Standard
200:1
287:1

9. Supervision Levels/Statuses (April 2013)
High & Std levels are assigned by
completion of an automated
risk assessment
Active
Supervision Levels
107,611 offenders
Special
12,458
High
10,283
Standard
84,870
Administrative/Unsupervised
812 Total POs
677 - Field Supervision
135 - Court
Supervised/Active Probationers 162,140
Actively Supervised Offenders 105,366
Std % 82,393
High 9.5% 10,033
Special (Sex, IPS, DRC) 12.3% 12,940
Status
60,000+ 9

10. Special High Standard Supervision Levels Supervision Types
PROBATION SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS
Supervision Levels
Supervision Types
Minimum Monthly Interactions
Special
Mental Health (Chronic Care needed; acting out)
2 Field
1 Field or Office Collateral Total 4
IPS (Remove)
DRC Phase 1
DRC Phase 2
SPS Tier 2
SPS Tier 1
1 Field
1 Field or Office
1 Collateral
Total 3
Reentry
RSAT Aftercare Phase 1
DRC Aftercare Phase 1
MH Reentry (from ITF/Level 3 Releases)
High
RSAT Aftercare Phase 2
1 Field or Office Collateral
DRC Aftercare Phase 2
Regular
Mental Health (As Assessed)
Standard
1 Interaction/
Compliance Confirmation
Total 1
PRCC

11. Intensive Probation (IPS) Evolution:
IPS began
3 phases
Length: 9 to 12 months
Phase 1 = 5 contacts/week, curfew
Phase 2 = 3 contacts/week, curfew
Phase 3 = 1 contact/week, curfew opt.
Home Confinement component available ( )
4 contacts per month

12. Intensive Probation (IPS) Evolution:
Two Tiered System
(Tiers determined by risk assessment)
2011 – Present
4 interactions/mo. (12/qtr.)
Length: Up to 9 months
Tier 1:
Standard & medium levels
Length: 3 to 6 months
Contact requirements (8/qtr)
Tier 2:
High & maximum levels
Length: 6 to 9 months
Contact requirements (18/qtr)

13. Intensive Probation Program
4,075 IPS cases
3.7% of active cases (107K)
2.5% of all cases (158K)
76 Intensive Probation Officers
10.6% of supervising officers devoted to 3.7% of the cases
IPS cases supervised at Special level
Not based on risk assessment
New Supervision Model (September 1, 2011)
IPS (Special Level): 4 required minimum interactions per month
High Level: 3 required minimum interactions per month 13

14. Intensive Probation Program
(cont.)
IPS Breakdown and Supervision Cost ($3.87/day):
1,306 (32%) IPS cases (high level risk)
$5,000 per day/$1.84 million per year
2,769 (68%) IPS cases (standard level risk)
$10,700 per day/$3.9 million per year
Over supervised based on their known risks
Supervision components available to Courts:
Curfew
Drug Screen
Community Service
Close field Supervision 14

15. Mental Health Probation Supervision
“People with mental illnesses are twice as likely as others under supervision to have their community sentence revoked — which only deepens their involvement in the criminal justice system.”
“10 Essential Elements for Successful Supervision of Mental Health Probationers”
The Justice Center

16. 32,800 20 % Probation Population Suffers From a Mental Illness
Mental Health Probation Supervision
20 % Probation Population Suffers From a Mental Illness
(+/- 160,000 x 20%)
32,800
Note: GDC Mental Health/Health Services
provides monthly information from
Circuit reported data

17. Mental Health Probation Supervision
“2,400 Mentally Ill Probationers Returned to Prison in 2011”
3500 probationers screened per month at intake for MH issues
13% (455) referred or receiving services
June 2012, Process Action Team began the development of a Mental Health Probation Officer Specialist/Mental Health caseload
Target date of July 1, 2013 17

18. Target Population Caseload Composition
Based on MH criteria established by GDC
MH Caseload Capacity = 40
Identified Regular Supervision Offenders
Aftercare – 6 months
Integrated Treatment Facility releases
DRC Mental Health
MH Level III+ prison releases
MH Specialty Court probationers 18

19. Recent Initiatives Supervision Technology New Supervision Model
Supervise high risk/Manage standard level
Automated Risk Assessment
Pre-Sentence Assessment
Probation Options Management (POM)
Technology
Mini Notebooks/Laptops in Courtrooms
Rapid ID Fingerprint Machine
Field Communications (Radio) Enhancements
E-Portal (16,000 sentences submitted since July 2012)

20. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Centers (RSAT)
4 Probation RSATs (1000 beds total)
6 months in length (Return to 9 months currently under review)
Male - Bainbridge, Northwest, Turner
Female - Arrendale
2 Integrated Treatment Facilities (400 beds total)
Focus on Mental Health/Substance Abuse (Dual Diagnosis)
9 months in length
Male – Appling
Female - West Central
Aftercare component – Mental Health Probation Caseloads

21. Day Reporting Centers (DRC)
(15 circuits)
1500 participants statewide
Emphasis on
Cognitive Thinking Skills
Substance Abuse
Mental Health
Employment
Recent Openings
Savannah
Lookout Mountain

22. DRC Lite Pilot Program Department of Corrections Probation Operations
GEORGIA
Department
of Corrections
Probation Operations
DRC Lite Pilot Program
Presented at:
Accountability Courts Conference
By: Betsy Thomas
DRC Lite Coordinator, Probation Operations
May 22, 2013 22

23. DRC Lite Pilot Program
2012 Legislative Session
CY 2013 23 23

24. DRC Lite Pilot Program PROBLEM
Lack of Resources and Treatment Options in the Communities throughout rural Georgia 24 24

25. DRC Lite Pilot Program Concept:
Provide enhanced supervision and programming for identified substance abusing offenders in rural circuits using the $750,000 allocated in FY 13 for pilot programs
Program must be
Mobile
Scalable
Repeatable
Evidence Based
Keyword – Outcomes
Monitor and track outcomes by successful completions of program 25 25

26. DRC Lite Pilot Program Key Components: Early ID by Assessment
Enhanced Supervision
Circuit Cap of probationers
Frequent Random Drug Screens
Substance Abuse and Cognitive Programming
Swift, Certain, Proportionate Sanctioning
Judicial Support
Willing to hold monthly status hearings on offenders in programs
Willing to assist GDC by diverting appropriate cases from hard beds to community supervision 26 26

27. DRC-Lite Pilot Program
Significant Actions:
Phase I
2 hours of programming 4 days per week
Orientation and Initial Case Management
Drug Screens: 2 x week
Phase II
Programming 2 days per week
Individual Case Management
Drug Screens: 4x month random or for cause
Phase III
SA Aftercare Classes 1day per week, then step down
AA/NA and DOL referrals as needed
Drug Screens: Random or for cause
1-2 Months
3-6 Months
6-12 Months
Conducted by
Spectrum
Counselor
M4C and Reentry
Skill building
Conducted by
Spectrum
Counselor
Matrix Substance Abuse
Classes/MRT
Conducted by
Spectrum
Substance Abuse
After Care
Services Program
Outside Referrals to
AA/NA
and DOL 27

28. DRC Lite Pilot Program Supervision Components
Phase 1 and 2 4 minimum interactions each month
Phase 3 3 minimum interactions each month
All Phases Drug Testing 28 28

29. Viva Jr. Drug Testing System by Siemens
DRC Lite Pilot Program
Viva Jr. Drug Testing System by Siemens
Accurate-Used now in Drug Courts and Accountability Courts
Provide flexibility options for testing
Up to 60 panels tested per hour
Could be used for confirmation testing for other circuits 29 29

30. DRC Lite Pilot Program Tracking
Wash Outs
Drug usage
Employment
Address Changes
New Arrests
Participants as of May 1, 2013 = 154 30 30

31. DRC Lite Pilot Program Positive Incentives Sanctions31 31

32. Feedback DRC Lite Pilot Program Judicial – Participant –
Proud of the changes they have seen in repeat offenders
Impressed at first status hearing – attitude, appearance, respect
Best thing since sliced bread
Participant –
Want others to have this opportunity
Want to impress the Judge and each other
Appreciative
Officer/Counselor -
Amazed at Court Personnel, Public Defenders, Sheriff Office Comments
See a difference in posture, appearance, attitude and pride in themselves
See the big picture – it really does work 32 32

33. DRC Lite Pilot Program DRC Lite program Sites Alapaha - Appalachian
Atlantic – expanded April 5, 2013
Cordele
Middle – expanded April 5, 2013
Mountain – GRADUATION May 23, 2013
Northern
Pataula – expanded April 5, 2013
Southwestern – GRADUATION May 2013
Toombs – GRADUATION June 11, 2013
Approximately 154 offenders are currently enrolled in this program in those 10 circuits

34. DRC Lite Pilot Program Warrants issued for technical violations = 61
Early Results
Warrants issued for technical violations = 61
Warrants issued for new charges = 15
Drugs Screens obtained = 1105
Positive Drug Screens = 287
Positive rate during Phase 1 = 26% 34 34

35. DRC Lite Pilot Program Transportation Space
Challenges
Transportation
Space
Lack of community resources – AA/NA 35 35

36. Probation Operations
Questions

37. Probation Detention Center 180 Day Cap Effect on Jail Backlog
HB 1176
Effective Date
7-1-12
By statute the counties receive no jail subsidy for these cases.

38. Alternative Wait Times As of April 1, 2012
Male PDC – 1 to 2 weeks
Female PDC - 5 to 6 months
Male RSAT - 2 to 3 months
Female RSAT - 6 months
ITF (Male & Female) 1 to 2 weeks
Boot Camp - 2 months

39. State Sentenced Inmates
Source: Georgia Department of Community Affairs – March 2013

40. Local Jails Bed Space Utilization
Only 19 of 146 jails are above capacity
Source: Georgia Department of Community Affairs – March 2013

41. Pre-Sentence Assessment
Concept
Objectively identify cases “on the fence” for entry to prison
Assess their risk and needs based on:
Offender specific information
Historical probation/institutional data
Inform the Courts, DAs & PDs of available and appropriate options:
Community Alternatives (non-custodial)
GDC Alternatives (custodial)