Offender Services

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Department
Of
Correction

COMMUNITY
CORRECTIONS
DIVISION

DIRECTIVE NUMBER:

701.04.02.015

PAGE NUMBER:

1 of 4

SUBJECT:

Offender Services

Updated: 09-1995
Reformatted 03-20-01

01.00.00. POLIC Y OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department’s probation and parole services shall supervise those individuals who
are placed on probation by the district courts, within the Department’s jurisdiction until
released by such courts, and all inmates granted parole release by the Commission for
Pardons and Parole.

Supervision of cases is decided among seven geographi c district offices.

01.01.00 PURPOSE

To set forth provisions fo r assessing and mobilizing community resources which can
provide equal services to male and female offenders, and to offenders with special
needs.

02.00.00. TABLE OF CONTENTS

01.00.00. POLIC Y OF THE DEPARTMENT
01.01.00. Purpose
02.00.00. TABLE OF CONTENTS
03.00.00. REFERENCES
04.00.00. DEFINITIONS
05.00.00. PROCEDURE

03.00.00. REFERENCES

04.00.00. DEFINITIONS

Community Resources: Public and private agencies that provide service to eligible
citizens. This includes public agencies such as employment office, county hospitals,
welfare departments, academic and vocational training schools, etc.; private agencies
such as family service agencies, Salvation Army, Volunteers of America, Goodwill
Industries; and self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, drug treatment and/or
educational programs, etc.

Employment Placement: The full range of activity related to securing and retaining jobs
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fo r offenders.

Leisure Time: Any period which is not scheduled for work or other assigned program
activity. Since all offenders are required to be involved in work and other programs, this
time is usually limited.

05.00.00. PROCEDURE

Personnel of Community Corrections Division shall devote time and resources to assist
offenders in finding suitable employment. They will be trained to provide guidance and
assistance to available community programs and to appropriate leisure time activities.

Male and female offenders under supervision will have equal access to all available
community programs, services and activities. The Division will maintai n an inventory of
available community resources which will be periodically evaluated.

On an annual basis each district will assess the collective needs of
probationers/parolee s and identify community resources needed to assist and support
offenders.

Community Corrections Division will maintain a cooperative relationship with private and
public agencies. P
Assessment of Needs: A concerted effort will be made annually to assess the collective
needs of the offender population under the jurisdiction of the Community Corrections
Division.

Resource Development: Probation and parole personnel shall endeavor to identify
community resources with services available to offenders and are encouraged to serve
on the board of directors of such agencies, act as advisors to such groups and
represent the field service agency with the approval of the manager. Y
Cooperation With Other Agencies: All district and satellite offices shall maintai n close
relationships with significant public and private community service agencies. The staff
shall apprise these agencies of the probationers/parolees' needs and how the offender
ma y utilize these services.

Evaluation: The field service agency shall evaluate periodically the effectiveness of the
major community service agencies and distribute to all probation/parole officers a
current inventory of effective agencies. Community resources that are not providing
services effectively will be offered whatever assistance possible to become fully
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functional.

Equal Opportunity fo r Offenders: The district manager shall survey uni t caseloads at
least annually to ascertai n i f male and female offenders can and do participate equally
in all programs and activities available through the Community Corrections Division.
Exceptions discovered, as well as grievances submitted by offenders regarding possible
discrimination, shall be reported to the administrator of Community Corrections Division
citing corrective action taken.

Special Need Offenders: When the offender population withi n a judicial district contains
a significant number of special need offenders, the district office ma y utilize one or both
of the following methods to provide appropriate services for these offenders:

Caseloads composed exclusively of offenders with the same special needs may be
given to the supervision of a Probation/Parole Officer with training and/or
experience in the treatment and/or management of that special need (i.e., sex
offender treatment).

Appropriate community resources fo r the special needs of the offender shall be
mobilized and used. This approach shall include a specifi c referral process follow-
up procedure.

Supervision of Employment Placement: Each officer shall maintain close liaison
with the Department of Employment and keep abreast of the changing labor
market and ensure eligible offenders obtain job placement assistance. Officers
may also solicit job placement from labor unions, private section businesses, and
community action and self-help groups. In the districts that have employment
development coordinators or employment assistance programs, the officer may
refer his/her unemployed clients to them.

Financial Assistance: All field officers will be aware of financial resources such as
publi c assistance and Health and Welfare programs needed to assist offenders in
obtaining financial assistance.

Offender Training: Field officers shall encourage and assist interested, qualified
offenders to enroll and participate in academic and/or vocational training programs.
All such programs may include provision fo r subsistence of the offender while
he/she i s enrolled in training. Vocational rehabilitation agencies shall be solicited
for assistance and cooperative relationships shall be maintained with colleges and
trade schools to develop suitable programs of learning for offenders.
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Leisure Time: Constructive and acceptable leisure time activities can contribute to
a satisfactory community adjustment. Field officers shall become familiar with
community leisure time activities and encourage and guide offenders to participate
in these community activities when appropriate.

Administrator, Community Corrections Division Date

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