Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

Idaho
Department of
Correction

Standard
Operating
Procedure
Title:
Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

Page:
1 of 8

Control Number:
701.04.02.020
Version:
2.0
Adopted:
02-19-2009

Terry Kirkham, chief of the Division of Probation and Parole , approved this
document on 12/23/2015.
Open to the public: Yes
SCOPE
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) applies to all Division of Probation and Parole
staff members involved in the direct supervision and management of probationers and
parolees under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) as agents of
the court and the Commission of Pardons and Parole (the Parole Commission).

Revision Summary
Revision date (12/23/2015) version 2.0: Updates and revisions throughout the document
including the introduction of the Idaho Response Matrix.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Idaho Response Matrix Overview .................................................................................... 2
2. Encouraging Desired Behavior ........................................................................................ 3
3. Responding to Violations ................................................................................................. 3
4. Specific Behaviors and Responses ................................................................................. 4
5. Exceptions to the Idaho Response Matrix (Escalations and De-escalations) ................ 4
6. Responding to Violation of Special Conditions of Probation or Parole ........................... 4
7. Entries into Corrections Integrated System (CIS) ........................................................... 4
8. Use of the Idaho Response Matrix (Desired Behaviors/Violations) ................................ 5
9. Reporting Requirements .................................................................................................. 7
Definitions ................................................................................................................................. 7

BOARD OF CORRECTION IDAPA RULE NUMBER 701
Probation and Parole Supervision
Control Number:
701.04.02.020
Version:
2.0
Title:
Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

Page Number:
2 of 8

Idaho Department of Correction
POLICY CONTROL NUMBER 701
Probation and Parole Services
PURPOSE
The purpose of this SOP is to establish the written procedure for the probation and parole
officer (PPO) in using dis cretion while utilizing the Idaho Response Matrix (IRM), in
response to an offender’s compliance or non-compliance with the terms and conditions of
probation or parole imposed by the court, the Parole Commission, or set forth in the
Agreement of Supervision. In addition, this SOP will establish the reporting requirements of
certain behaviors to the courts and the Parole Commission.
RESPONSIBILITY
Division Chief/Deputy Chief
The c hief and deputy chief of the Division of Probation and Parole are responsible for
overseeing probation and parole supervision and ensuring the implementation of this
SOP.

District Managers (or designees)
District m anagers (or designees) are responsible for implementing this SOP and for
ensuring probation and parole officers are practicing the guidelines, standards, and
procedures provided herein.

Probation and Parole Officers
Probation and parole officers (PPOs ) are responsible for practicing the guidelines,
standards and procedures provided herein.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PPOs will respond to offender behaviors by providing a positive reinforcement, incentive
or sanction as appropriate. PPOs will utilize the Idaho Response Matrix , to address non-
compliance with terms and conditions of probation or parole imposed by the court or the
Parole Commission and the Agreement of Supervision. PPOs will utilize incentive
options from the IRM to reinforce and promote compliance with the conditions of
supervision as well as long-term behavior change. PPOs will report out on offender
behavior and their accompanying response as indicated by the IRM to the court or the
Parole Commission, prosecuting attorney and last defense attorney of rec ord.

1. Idaho Response Matrix Overview
The IRM was designed to create a consistent but flexible approach to responding to an
offender’s behavior while on probation or parole supervision. The IRM assigns a
number to each violation event or desired behavior, based on the offender’s assessed
risk category and/or offense type to direct the PPO to a range of potential rewards and
sanctions that should be applied as a response. The IRM provides a range of rewards
and sanctions by establishing risk-based, graduated responses intended to promote
compliance and positive long-term behavioral change for offenders under supervision.
These responses are designed to be delivered swiftly and with certainty for all offenders.
The term “swift and certain” refers to the fact that offender behavior will be responded to
in a timely and sure manner, but does not guarantee a specific or predictable outcome.
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Idaho Department of Correction
The IRM allows for a great deal of officer discretion; however, certain events will require
a specific response. Charges for a new felony, possession of a firearm, and absconding
require a report of violation. In addition, the IRM requires reporting to the court or the
Parole Commission (with a courtesy copy provided to the prosecutor and last defense
attorney of record) when any of the following events occur: (1) new felony or serious
misdemeanor, (2) imposition of discretionary jail time, (3) any level 3 sanction, (4) an
offender accumulates 9 or more violation points within a 6 month period.

2. Encouraging Desire d Behavior
PPOs will encourage and reinforce desired behavior in order to reduce the likelihood of
violations of the conditions of supervision and promote long -term behavioral change.
Evidence suggests that reinforcing desired behavior is significantly more effective than
punishment.

PPOs will utilize the assessed risk level of the offender to determine the initial level of
reward.
• Once the level of reward is determined, the PPO will also have the lower level(s)
of rewards available for selection.
o The identified reward(s) should be individualized and meaningful to that
offender, and should be appropriate for the behavior that is being
reinforced.
• In the event the PPO identifies the need to escalate a reward to a higher
magnitude, he/she should staff the situation with their district m anager (or
designee) and seek approval to do so.

3. Responding to Violations
All alleged violations will be investigated and responded to upon receipt of the
knowledge that the violation has occurred, not to exceed five (5) business days. When
violations occur, alternatives to incarceration and revocation shall be considered and
us ed to the extent that public safety allows. Additionally, the PPO must consider the
impact on the offender’s protective factors, as assessed by the LSI-R, when selecting
the most appropriate response. The PPO will consult with the district m anager (or
designee) prior to imposing a response that will directly impact an offender’s protective
factors.
• PPOs will utilize the assessed risk level of the offender to determine the initial
level of sanction to address the identified behavior.
• The identified sanction should be individualized and meaningful to that offender,
and should be appropriate for the behavior that is being addressed.
• The level of sanction selected corresponds as a violation point, (Level 1
Response = 1 violation point, etc.).
• PPOs can select more than one response, and may use options from a lower
level to address behavior.
• PPOs, however, may not substitute multiple lower level responses for an
appropriate higher level response.

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Idaho Department of Correction
If the PPO encounters multiple violations, the violat ions should be responded to as one
event and not separately. The violation points will be calculated based on the most
serious violation within that event.

If the PPO encounters repeated and similar behavior from an offender, he/she should
respond in a graduated manner, or select a high magnitude of response when
addressing the repeated violation.

4. Specific Behaviors and Responses
The IRM requires a specific response for certain violations. The PPO will file a Report of
Violation if an offender is charged with a new felony crime, is in possession of a firearm,
or is found to have absconded supervision.

For offenders who have an underlying conviction for Felony Driving Under the Influence,
a sexual offense, or an offense related to Domestic Battery/Attempted Strangulation, the
IRM calls for the response to be of a higher magnitude if the violation is similar in nature
to the crime which lead to their conviction.

The bottom portion of the IRM lists behaviors that are related to the supervision of
sexual offenders.

5. Exceptions to the Idaho Response Matrix (Escalations and De -escalations)
The intent of the IRM was to provide a great deal of discretion for P POs. If the PPO
determines that the response indicated by the IRM is too high or too low in magnitude,
he/she may staff the situation with the district m anager (or designee) and select a more
appropriate higher or lower magnitude response to fit the circumstances by applying an
escalation or de-escalation.
• If the initial indicated response requires a report to the court or the Parole
Commission, a de-escalated response does not remove that requirement. A
report must still be submitted.
6. Responding to Violations of Special Conditions of Probation or Parole
If an offender is found to have violated an individualized special condition of either
probation or parole, the PPO will address the violation with an increased magnitude of
response.
• If the individualized special condition cannot be found in the IRM, the PPO must
identify an appropriate response and then submit a report to the court or the
Parole Commission (with a courtesy copy to the prosecutor and last defense
attorney of record) that outlines the circumstances of the violation and the
applied response.

7. Entries into Corrections Integrated System (CIS)
The IRM entry option is embedded within the Supervision Contact screen in CIS. Each
time the IRM is utilized, the PPO should appropriately document the behavior(s)
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observed and the response(s) applied (sanction or reward) to address the behavior(s).
This should be done to accompany the fully documented event in supervision contacts.

8. Use of the Idaho Response Matrix (Desired Behaviors/Violations)
The following steps will be taken when determining the appropriate reward in response
to desired behavior:

Functional Roles
and
Responsibilities

Step Tasks
(CIS steps are in bold)
Probation and
Parole Officer
(PPO)
1 Recognize or be made aware of the offender’s progress
on targeted/desired behaviors and/or OMP goals.
PPO 2 Determine the appropriate reward(s) using the IRM and
Response Chart. In determining the appropriate level of
reward, the PPO will consider the following:
• Each offender is different and responds differently
to specific recognition and rewards.
• A positive reinforcement to one offender may not
be perceived as such to another offender.
• The offender’s current stage of change and
readiness to change will influence the frequency
and type of reward that is chosen.
• The totality of the offender’s circumstances and
any unintended consequences of granting a
specific positive reward.
• Are there mitigating or aggravating circumstances
that would result in the application of a higher or
lower level reward than provided by the IRM?
PPO 3 Staff the case with a supervisor if the reward is higher or
lower than what is provided in the IRM (if not, proceed to
step 6).
District Manager (or
designee)
4 Review the facts of the case, determine whether the
reward is appropriate, and approve or disapprove the
reward.
District Manager (or
designee)
5 Document staffing and approval or disapproval in CIS
by entering a case update with a note title of “Reward
Staffing”. Provide a summary of the case t hat has
been staffed with the officer and supervisor.
PPO 6 Offer the reward to the offender. In doing so the PPO
shall advise the offender of the following:
• The behavior for which they are being rewarded.
• Continuing the desired behavior will help them
remain in compliance with the terms and
conditions of supervision.
PPO 7 Document this interaction in CIS by entering a
supervision contact with an IRM attachment.
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701.04.02.020
Version:
2.0
Title:
Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

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Idaho Department of Correction

The following steps will be taken when determining the appropriate sanction in response
to a violation:

Functional Roles
and Responsibilities
Step Tasks
(CIS steps are in bold)
PPO 1 Identify and confirm violation of terms and conditions of
probation or parole or the Agreement of Supervision.
PPO 2 Determine the appropriate sanction(s) using the IRM and
Response Chart. In determining the appropriate level of
sanction, the PPO will consider the following:
• Response should be individualized based on what
is meaningful to the offender.
• Unintended consequences to the offender’s
protective factors.
• Higher risk offenders should not be mixed with
lower risk offenders.
• Are there aggravating or mitigating circumstances
that would result in the application of a higher or
lower level sanction than provided by the IRM, or
is there a specific behavior or specific response
required by the IRM (if yes, proceed to step 4; if
no, proceed to step 6)?
PPO 3 Staff with a supervisor if a sanction needs to be imposed
that will result in an arrest, the imposition of discretionary
jail time, or a report of violation.
District Manager (or
designee)
4 Review the facts of the case, determine whether the
response is appropriate, approve or disapprove the
sanction.
District Manager (or
designee)
5 Document staffing and approval or disapproval in CIS
by entering a case update with a note title of
“Sanction Staffing”. Provide a summary of the case
that has been staffed with the officer and supervisor.
PPO 6 Impose the sanction if approved. In imposing the
approved sanction the officer shall do the following:
• Advise the offender of the behavior for which they
are being sanctioned and explain that continuing
the behavior will result in escalated sanctions.
• Maintain contact with the offender to ensure the
offender’s compliance with and completion of the
sanction.
PPO 7 Document this interaction in CIS by entering a
supervision contact with an IRM attachment.

Control Number:
701.04.02.020
Version:
2.0
Title:
Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

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Idaho Department of Correction
9. Reporting Requirements
PPOs are required to submit a report to the court or the Parole Commission (with a
courtesy copy to the prosecutor and last defense attorney of record) within 5 business
days, under the following circumstances:
• Charge for a new felony or serious misdemeanor crime (DUI, act of violence,
etc.)
• Imposition of discretionary jail time
• Any level 3 response (sanction)
• 9 or more violations points within a rolling 6 month period

A report can be a Special Progress Report, Report of Violation, or a short memo that
describes the violation(s) and the response(s) and can be submi tted electronically to all
parties.

PPOs are also encouraged to provide written documentation to the court and the Parole
Commission that outlines the positive progress offenders are making on supervision.
DEFINITIONS
Community Supervision: The regular, systematic control and guidance of offenders
who are (1) placed on probation or parole or (2) under the jurisdiction of the courts
and/or the Commission of Pardons and Parole.

Discretionary Jail Time (DJT): A suspended jail sentence - ordered as a condition of
probation or parole - to be imposed at the discretion of the supervising probation and
parole officer.

Idaho Response Matrix (IRM): A matrix of graduated sanctions and rewards that
provides for responding swiftly and certainly to offender violations of or compliance with
the terms and conditions of probation or parole imposed by the court or the Commission
of Pardons and Parole and set forth in the Agreement of Supervision with the intent to
promote long-term behavioral change.

Offender: A person under the legal care, custody, supervision, or authority of the Board
of Correction, including a person within or without the State of Idaho pursuant to
agreement with another state or contractor.

Parolee : An offender who (1) is released from a fac ility by the paroling authority prior to
the completion of his sentence, (2) agrees to comply with certain conditions established
by the paroling authority, and (3) remains under the control of a probation and parole
officer for the established period of supervision.

Probationer: An offender who the courts allow to continue to live and work in the
community--instead of being sent to prison--while being supervised by a probation and
parole officer for an established period of time.

Reward: An incentive offered to an offender in r esponse to compliance with the terms
and conditions of probation or parole or identified evidence of positive behavior change.

Control Number:
701.04.02.020
Version:
2.0
Title:
Use of the Idaho Response Matrix

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Idaho Department of Correction
Sanction: A penalty imposed by the supervising officer for non-compliance with the
terms and conditions of probation or parole.

Serious Misdemeanor: any misdemeanor offense that includes, as an element of the
offense or as part of the underlying facts: (1) physical contact with, or injury to, the
person of another; or (2) the use of a weapon to cause or threaten harm to another, or
(3) driving under the influence (DUI).
Violation: An offender’s failure to comply with the terms or conditions of supervision.
REFERENCES
Idaho Response Matrix

– End of Document –