MAY/JUNE 2018 VOL. 27 NO. 3
FACILITY OPERATIONAL SOFTWARE
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
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Corrections Forum
DIAGNOSING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS
CORRECTIONS
FORUM
Publisher & Executive Editor
Thomas S. Kapinos Assistant Publisher
Jennifer A. Kapinos
MAY/JUNE 2018
Associate Publishers Art Sylvie Peggy Virgadamo (480) 816-3448 asylvie@cox.net
(718) 456-7329 pegpaulv@aol.com
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The Pulse
Northeast Central U.S. Sales Managers Bonnie Dodson (828) 479-7472
Editor-in-Chief
Donna Rogers
Financing Snack Foods & Other Goodies
Contributing Editors Michael Grohs, Kelly Mason, Bill Schiffner, G.F. Guercio Art Director
Jamie Stroud
To Protect and Serve: Personal Protection Equipment
Spring Product Showcase
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(ISSN10729275) is published bi-monthly by: Criminal Justice Media, Inc 565 Pier Avenue PO Box 213 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (310) 374-2700 Send address changes to:
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Masking Co-Occurring Disorder Diagnoses Operational Software For Offender Management
Private Versus Public Probation Services
Ad Index
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CONGRESS’S PRISON REFORM BILL Jared Kushner may soon get his first big legislative breakthrough — with a prison reform bill, according to Vox Media, Inc. On May 22, Kushner’s favored bill, the First Step Act, was passed by the House of Representatives. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law earned an endorsement from the president himself, who said at a White House summit on prison reform that if lawmakers get a bill to his desk, “I will sign it.” But the second major step for the bill is the Senate, where it’s likely to face much stiffer opposition.
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The bill would not reform or reduce how long people are sentenced to prison for, which has been the prime target of criminal justice reformers over the past few years. Instead, the bill focuses on rehabilitating people once they’re already in prison by incentivizing them, with the possibility of earlier release, to partake in rehabilitation programs. As Kushner explained at the White House summit, “The single biggest thing we want to do is really define what the purpose of a prison is. Is the purpose to punish, is the purpose to warehouse, or is the purpose to rehabilitate?” The Senate opposition is mixed—some prominent Democ-
rats and Republicans argue that the bill doesn’t go far enough, while a Republican appears to be working to build opposition to the Act because it goes too far. Even if it does pass, though, the bill wouldn’t amount to a very big change in America’s criminal justice system, observes Vox. That’s in part because the federal prison system makes up a relatively small portion of the U.S.’s incarcerated population. (According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 87 percent of U.S. prison inmates are held in state facilities.) Still, if it passes, the First Step Act would be the first major federal criminal justice reform in years.
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The First Step Act is a fairly mild criminal justice reform bill. It is mainly focused on back-end reforms, meaning it focuses on cutting prison time once people are
already incarcerated—by, for instance, offering credits for good behavior to reduce time served. In doing this, the bill doesn’t address the core causes of mass incar-
ceration—that prison sentences are often too long, and that too many people are incarcerated in the first place. And while the federal government can incentivize states to adopt criminal justice policies, studies show that previous efforts, such as the 1994 federal crime law, had little impact. By and large, it seems local municipalities and states will only embrace federal incentives on criminal justice issues if they actually want to adopt those policies. To that end, Vox points out, many cities and states are actually way ahead of the federal government when it comes to criminal justice reform. That’s not to downplay the work of criminal justice reformers who are trying to reduce the size and burden of what amounts to a fairly large prison system at the federal level. But to understand the bill, it’s important to put its full impact on mass incarceration in the broader national context, Vox concludes. NEW BOOK PUBLISHED ON INCARCERATED MENTALLY ILL The journalist Alisa Roth has written a chilling book titled “Insane. America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness” that points out more than half the prisoners incarcerated in America suffer from some kind of mental illness and notes a federal study that says 75 percent of women locked up are mentally ill. The review in The New York Times states: “Roth is looking to frame the incarceration and treatment of the mentally ill as the next civil rights issue.” Yet, she is “not said to be out for scapegoats. In fact, she writes sympathetically about prison officials being asked to do difficult, specialized work for which they’re woefully unequipped.”
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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
FINANCING SNACK FOODS & OTHER GOODIES
THE BEST IN COMMISSARY AND THE TRUST FUND SOFTWARE TO MANAGE IT. When one is deprived of foods they like, they can become grumpy, ornery, nasty or worse. Just try a strict diet. It can make one harsh and impatient, even though it is a choice the dieter choses. Of course, inmates don’t have a choice and the treats they can buy are something to which they look forward—maybe the only thing. But a good ordering and trust fund system has to be well man12 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
aged to work. And it needs to be stocked with readily recognizable brands and tastes offenders desire. Otherwise they are unhappy, and perhaps filled with unrest, which can lead to disruptive behavior. At the least, management is disturbed by their harping and staff must continually check on the status of orders. So, in the end, a well-stocked, well-managed autonomous ordering system can go a long way in
helping manage a facility. Here are some choices that can help sweeten up everyone’s day.
Commissary Partnership Aramark’s innovative approach to commissary is retail done differently. “We offer brand name products offenders know and love, and support programming that helps maintain a connection with family and reduce recidivism,” the company says. Our
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inmate trust solution, notes Matt Caesar, executive vice president of Engineering & Technology at GTL. For friends and family members, ConnectNetwork offers convenient ways to transfer money via the web, mobile applications, IVR and kiosks. By coupling ConnectNetwork with GTL’s industry leading, cloud-based accounting software, facilities gain unparalleled con-
suite of solutions is flexible to accommodate site specifications, and are tailored to security protocols. Each program features quarterly or monthly promotions and limited time offers to drive excitement and participation. With a continuous development pipeline, we ensure we are constantly delivering innovative solutions that solve for client needs. These factors not only improve morale and behavior and promote a safer environment, but also establish an additional revenue source to increase commissions for our clients. Our operations model dedicates local staff to address issues quickly, and includes a real-time client dashboard with insight to guide decision-making. “We strive to be a partner, not just a service provider.” Visit www.Aramark.com/corrections to learn more.
Seaford Delight Seafood is always a top seller in commissaries and Union Supply Group has 23 Fisherman’s Paradise offerings. Mackerel always comes in as a top seller, the company says, and so we carry seven different options to choose from: whole or fillets, in 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
brine or oil and even with jalapenos! All are high protein products with the added benefit of being both kosher and halal to appeal to the entire population.
For further information visit www.unionsupplygroup.com or contact Debbi Drewry, director of marketing, at ddrewry@ unionsupplygroup.com or 310.604.4626
Reducing the Burden on Staff GTL’s comprehensive suite of software packages provides a fullservice, integrated and secure payments, commissary and
trol on how each payment is processed into an inmate’s account. Robust cost recovery options are available and immediately applied prior to the funds hitting the inmate’s account. To improve facility operations, the accounting software can integrate with any commissary vendor. This allows the facility to standardize and train their employees on one single software package and eliminate the need for new processes and training when switching vendors. To streamline the commissary ordering process, inmates have the ability to process commissary orders via a kiosk, tablet or bubble sheets. This reduces the burden on corrections officers and facility IT staff. For further information visit www.gtl.net or contact Matt Caesar at marketinginfo@gtl.net, 1.877.856.3184
Customized Commissary Solutions JPay, A Securus Technologies Company, provides multiple options to accommodate your facility’s needs and streamline the commissary ordering process. For instance, using JPay’s kioskContinues on page 45
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BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Protect and Upgrades to personal protection apparel and equipment helping keep corrections officers safer on the job.
More Effective Equipment Protecting corrections officers both inside and outside detention walls is becoming more critical than ever before. The danger of increasingly violent inmates has forced correctional institutions to look for more innovative and reliable protective measures to keep their personnel safe. These measures include the use of new body armor solutions and other personal protection apparel and equipment that offers preventative qualities, and is not only robust and flexible but offers users comfort and the right fit. 16 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
“There is a continued drive toward improving overall protective equipment availability and effectiveness,” says Major Ronnie Williams, chief of special operations for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and the Mock Prison Riot’s subject matter expert. “Any agency that is not providing current and purposebuilt equipment is doing a disservice to their staff and community. A single workplace injury that requires an emergency room visit comes at a considerably higher cost than equipping that staff member with the latest and best
protective equipment available before an injury occurs.” Major Williams adds that there are some accreditation standards being considered within the corrections industry that will address personal protection equipment concerns and requirements based on teams and unit missions. “Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that personnel have the proper equipment to complete their missions safely and effectively,” he explains. Sharon Goudy, project manager for the Mock Prison Riot, adds that the Mock Prison Riot also routinely offers workshops on
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defensive tactics, adhering to its core principle that the combination of training and technology saves lives. With assaults and violent acts being leading causes of injuries to corrections officers, stab-resistant offerings such as PPSS Cut and Slash Resistant Clothing by Body Armor USA have piqued interest during Mock Prison Riot demonstrations. “A unique feature of the Mock Prison Riot is our ability to demonstrate technologies on site and deploy them in realistic training scenarios,” Goudy reports.
regarding a chemical resistant glove option for law enforcement that will protect against exposure to fentanyl, which is dangerous to even come in contact with. Our recommended solution would be to wear one of our CP Insider or Alpha gloves that offer puncture and needle protection under a disposable nitrile glove. The nitrile will provide protection against fentanyl and other dangerous chemicals, while the Insider liner will provide needle protection.” Here’s a sampling of the latest protective gear and equipment for the corrections market:
Offering Comfortable Material
T-shirt Stab Vest System
Today’s cutting-edge vests protect officers from spike and shanks, yet while protection is paramount, they also offer comfort and wearability that are just as important to the user. These high-performance materials, combined with state-of-the-art designs, help maintain the armor’s comfort by staying lightweight and flexible, while still providing top-level protection. “Spike resistant vests are not new, but in the past, have been cost prohibitive and cumbersome to wear. Our new T-Shirt Spike Vest is designed with the latest technology in spike resistant armor combined with a covert Tshirt carrier,” says Gerrard Allison, director of Officers Only, a Bob Barker Company. “The vest is lightweight and the compression t-shirt design allows the vest to stay concealed when worn with an outer shirt, such as a polo or uniform shirt.”
Protection from Needles Toby Cummings, sales associate at Warwick Mills Inc., says they are still seeing a large interest in the need for hypodermic needle protection for corrections and law enforcement officers. “With the opioid crisis, we have been getting many questions 18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
The TSV T-shirt Stab Vest System from Officers Only is said to offer ultimate protection with maximum concealment. It features greater comfort than traditional concealed stab vests. It offers increased flexibility over other traditional concealed carri-
gear, gloves, protective knee and elbow pads and more. Attention to design, function and the smallest of details, along with the use of only the finest quality leathers and materials have delivered consistent and trusted protection to its customers. Its line continues to swiftly evolve as new technologies become available and are subsequently incorporated into its products. The FX-1 FlexForce Modular Hard Shell Crowd Control System is said to be ultimate high-threat level riot control, domestic disturbance, and cell extraction suit. Its design provides substantial protection from blunt force trauma without sacrificing the fit or comfort. www.damascusgear.com 1.800.451.4167
Tactical Response Shirt
ers and is machine washable for odor control. Made from polyester/spandex fabric with moisture wicking and anti-microbial properties, it is lined with zippered mesh pocket allows for easy installation of spike panels. Internal elastic waistband is said to ensure proper overlap and stability of panels. Designed to accommodate front and back spike panels, it comes in a unisex design and is available in black. www.OfficersOnly.com, 1.888.772.0246
The Defender Shirt from TruSpec features a contoured torso shape for an athletic fit. It features a Byron collar and 3-button placket for professional dress appearance. It offers durable polyester-cotton rip-stop sleeves and upper torso for abrasion resistance. Superior wicking and
PPE Gear Damascus provides the highest level of personal protection including full body riot control VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
fast drying capabilities pull moisture and perspiration away from the skin. Environmentally friendly FreshGuard treatment offers built-in natural odor neutralizer system to prevent bacteria growth. Epaulets and badge kit included. www.truspec.com or 1.844.256.8435
Protective Gloves First Tactical’s Slash & Flash Hard Knuckle Glove boasts a Kevlar lined palm that is Level II certified and a flame resistant Nomex jersey so you can be ready for any situation at hand. Finished with a hard, TPR knuckle protection and TouchTac fingertip this design comes together to give users the most complete and functional tactical glove available. www.firsttactical.com 855.665.3410
Tactical Vest Streamlined and highly effective, the Operator Gen II blends the functionality of a tactical vest with a simple carrier construction that’s geared for high performance. Ideal for tactical officers who need loadcarrying capabilities with the versatility to adapt to any operation, the Operator Gen II is said to hold up to the toughest demands while offering superior protection. It offers strong, durable 500 denier Cordura outershell construction. Carrier interior fabric constructed of Rashel nylon mesh. Outer front and back pockets accommodate hard armor plates. It’s available in black, coyote, multi-cam, ranger green, olive drab green, and wolf grey. www.pointblankenterprises.com or 1.800.413.5155
Wireless Prisoner Control The Stun-Cuff works by sending signals from electrical points to the Achilles tendon region of the ankle over a sock. On the wrist, it is placed directly on skin or over a sleeve on the inside of the forearm with the electrical points away from the palm. Once in place, it can be deployed should an inmate become non-compliant to officer comVISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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mands and a threat to the safety of others—delivering bursts of 50,000 volts remotely by a handheld transmitter that renders an inmate temporarily immobile. Each device can be fitted with a wireless remote and data port with a duty-belt holster and programmable keypad locking system capable of recording information, including date, time and duration for each discharge. www.stun-cuff.com or 1.303.986.0803
Electronic Typewriter Swintec Corporation produces a line of clear cabinet typewriters, clear cassette ribbons and supplies specifically designed for the corrections industry. The clear
hurled objects while maintaining maximum flexibility for tactical mobility. They work with law enforcement directly on designs to ensure its products are exactly what are needed for any crowd control event. www.havengear.com info@havengear.com
Ballistic Vest
typewriters and clear ribbon cassettes have helped to greatly reduce an ongoing problem of hidden contraband within the walls of correctional facilities in law libraries, education departments, inmate cells and inmate dorms. www.swintec.com, 1.800.225.0867
Riot Suit Haven Gear makes riot suits to maintain superior quality you can count on. Made to protect law enforcement during high threat-level crowd control events, its suits are fire resistant and multi-functional; shielding the wearer from direct contact and 20 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
The Enforcer 600 is said to be one of the thinnest, lightest and most flexible NIJ .06 Certified ballistic vest on the market. The Enforcer 6000 is 100% made in USA, using Core Matrix technology with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers from Honeywell and DuPont. It combines these in a thin, lightweight, low-stitch ballistic package. www.usarmor.com, 1.800.443.9798
full-face particle respirator mask designed to substantially reduce exposure to current and emerging threats including dry spores similar to Anthrax, bodily fluids, pepper spray, airborne particles, blood borne pathogens, and many more. The mask uses a hypoallergenic medical adhesive to form a complete facial perimeter seal, while a high efficiency filter works to purify the air for breathing. www.SABREred.com or 1.800.325.9568
Slash Shirt The Limber Slash Shirt is TurtleSkin’s (Warwick Mills) latest product for the law enforcement and corrections market. This product offers 80 newtons of protection built into the shirt and is HOSDB certified. This lightweight and comfortable garment is perfect for correction officers, police officers and other security personnel. www.turtleskin.com or 1.603.291.1023
Particle Respirator Mask SABRE-Security Equipment Corp. is the exclusive provider of the ReadiMask Adhesive Sealing Particle Respirator for the law enforcement and corrections market. The ReadiMask is the only adhesive sealing disposable VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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Diabetes Monitoring The Assure Platinum is the first auto-code meter designed for long-term care (LTC). Featureloaded and made for multi-resident use, it helps keep facilities in compliance with state regulations and eases infection control concerns. Precise and accurate strip chemistry is augmented by auto-
coding, which can reduce chances for user error. The Assure Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems are backed by the Assure Brilliance Program—a comprehensive service program for diabetes management in LTC.
tent provider or small group of providers to serve a regular caseload of consumers. These providers are available in set blocks of time to do anything that a traditional in-person telepsychiatry provider would offer.
www.arkayusa.com 1.800.818.8877
www.insighttelepsychiatry.com 1.856.797.4772
Scheduled Telepsychiatry
Drug Detection Software
The InSight team has been providing telepsychiatry services in a
International customs and law enforcement professionals asked for quick and effective detection
variety of settings and with consumers across all populations since 1999. InSight’s programs for outpatient organizations are run through its scheduled services division. With scheduled telepsychiatry, InSight assigns a consis-
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of drug containers hidden inside the human body. ADANI responded with DRUGUARD, state-of-theart technology to counter these ever-changing drug smuggling threats. In the matter of seconds ADANl’s intelligent software analyzes the images and outlines the suspicious areas where the drugs may be concealed. www.adanisystems.us 1.844.989.6789
Wastewater Solutions The XRipper, the twin-shaft grinder from Vogelsang, has been designed for an economical grinding of solids and foreign matter in fluids. It can be used in industrial wastewater plants or even in different processes in the chemical, food or recycling industry. Thanks to their robust Ripper rotors, the XRipper grinds different material without any problem of blockages and protect efficiently other system components as pumps. www.vogelsangusa.com 1.800.984.9400
Telehealth Services Aligned telehealth offers a number of behavioral telehealth services for correctional facilities. Telepsychiatry improves access to professional psychiatric care for inmate-patients, prevents unnecessary inmate movements and extends psychiatric coverage around the clock, minimizing delays and reducing the impact of behavioral emergencies. Live interactive, face-to-face digital consultations are done using state-of-the-art communications technology. www.alignedth.com 1.844.496.9160
Protective Shield for Bugs and Germs EKKO Bioscience provides products that are breakthroughs derived from successful research for non-toxic and environmentally friendly solutions to kill all manner of germs and infestations in facilities. CX Green is a spray that lasts 90 days for cockroach control. 1st VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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Place is a once-a year spray for germs and mold. Lastly, Lice Killer is a once-a-year spray that eliminates lice.
try. The program connects all critical systems including offender management system, pharmacy, diagnostics, and food service.
www.ekkobioscience.com, 1.844.822.9300
www.techcareehr.com, 1.800.834.2420
EHR System
Inmate Services
TechCare from Naphcare is a comprehensive EHR software system tailored specifically to the needs of correctional facilities. It utilizes a standard, proven archi-
CITCAT Affinity Program (Community Inmate Today ComApp Technology) is an affinity partnership between ComApp Technologies, its business partners, and correctional agencies that offer special rates and free communication and entertainment time to inmates
tecture that scales with your facility’s demands. It successfully manages some of the largest correctional institutions in the coun-
on CAT products and services. Inmates earn points based on progress in education programs and good behavior. The company offers phone services, tablets, video visitation, educational and entertainment apps and kiosk services. www.comapptech.com, 1.888.809.7014
Communication System for the Deaf The next generation UbiDuo 2 Text to Speech (TTS) from sComm has advanced face-to-face communication technology. This breakthrough communication device is the world’s first communication device with real-time, split-screen text, and dual text to speech for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, hearing and others with communication disorders. This communication solution allows two peo-
For more information contact jlunny@abc-companies.com www.abc-companies.com
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ple to communicate in real time using text, text to speech, and both at the same time. www.scomm.com 1.816.505.7008
Policy Management Lexipol is a leading provider of policy management resources for law enforcement organizations. It provides comprehensive, defensible policies written by legal and public safety professionals. Their legal and experienced public safety team instills complete confidence by constantly monitoring and reviewing government legislation and case decisions, they say. www.lexipol.com 1.844.312.9500
Analytical Solutions For more than a decade, Looking Glass Analytics has provided a range of analytic products and consulting services that help city, county, and regional jails bridge the gap between their need for information and their ability to produce it efficiently. The company also offers Jail4cast.com, a breakthrough online technology that makes it easy for local jails to create, track, and update sophisticated inmate population forecasts. To make use of Jail4cast.com, a client simply needs to upload inmate admissions and release records, set forecast assumptions for various jail population subgroups and run and use forecast results. www.lgan.com www.jail4cast.com 360.528.8970
Electronic Communications VendEngine offers comprehensive commissarybased software and hardware solutions for the corrections industry. The VendEngine platform is designed as an application-based modular system that can plug into any existing Jail Management System to deliver a comprehensive technology suite for your jail. The digital mail application allows VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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users to send electronic mail to inmates and also allows facilities to scan paper mail for inmates to view on kiosks rather than having to pass the mail through the facility to inmates. www.vendengine.com 1.855.836.3364
Mesh Panel Razor Ribbon’s Mesh Panel is the first line of defense to secure a perimeter, from Medium to High to Ultra High security fencing. It is an expanded metal panel with strands of Razor Ribbon secured
provides include: inmate calling services platform, video visitation and arraignment and content broadcasting systems. www.encartele.net 1.888.231.3393
Body Inspection System
www.razorribbon.com 1.740.928.1018
www.nuctech.com +86 13910312905
Credit Union Since 1970, Signature Federal Credit Unit has stood behind members of associations, businesses, alumni groups and charitable organizations to help them build their businesses, families and dreams with financial prod-
Communication Solutions Encartele develops and delivers solutions for correctional agencies. The company is committed to providing innovative technologies to make jails and prisons safer and more intelligent. Some of the solutions the company
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This durable Power Breezer commercial cooling fan can reduce heat-related injuries, improve productivity, and cool up to 3,000 square feet. This misting air circulator is portable and can reduce
The Nutech MW series Body Inspection System utilizes safe active millimeter wave imaging technology. It features multi-
modes of automatic threat detection and privacy protection. The compact unit offers high throughput and can easily detect non-metal/metal weapons, explosives, drugs and liquid hidden under or within clothing. on the panel. This system can accommodate the weight of additional perimeter security appurtenances including razor wire, surveillance equipment, and antitunneling expanded metal mesh panels.
Cooling Unit
temperatures by up to 27°F using an innovative atomizing technology that won’t get users or equipment wet. It features easy 2-min. setup, just add water and turn unit on. Integrated 100-gal. water tank can last up to 5 days. Unit can be used outdoors and in partially covered environments. Fan requires minimal maintenance and has no filters to clean or replace. www.grainger.com 1.800.472.4643
MedicationAssisted Treatment Opioid use and misuse can create brain changes that lead to addiction. Medication-assisted treat-
ucts and resources. The company is a non-profit organization and revenue generated from investments and loan interest goes back to its members, in the form of higher share savings dividends, lower loan rates, free or low-fee services.
ment is the use of anti-craving medicine such as Vivitrol along with comprehensive therapy and support—to help address issues related to opioid and alcohol dependence, including withdrawal, cravings and relapse prevention. Evidenced-based treatment approaches like this are often needed to successfully overcome addiction and maintain longterm recovery.
www.signaturefcu.org 1.800.336.0284
www.vivitrol.com 1-800-VIVITROL VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
MASKING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS
Mental health and substance disorder treatment providers work in separate silos of care, which tends to obscure diagnosing CODs.
ADDICTION
touches every part of a sufferer’s life: their health, relationships, employment, and in many cases, their liberty. It is a cunning disease that can hide and even convince its host that it doesn’t exist. On top of that, it can be masked by other disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that people addicted to drugs are about twice as likely to also suffer from anxiety and mood disorders. The two disor30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
ders have very different diagnoses, but they are often found in the same person. Categorization is important to medical practitioners who treat people with these issues because the terms can help to both define the disorder and describe how to deal with it. The term used to describe this is co-occurring disorders (COD), and many inmates in correctional facilities have them. In California alone, says Bill Sessa, information officer at the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, one third of all inmates require some form of mental health treatment. John Wilson, PhD, CCHP-MH, is vice president of Clinical Development at MHM, which provides, among other things, behavioral health services to correctional facilities. He points out that there are difficulties in treating inmates with co-occurring mental disorders and substance use disorders. Among the founda-
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tional challenges is the sheer volume. “The fact that the United States incarcerates so many people means that staff are typically challenged to find enough time to identify co-occurring disorders in an inmate-specific, patientcentric manner.” It is well documented that the vast majority of inmates with mental illness also suffer from substance use disorders. Says Wilson, “Co-occurrence is the expectation, not the exception.” On top of that, he furthers, knowing that CODs are so common among inmates does not help staff treat specific inmates. An addict must admit he or she has a problem, but that is only the first step. The work still needs to be done. Likewise, it is not enough for a practitioner to just know that a patient has both depression and a substance use disorder (SUD). “It is critical to understand how the substance use disorder— or disorders—intertwine with symptoms of the co-occurring mental illness.” For example, treatment professionals need to consider some specifics and determine if the patient is using illicit drugs or alcohol to mask symptoms or to self-medicate. The substances might be creating symptoms that mimic or exacerbate mental illness. The withdrawal symptoms can be long-lasting and might still present months after the inmate’s last use. It is a complex and complicated task. In order for a practitioner to identify COD to be helpful in treatment, “Treatment professionals need to get under the surface of the disorders to explore the disorders’ developmental trajectories and how substance use disorders and mental illness have grown up together in the inmate’s life, how they have amplified each other over time, and how the inmate has learned to cope with the symptoms of substance use disorders and the symptoms of mental illness.” The results are different for each patient.
Diagnostic Overshadowing Wilson also notes that a process called diagnostic overshadowing constitutes a major challenge for identifying and working with COD in inmates. It occurs when one diagnosis obfuscates another so that practitioners focus only on treating one of the disorders or fail to diagnose the other. For example, a patient with an opioid dependence
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might also have an underlying mood disorder, but if staff only focuses on the addiction, the mood disorder goes untreated. Substance use disorders, says Wilson, can both mask and mimic symptoms of mental illness, so the risks of diagnostic overshadowing are significant in diagnosing COD. “This approach is equivalent to having blinders on and not asking oneself what else might the symptoms be.”
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The way correctional treatment is frequently provided increases the risk of overlooking a COD. Typically, mental health staff focuses on mental health disorders, substance use disorder treatment staff focuses on substance use disorders, and communication between the two types of staff is often minimal. “Instead of a system of care that is integrated and coordinated, most correctional systems provide silos of care that are blind to each other. More often than not, substance use disorder treatment staff are not trained in treating mental illness; mental health staff are not trained in treating substance use disorders,” Wilson says. Diagnoses of co-occurring substance use disorders may be in the patient’s health record, but they are not really addressed in the patient’s treatment. In fact, many SUD treatment programs in correctional facilities require that the patient’s mental illness be treated before the patient can enter the SUD program. The mental illness is someone else’s job to treat. “Despite the popularity of using terms like integrated care and co-occurring disorders, most professional training programs do little to overcome these chasms in treatment delivery.” He furthers that the Georgia Department of Corrections is one of the only correctional systems in the nation that has implemented integrated facilities in which incarcerated patients with both mental illness and SUD can receive coordinated care for both types of disorders. “Their programs may be a national model for prisons.” Wilson notes that there seems to be a shift occurring regarding SUD. “In 2018, we are beginning to see patient advocates and attorneys begin to test the waters to see if courts are willing to extend the constitutional right to treatment to cover substance use disorders. At present, there is no well-tested, well-confirmed body of law that supports the claim 32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
that incarcerated patients have a constitutional right to substance use disorder treatment. This may change. Unlike the previous crack cocaine and methamphetamine epidemics, the current opioid epidemic appears to have catalyzed political will to make treatment available.” He furthers that this push is, at least in part, a result of the massive death toll the opioid epidemic has taken on communities. In many regions, the number of opioid deaths is higher than homicides and suicides combined, and
delivery. Not only are COD patients dealing with mental health issues, Wilson points out, they typically have a chronic medical condition that also requires treatment. For some incarcerated patients, something such as chronic back pain was the on-ramp to prescribed opioids that led to addiction, depression, and ultimately to criminal behavior. Others may have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis or other ailments and never learned how to properly manage their health. Many patients with
“Co-occurrence is the expectation, not the exception.” —John Wilson, Ph.D, CCHP-MH, Clinical Development, MHM courts and legislatures are under pressure to do something. “How many of these deaths involved individuals with co-occurring but overshadowed mental illness? How many fatal overdoses are masked suicides? We will probably never know, but the crisis is putting a spotlight on the need for treatment.” He furthers that states and advocacy groups are looking at mandating access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders. “We may also need to consider mandating access to recovery-oriented (non-pharmacological) treatment for co-occurring disorders. If substance use disorders are becoming increasingly fatal, it may be that patients who suffer from both substance use disorder and one or more mental illnesses are at greatest risk.
Integrating Systems of Service Delivery There are best practices for working with incarcerated patients who suffer from COD, and they require time, care, and integrated systems of service
COD have suffered multiple traumas, which may have been the catalyst of all three types of COD: medical, mental health, and substance use. “It takes time to disentangle these conditions. It takes careful exploration to understand the unique relationships among medical, mental health, and substance use disorders for the particular patient being treated. It takes care not to re-activate trauma-related emotions or to reexpose the patient precipitously to past trauma.” Wilson furthers, “Traumainformed care, not traumafocused care, is needed, and treatment professionals, like the proverbial blind men exploring an elephant, need to talk to each other. Regardless of profession, we are all treating the same human being. Whether it’s mental illness, chronic pain, or substance use, it may be that we’re all treating different aspects of a core condition that is evident in multiple symptom domains. Building routine multidisciplinary, collaborative meetings into daily or weekly schedules is key
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to providing coordinated care.” Time is a theme in corrections. It takes on a new meaning. It is how justice is served and measured, and recovery from mental illness, management of physical issues, and recovery from substance use takes time. Physical therapy for chronic pain takes time, practice, coaching, and encouragement. Time is a theme in SUD recovery as well. Success is measured in days, weeks, months, and years and measured by a day at a time. Residential treatment programs can take months or longer. While MAT may be effective, Wilson points
acuity patients will always need to be prioritized, our systems of care need to address patients with undetected or under-detected cooccurring disorders. We need to design and implement services for patients who are “pre-contemplation”—not yet contemplating the need for change—but who will predictably grow worse with time as the co-occurring disorders exacerbate each other. Motivational interviewing is the leading model for such patients.” Recovery takes behavioral adaptation, and for those changes to last it takes time and support, so residential or therapeutic commu-
patient into a community with no resources. This was, he notes, such a serious issue in Cook County, Illinois, that the Sheriff’s Office began staffing community mental health clinics that had been closed as a result of budgetary constraints. “We need to build integrated care into our community services, but we have to have those services in the first place.” Recovery cannot be imposed. It needs to be voluntary. Enhancing accountability without imposing bias or judgment key element success, says Wilson. Staff cannot change a patient’s behavior. Lecturing about sub-
Substance use disorders can both mask and mimic symptoms of mental illness, so the risks of diagnostic overshadowing are significant in diagnosing COD. out that by definition, the name indicates their role: to assist in therapy, not replace it. Talking therapies will remain essential. Not all patients with co-occurring substance use are ready or willing for change or undergo treatment. Incarcerated patients know what to say and how to stay under the radar. Practitioners in correctional facilities have limited time and resources, and staff tends to focus on inmates who acknowledge the need for treatment rather than those who avoid attention or deny SUD problems. “While high 34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
nity models will likely remain a major component of effective treatment for COD. For shortterm jail settings, treatment can typically only focus on withdrawal, diagnosis, stabilization of acute symptoms, and connection to community treatment resources. When COD patients are released to the community, they require continuation of treatment. Transition to the community is dangerous. As Wilson says, it does little good to mandate that treatment be available inside correctional facilities only to release the
stance use and blaming the patient for SUD have not proven to be successful. People who suffer from COD can recover from both (or all) afflictions, but they do so by recognizing and building on their own strengths. Patients need to be met where they are and encouraged to look to their futures. Then they need help getting there. “Successful treatment of co-occurring disorders, inside the walls and in the community, takes a village. Healing happens in community, not in isolation.” ✪
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BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
OPERATIONAL SOFTWARE OPTIONS An overview of high-tech JMS & OMS systems that manage accounting, housing, sentencing, inmate banking, incident reports, booking and release and more. OMS systems, such as this one from GTL, help keep a handle on everything an inmate needs from booking to conditions of release.
“Holy Caped Crusader! Batman has gone high-tech!” The Dallas Morning News goes on to say in a May 4 article the new Batman smart watch featured runs on a proprietary operating system, works with both iOS and Android phones, and offers five different faces, including the Bat Signal. With all that you can control with the Batman smart watch—music, camera, and even blue-tooth to help locate wallets, keys, phones— it shows just how high tech this millennium has become since the days of the television series and comic books. Managing operations of a facility and keeping track of everything offender related has metamor36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
phosed into that same high-tech universe. There are features that manage accounting, housing, sentencing, inmate banking, incident reports, as well as booking and release. Modules can provide or relate to CAD (computer-aided dispatch), commissary, RMS (record management systems), phone, EMR (electronic medical records), and visitation. Software can interface with VINE (victim information notification everyday), AFIS (automatic fingerprint identification system), or with other agencies such as community supervision and law enforcement to streamline processes and information disclosure. In the following guide, Jail
Management System (JMS)/ Offender Management Software/ Solutions (OMS) companies list their main criteria, features and highlights of their software. They include facility size or ADP (average daily population) relevancy factors and standings of GSA (General Services Administration) contractors or CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) compliancy. System configurations are detailed, such as SQL (Structured Query Language), a standard for managing information. A final cool feature would be for someone to add a Bat Signal, but we should probably leave that to the caped crusader collector’s crime-fighting smart watch.
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Sun Ridge Systems, Inc. InCustody
PTS Solutions PTS Platinum OMS
www.sunridgesystems.com Bryan Morehouse 725.300.7467, bryan@sunridgesystems.com
www.ptssolutions.com Staci Parrie, PTS Sales Division 888.831.5151, sales@ptssolutions.com
Description & O/S
Description & O/S
Integrated JMS to flagship CAD/RMS product RIMS Supports operations of jails having up to an ADP of 500 Server/client based SQL Database
OMS documents activity and manages facilities of any size, from basic booking rooms to full detention centers Client/server based system using Microsoft SQL Interfaces include: AFIS, VINE, commissary and inmate phone (both numerous vendors), also interfaces to other PTS modules
Tribridge, a DXC Technology company Tribridge Offender360 www.tribridge.com/offender360 success@tribridge.com
Description & O/S CJIS-compliant OMS offers seamless visibility/data-driven decision making for pretrial management, jail management, community corrections Microsoft-based; Web-based; Mobile; CJIS-compliant Cloud-ready; Configurable, Integrable, Scalable
Features
Features Manage booking from entry to release Manage multiple offenses Automatically creates associated persons reports (visitors, attorneys, etc.) Comprehensive inmate medical records system, including billing Jail incident management system (entering/tracking case reports) Commissary/financials Authorized items Inmate appointments Keep aways Gang/gang offender management Cell assignment/tracking Offense/court tracking including dispositions Warrant files Inmate property management Driver's license swipe enabled Multiple interfaces/integration options to inmate telephone, commissary, medical records systems Bar-coding
Features Booking/intake Activity tracking Group movement Greaseboard Watches Reporting Analytics Manage scheduled events Custom searches/prints User-defined inmate classification Agencies/users can customize workspace, field names, required elements, etc. Customizable intake wizard and classification system
End-to-end solution for jail operations including: Booking and release Case management Mobile pre-booking Risk assessments/classification Threat tracking Sentence calculation Trust accounting Visitation Program management Facility management Analytics, and more
Highlights Built on Microsoft technology/integrates with additional Microsoft products Advanced reporting/analytics to drive safe, informed decisions
Highlights Only C-COTS public safety software (CustomizableCommercial Off The Shelf) Part of brand-new Platinum Suite Flexible system gives user what they need, allows them to hide what they don’t use, results in user interface customized for the agency down to the user
Highlights Easy to use, tried and tested In 20th year of supported development 38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
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GTL (Global Tel Link) GTL Offender Management System www.GTL.net
Diversified Computer Systems, Inc. (DCS, Inc.) Jail Management Software
Description & O/S
www.dcs911.com wendy@dcs911.com
Complete management from booking through release Includes trust accounting package/audit tools to improve overall facility management Over 180 modules to cover complete range of jail management needs Customized management Web-based system
Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp. SallyPort 4.0 www.Blackcreekisc.com salesinfo@blackcreekisc.com
Description & O/S Description & O/S Future-proof software All DCS applications: Run on any device that supports a browser Are not browser-specific Integrate with all DCS applications, i.e. CAD, RMS, Field Report Writing, etc.
Fully-featured, browser-based Developed exclusively to efficiently meet the record management needs of county jails regardless of size or complexity User customizable/user configurable Fully integrates with third-party applications
Features
Features
Inmate modules store all information related to a specific inmate, including: Booking–questions, property, alias, clothing Housing–classification, inmate status, keep separates Assessments–psychiatric, suicide risk Commissary–purchases, restrictions Medical–background, visit information, treatment schedule, medications, diet Case Management–arrest, charges, bond, hearings, sentencing Programs–requests, phone log, visitation history, re-entry plan Release–pre-release, permanent release, conditions of release Administrative modules provide tools for configuring the OMS to a facility’s unique needs
Intake/booking Offender party information/identification Property management Housing Inmate calendaring/event scheduling Inmate records Warrants/detainers Sentencing/time calculation Nutritional services Classification/assessment Movements/transfers Population management Violations/disciplinary actions Grievance/complaints Offender employment Offender associations/intelligence Visitation/mail Education/library Programs/activities Inmate banking/restitution Commissary sales/inventory Pre-release processing Probation/parole Community supervision Social services
Design mode Admissions/intake Inmate contacts Incidents/disciplinary Grievances Charges/holds/outdate calculation Head count/inmate movement Dashboard Classification Property Scanned document management Health services (EMR) Customizable work queues/work flows Intra-agency messaging Pre release checklist Electronic shift log/watch tour Paperless operations
Highlights
Highlights
Three different versions: Lite, Full, Prison 24x7 support Rapid deployment of mug shots to all types of mobile devices Updates online inmate roster six times a day Integrates with RFID GSA federal contractor, womanowned business
Ability to run on any device Customizable screens, data fields, logs, forms and assessment instruments Complete EMR with e-prescribe Can easily be customized to conform to the needs of the end user rather than vice versa
Highlights Integrates seamlessly with wide array of systems including commissary, inmate trust fund, facility kiosk, inmate banking, and more User-suggested upgrades/changes incorporated into every major release
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Features
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018 39
TriTech Software Systems Inform Jail www.tritech.com/solutions/inform /inform-jail
TriTech Software Systems/Zuercher Technologies Zuercher Jail
Description & O/S
www.zuerchertech.com/solutions/zuercher/zuercher-jail
Designed to heighten security/integrity of correctional facilities Full-featured solution enables facilities to monitor/record inmate activities Can operate as a highly configurable stand-alone application or integrate with Inform RMS for master name sharing, warrants, and more
Description & O/S
Full-featured, highly-configurable solution designed to streamline jail processes/automate the flow of critical inmate information among staff Implements both as stand-alone application and as part of Zuercher Suite, a full public safety software application
Features
Inform Jail includes all facets of inmate management: Configurable booking/release wizards Sentence calculation Operations status dashboard Integrate with vendors for commissary, fingerprint, victim notification, phone/video visitation
Configurable booking/release wizards Custom forms Inmate tracking Incident reports Discipline Classification Alerts Jail billing Sentence calculation Transports Inmate property/bank Record sealing Reporting
Increases agency efficiency with barcoded transport/movement, narrative templates, preconfigured classification questionnaires Reporting capabilities allow agencies to build custom reports on top of a variety of built in reports Highly-configurable system efficiently manages day-to-day operations from booking intake through processing up to release Intuitive, easy-to-use user interface makes training and end users adapt easily
www.tylertech.com 1.800.431.5776, cjsales@tylertech.com
Description & O/S
Features
Highlights
Tyler Technologies Odyssey Jail Manager
Part of the Odyssey product suite—a platform that delivers features to automate business processes/protect secure information. Automates business processes to drive efficiencies at intake, release, everything in between Provides seamless integration between Jail Manager, Attorney Manager, Case Manager, Supervision, Law Enforcement, providing end-to-end access among justice partners to realtime information
Features
Highlights Custom dashboards, workflows, reporting tool available for users to stay up-to-date on critical information they need, when they need it Highly-configurable system manages day-to-day operations from inmate movement to gang activity tracking to inmate release
Automated workflow processes move data in real time Track intake/release processes/ inmates’ physical location Define classification/assign housing Manage inmate behaviors Calculate sentence accounting, including weekenders, work release Monitor programs/services Seamless integration among justice agencies enables immediate access to critical information about inmates, creating a chain of efficiencies, including the automatic flow of information from one agency to the next, while maintaining protective layers of security around sensitive data
Highlights Integrates with court and law enforcement, providing justice partners access to critical information about inmates, increasing secure data sharing, eliminating redundant data entry, reducing errors and keeping inmates, staff and public safe. 40 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Private Versus Public Probation Services Removing the cost of probation from the government budget sounds like it’s too good to be true. It may well be.
PRIVATE
probation services are not inherently wrong. Their premise sounds promising. Line up their interests with those of the court and the public, and they can ease the burden from probation staff, freeing them up from a crushing number 42 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
of cases that can leave clients with little quality supervision. Private probation services are in place in a number of states— 1,000 court systems across at least 10 states were using private probation services in 2014—predominantly imposed for misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, possession of small quanti-
ties of illegal drugs or petty theft, and criminal traffic offenses, including driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, not maintaining vehicle insurance, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The incentive to privatize criminal justice services in many states is fueled by budgetary
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shortfalls. Private probation companies shift the cost of supervision from the state to the system’s “users,” meaning the cost of probation is “free” to the courts, an attractive option in the era of shrinking budgets and rising costs. However, at issue with private companies is that they have direct financial interest, meaning the longer the client is on probation the longer they are paid. Sound like a conflict of interest? It may well be. The issue is growing because over the past few years, to alleviate jail overcrowding and the more expensive route of incarceration, agencies in the U.S. are increasingly turning to probation services to serve a criminal sentence in lieu of jail time. Traditionally performed by state agencies or local law enforcement, probation supervision for misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases has in many states been outsourced to for-profit, private companies. According to 2014 research by the group Human Rights Watch, every year, U.S. courts sentence several hundred thousand people to probation and place them under the supervision of for-profit companies for months or years at a time. The practice has led to a number of abuses, according to a Human Rights Watch follow-up report Set Up To Fail, released this past February. The report focuses on the impact of private probation on people living in poverty in four states: Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. (Its first report, Profiting from Probation: America’s Offender-Funded Probation Industry, focused on the private probation industry in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.) The recent report noted indigent clients were required to not only pay a court fine, but pay supervision fees each month, as well as paying for random drug
and alcohol tests, even though that person may not have been charged with a substance-related offense. They may also be ordered to pay for rehabilitation courses and fees for electronic monitoring. If they don’t pay, it could lead to jail time or driver’s license revocation. In one such case, the client Cindy Rodriguez, a 53-year old woman living in Tennessee, who had never been in trouble, was arrested for shoplifting. Living on her $753 monthly disability check, she was placed on probation for 11 months and 29 days under the supervision of Providence Community Corrections, Inc. (PCC), a private company that had contracted with the Rutherford County government. She owed the court $578 for the fine and associated fees, and on top of that she would have to pay PCC a $35-45 monthly supervision fee, which is typical. Unable to make the payments, she lost her van, her apartment, and sometimes couldn’t afford basic necessities like food. She spiraled into a cycle of violations. Many of the individuals in the four states who were studied were living below the poverty line. Set Up to Fail noted: “The same individuals who qualify for a courtappointed public defender or government benefits, such as food stamps and housing support, may still be ordered by courts to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars not only in fines levied as punishment for an offense, but in various fees and other surcharges. Courts bill defendants for prosecutors, public defenders, jailing and transportation, and other costs associated with the court, as well as unrelated fees, like the sheriff’s retirement fund or brain injury trust funds.” In all four states researched for the report, if probationers cannot pay for the direct or indirect costs of probation, they face a number of legal consequences, including jail time. But, according to Human
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Rights Watch: “The incarceration of people who do not pay fines and fees because they are genuinely unable to pay was outlawed in 1983 by the U.S. Supreme Court, yet it remains a reality.” The 2018 report found that private probation companies exert significant control over the lives of people on probation. Private probation companies in imposing fees, ordering drug and alcohol tests, and mandating courses and other treatment, can financially ruin the probationer. And if the person does not fulfill all the terms and conditions, they can issue a violation of probation or issue a court summons or an arrest warrant. The report further states: Many probationers interviewed for this report said their probation officers made threatening or coercing statements when they did not have enough money to pay for their supervision and other conditions. In all four states researched for this report, after being arrested or summoned to court, a probationer will have to go before a judge once again, potentially through several hearing dates, and may be subject to additional court costs and fines, extended probation periods, new probation conditions, jail time, and new opportunities to fail.” In fact, Human Rights Watch found “few instances in these four states where individuals were incarcerated because they were unable to pay court costs and probation supervision fees. However, research in the four states reveals that people more often face incarceration for inability to pay for additional probation requirements, including court-mandated classes or background checks.” Worsening the outcomes, the report continued, “Some probationers, fearing the consequences of reporting to probation without enough money in hand, stop reporting entirely. As a result, probationers were not facing incarceration for failing to pay CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018 43
their fines and fees, but rather for ‘proxies’ for failure to pay, including not completing classes, submitting to drug tests and treatment....[and others].” In some of the states researched by Human Rights Watch, unpaid fines and court costs can result in a suspended or revoked driver’s license, “which can be the result of private probation officers applying payments to probation rather than court costs. A revoked driver’s license can have a catastrophic impact, as many people on probation feel that they have no choice but to drive, particularly in the rural regions of the states studied for this report, though this can have criminal consequences, including going back on private probation. This endless cycle of criminal charges, probation, and debt can trap some until they have no option left but jail. Those who can pay down their debts usually escape the cycle.”
Class Action Suit
In October 2015 a class action lawsuit was filed against a private probation firm alleging it is violating racketeering laws by jailing impoverished people who fail to pay court fines for traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses, and by refusing to waive fees for the indigent. The lawsuit in Tennessee, filed by Equal Justice Under Law, a civil rights group, describes a financial arrangement between the county and Providence Community Corrections that is typical in many respects: The county pays nothing to the company, which earns money instead by charging monthly fees to probationers as well as surcharges for drug tests, warrants and other services. The plaintiffs in the suit stated that the company even refused to let destitute probationers complete their required community service hours without first paying a community service fee. 44 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018
Private probation is an attempt to lighten the load of caseworkers that struggle to keep up with burgeoning caseloads. Plus they are client funded, making the cost “free” to the government.
In a commentary article, “The Free-market Case Against Privatized Probation,” published in the Washington Post just after the lawsuit was brought, writer Radley Balko says that while private probation is not a terrible thing, there are several problems with the practice. First, the arrangement gives the company a direct financial interest in the length of probationary periods. It also gives it broad powers to set the conditions of probation, including such requirements as forbidding alcohol consumption regardless of the nature of the offense....” Balko furthers, “The purpose of probation is to rehabilitate exoffenders and reintegrate them into society. A private probation company whose revenue comes from probationers has a strong incentive to keep ex-offenders on probation for as long as possible. Every reformed ex-offender who successfully transitions out of the probation system is one less source of revenue.” State-run probation isn’t without its problems, Balko believes. “If public officials see probation more as a way to collect revenue than to rehabilitate, it’ll be fraught with the same problems we’ve seen with the private systems in Georgia, Tennessee and elsewhere. But even most hardcore limited government types
acknowledge that public safety is a legitimate function of government. The priorities of a probation system should be to maximize public safety and to transition into society those ex-offenders who can be rehabilitated (which is also a part of maximizing public safety).” Balko concludes that in theory the courts and private probation services could align the incentives in a productive way. For example, he says, a county could set up a contract in which a private probation company gets paid for each person it successfully gets off of probation. He states: “Yes, a properlyincentivized private probation system could in theory work, and would probably not only be cheaper in the long run, but also be better for both probationers and for the larger community. But such a properly-incentivized contract just isn’t politically feasible. Consequently, privatized probation just isn’t feasible. It will inevitably be implemented in a way that might save the local government money, at least on paper, but undermines the ultimate goal of probation, which is bad for both probationers and for public safety. “If public officials demand it, a state-run probation system can cease putting a priority on generating revenue pretty quickly,”
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Balko continues. “A private company isn’t ever going to stop prioritizing revenue. That’s sort of the whole point of being a private company. Which means that the moment you privatize a service like probation, you’ve made revenue a priority. And there’s just no politically realistic way of doing that that doesn’t defeat the entire purpose of probation.” Recently we have seen change. Lawsuits have been won against some of the private companies that were ruled to have abuses. In September 2017, the class action suit in Tennessee was settled with PCC and Rutherford County agreeing to pay $14.3 million, according to News Channel 5/Scripps Media, Inc. in Nashville. The lawsuit claimed that people unable to pay those fees often had the probation revoked and ended up in the Rutherford Jail. After the suit was brought, the county severed its relationship with PCC and handled their misdemeanor probation cases themselves. As part of the settlement, Rutherford County agreed never to contract with another private probation company and to waive fees for poor people on probation. Human Rights Watch, while not condemning private probation services, believes that the practices need to improve. “The focus on criminal justice debt and its impacts on people living in poverty has gained increased public attention in recent years, though much action is still needed to correct these abusive practices. Some states, like Kentucky and Tennessee, have increasingly regulated excesses in the private probation industry, yet implementation and oversight are sorely lacking. States need to do more to ensure that courts and private probation companies are not acting abusively because of their incentive to maximize profits, and that they instead provide quality services with the intent of supporting individuals to successfully complete probation.” ✪
Continued from page 15 based, vendor agnostic ordering system, inmates can peruse and shop commissary offerings during their kiosk sessions and make purchases directly from the JPay interface. Additionally, the company can implement a secure iframe on the kiosks, which allows inmates to securely order
• •
•
• • through the current commissary vendor’s ordering portal without accessing the internet. And, any facility that offers JPay tablets has the option to utilize a complete commissary management system available on both the JP5 device as well as the JPay kiosk. As the first vendor to offer correctionsspecific electronic money transfer, the company’s inmate banking service is used by millions of friends and family who send their incarcerated loved ones money so they can buy what they need. For further information on JPay, A Securus Technologies Company, email Sales@JPay.com.
• •
accounting and banking software that is very easy to learn and use A passionate devotion to order accuracy and on-time delivery Web Services (Deposits and Commissary) for friends and family in distant locations E-Commissary for jails that don’t want inmate trust accounts Care Packs featuring top selling products 24 hour help line with inhouse Tiger technical staff Point of Purchase Materials for increase commissary sales A dedicated website for inmate friends and family to order commissary and/or place funds on inmates account, 24/7. Web analytics show over 50% of Tiger customers prefer to order via a smartphone. Our responsive website makes it easy. For further information visit www.tigercommissary.com call 1.877.844.3726 extension 211 or email Jenna Waddill at JWaddill@tigercommissary.com.
Smooth Operations Tiger Correctional Services is a nationally recognized innovator in corrections commissary. Since 1999 we have recognized that our customers’ primary focus is a smoothly operating system, the company reports. We asked what we could do to help with commissary. The answers were simple: • Make it simple for friends and family to put money on inmate accounts • Make it easy to order • Get the orders right • Get the orders in on time • Make sure the inmate accounts are charged correctly • Minimal jail staff involvement • Immediate help Innovations include: • Simple, powerful inmate
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CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2018 45
AD INDEX Page No.
EHR System TechCare from Naphcare is a comprehensive EHR software system tailored specifically to the needs of correctional facilities. It utilizes a standard, proven architecture that scales with your facility’s demands. It successfully manages some of the largest correctional institutions in the country. The program connects all critical systems including offender management system, pharmacy, diagnostics, and food service. www.techcareehr.com, 1.800.834.2420
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Systems, Inc................29 TrinityServices
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Wexford Health Sources..5 This advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers only. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions.
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