MAY/JUNE 2017 VOL. 26 NO. 3
Coping with Mental Illness
ROAD TO RECOVERY CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
69 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755
Corrections Forum
PROGRAMS THAT WORK
Jail Software from A to Z
CORRECTIONS
FORUM
Publisher & Executive Editor
Thomas S. Kapinos Assistant Publisher
Jennifer A. Kapinos
MAY/JUNE 2017
Associate Publishers Art Sylvie Peggy Virgadamo (480) 816-3448 asylvie@cox.net
(718) 456-7329 pegpaulv@aol.com
West
4 12 20 30 36 42
The Pulse
Northeast Central U.S. Sales Managers Bonnie Dodson (828) 479-7472
Editor-in-Chief
Donna Rogers
AJA Conference & Jail Expo Product Guide
Contributing Editors Michael Grohs, Kelly Mason, Bill Schiffner, G.F. Guercio Art Director
Jamie Stroud
Jail Management Software From A to Z
Coping with Inmate’s Mental Illness
CORRECTIONS FORUM
(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:
CORRECTIONS FORUM
Road to Recovery Community Supervisory Programs That Work
Ad Index
Subscription Department 69 Lyme Rd. Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-6551 Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions for non-qualified personnel, United States only, is $60.00. Single copy or back issues - $10.00 All Canada and Foreign subscriptions are $90.00 per year. Free digital “issues” are available for qualified Canadian and Foreign Subscribers — Go to www.correctionsforum.net Printed in the United States of America, Copyright © 2017 Criminal Justice Media, Inc.
Main Offices 565 Pier Avenue PO Box 213 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (310) 374-2700
MASS. CORRECTIONAL EXPENDITURES RISE, WHILE INMATE NUMBERS DECREASE Massachusetts is spending more on its county jails and state prisons, despite the fact that there are fewer inmates in them, according to a new report. Released in May, the report from the nonpartisan think tank Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC) found that overall spending on correctional facilities has increased by 18 percent over the past five years, while the population in these facilities has dropped by 12 percent. The Bay State spent $181 million more on its county jails and state prisons in fiscal year 2016 than it did in fiscal year 2011, according to the report. These facilities, however, held 2,900 fewer people over this time. Spending per each inmate rose 34 percent, says the report, which was done in partnership with the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition. Rising employee wages and new hiring is the primary cause of spending growth. In fact, the report found that employee compensation accounted for 84 percent of the
overall spending increase. In fact, the 18 percent growth rate for state and county correctional facilities was more than 1.5 times faster than the rate of increase for state K-12 education aid, and twice the pace of growth for general local aid. (A related survey conducted in late April by MassINC found that over 40 percent of voters in Massachusetts think that there are too many incarcerated people in Massachusetts, and more than 50 percent of voters believe that inmates are more likely to commit another crime once they leave prison “because they’ve been hardened by their prison experience.”) The report also pointed out that the expenditure patterns do not reflect the many steps correctional leaders have taken in recent years to introduce evidence-based, recidivism-reduction practices. Rather, they underscore the need for budget-makers to take a more active role helping correctional administrators overcome the inertia that makes it difficult to reallocate dollars within thier agencies. To increase public safety and reduce costs, budget-makers must also provide leadership by actively moving resources from the corrections system to community-based treatment for individuals with serious behav-
CORRECTIONS EXPENDITURE SHIFTS The report, Getting Tough on Spending, offers four recommendations: 1. Create a line item in correctional budgets for evidence-based services. 2. Create a strong mechanism to divert resources and defendants from the justice system to behavioral health services. 3. Create a strong mechanism for reinvestment in high incarceration- rate communities. 4. Improve data reporting on correctional expenditures and outcomes. 4 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
ioral health disorders. For the full report see https://massinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Getting-Tough-onSpending-1.pdf
A FRESH TAKE ON ENDING THE JAIL-TO-STREET-TO-JAIL CYCLE A program launched in April 2017 in New York City by Christie Thompson provides apartments for repeat offenders who have cycled in and out of jail for years, usually on low-level drug charge, according to The Marshall Project (05/10/2017). The program identifies frequent offenders and offers them permanent housing and support services on release, an initiative that will save the city some $16,000 per person compared to the costs of returning them to jail. Services include addiction treatment and counseling. Similar programs have been started in other cities across the country. For the full story see: www.themarshallproject.org.
NEW TECHNOLOGY USED TO ID OFFENDERS The Milwaukee County Jail is using new technology to keep tabs on inmates. It's called the Inmate Recognition and Identification System, or IRIS, according to CNN and WSAW-TV News. No two IRIS' are alike. The system compares the iris to the more than 1 million stored in a secure national database, put there by 150 different law enforcement agencies that use the technology across the country. "With a fingerprint we have to send that out and it can take an hour to two hours to get that information back. With this iris scan we get into the national registry and we get the information back in 20
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
seconds," said Milwaukee County Jail Inspector Aaron Dobson. BI2 Technologies envisions the FBI taking over the database at some point, like with fingerprints. The data which is encrypted on both ends can really only be used for identification purposes.
CALIFORNIA SHIFTS FROM SCANNERS TO DOGS TO CATCH SMUGGLERS As a three-year, $15.3 million program that used a variety of techniques to try to stop contraband from entering California correctional facilities comes to an end, the state has decided not to continue many of the technical aspects of the program.
6 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
That effort tested the extensive use of airport-style scanners, metal detectors, surveillance cameras, urine tests and drug-sniffing dogs at 11 of California's 35 prisons, according to an Associated Press article covered by U.S. News and World Report. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Public Policy Institute of California found that it cut drug use by nearly 25 percent at three prisons with the most intensive programs, but it had little effect elsewhere. They also found no measureable decline in prison violence, although that had been one of the program's goals. Thus, funds will instead go to-
ward ensuring that each prison has a minimum of two dogs that will sniff out contraband, including cellphones and drugs. Facilities will also continue to use a less intensive technological approach. Assemblyman Tom Lackey of Palmdale, the top Republican on two prison oversight committees, emphasized that “we need to focus on stemming the flow of drugs," he said in a statement. "We need to continue monitoring this problem and evaluating what the best response is." He and Sen. Joel Anderson of Alpine, the ranking Republican on the Senate's prison oversight committees, said it is important to cut drug use because of the harm it
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
does both inside prisons and when inmates are paroled.
8,000 COLO. INMATES GIVEN COMPUTER TABLETS Eight thousand prison inmates in Colorado have been given computer tablets with the ability to call loved ones from the inside, play games, read books, and listen to music, according to a story in Breitbart News reported by The Denver Post. For instance, inmates at Four Mile Correctional Center in Cañon City can make calls on the new tablets anytime between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. They can also use the same device to listen to tunes from a streaming cache of 12 million
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
songs, read books or play video games. GTL Corp’s Inspire pilot program seeks to distribute tablets to over 18,000 prison inmates, and eventually to every prisoner in the United States, according to the newspaper article. It has met with mixed reaction. Inmates have said it focuses their minds on positive things, while a victims group complains that inmates should not be given a device that can help them continue their criminal enterprises in prison. Though GTL is giving out the tablets free-of-charge to prisoners, there is a potential profit to be made through their use. A two-month subscription for
one prisoner to access a database of music and games costs $6.59, while text messages are 25 cents each. A 20-minute phone call costs around $2 to $3. As well as entertainment and education, the tablets can also be used to file complaints, order snacks, contact medical staff, and sign up for prison programs. Despite their ability to contact others outside of the prison, the tablets are not connected to the Internet, and inmates are unable to contact others in the prison through the devices. There are also no violent video games available. In fact, one inmate noted the most violent game they are permitted to play is the innocuous Angry Birds.
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 7
BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
2017 AJA CONFERENCE & JAIL EXPO
Draws Big Crowds in Orlando
T
he American Jail Association’s (AJA) 36th Annual Conference in Orlando wrapped up last month with four days of educational workshops, product introductions and industry networking. Nearly 1,000 jail administrators and managers, correctional and training officers, county commissioners, and other industry personnel from across the country gathered at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida to check out innovative options for management of inmates, kick the tires on new and emerging technologies and products, and discuss the latest issues affecting the operations of jails. The conference also featured tours of the Osceola County Corrections and the Orange County Corrections facilities.
Timely Workshops One of the top workshops during the conference was “Mental Health First Aid: Tools for Use by 12 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
Staff in a Jail Environment.” Speakers included George Wilson, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Nicole Primus, New York Department of Correction, and Patricia Guy, also New York DOC. Participants learned how to access “free” mental health training that could be available in their jurisdictions. Having a great partnership with behavioral health providers will open the door for an assortment of hands-on training opportunities useful for interaction with those who live with mental illness and are incarcerated, it was discussed. Mental health first aid training is a critical block of instruction that can augment the skills already possessed by custody staff, they noted. The workshop “Suicides and Critical Incident Staff Debriefings” offered another packed session. Speakers included Kevin Dickson, CPM, CJM, Passaic County Jail and Judy Couwels, MA, LMFT, Broward Sheriff's Office. This workshop introduced participants to critical incident stress management
teams. Participants learned to consider jail suicides as critical incidents and how to manage the lingering stress that may be felt by responding staff. It also provided information on what a debriefing is and how it can help the responding staff (post incident). The panelists all discussed the basics of a critical incident stress management team, who should be involved, and the benefits.
200+ Exhibitors on Hand Finally, over 200 exhibitors were on the show floor displaying the latest in high-tech for the corrections market. The exhibit hall offered a large contingent of technology and health care companies showcasing new hardware and software solutions as well as new health care programs and commissary services. Looking ahead, the next AJA conference will take place April 22-25, 2018 in Sacramento, Calif. Here’s a look back at some of the top products that were on display in Orlando:
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Automated Systems Risk is everywhere. Spartan by GUARDIAN RFID is a weapon of mass data collection that protects and empowers on every budget. Spartan is an ultra-rugged, Android-based device purpose built for corrections professionals. Equipped with RFID, Wi-Fi, Push-to-Talk, high-resolution imaging, and more, Spartan helps standard four camera monitoring system. The unit is equipped with seatbelts for both officers and inmates, two fire extinguishers, and emergency egress releases. Ample storage is provided under the benches as well as lockable storage to store weapons safely and efficiently. www.bobbarker.com, 1.888.772.0253
Tablet System Technology should make life easier without creating new responsibilities for your staff. So why is it so difficult to find a solution that can deliver both? At Tech Friends, they create real solutions based on real life issues in the corrections environment.
With Swintec’s speciallydesigned, Clear Cabinet Typewriters you will: • Avoid wasted time and added hassles of inspection • Eliminate potential product damage during disassembly for inspection • Save on costly repairs and reimbursements • Reduce confiscations and paperwork • Prevent future contraband Discover why federal and state correctional facilities in almost every state put their trust in Swintec.
www.swintec.com
you gain operational dominance by running corrections most widely used mobile platform to automate security rounds, positive ID headcounts, inmate activity logging and more. Integration with a jail management system helps empower a staff to take care of business with lighting fast superiority, and command and control, the company reports. www.guardianrfid.com, 1.855.777.RFID (7343)
Transport System The VanCell Elite allows for up to 13 inmates to be transported at one time, with two inward-facing benches separated by a mid-wall in the rear, and a bench in the front with a segregation door for isolation. Officers can watch every move inmates make with a 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
That’s why they didn’t just design a tablet, they designed the entire tablet ecosystem. From a tablet case that virtually eliminates tampering to a docking station that controls inmate access via touchpad, the Tech Friends InTouch tablet system is the answer for correctional environments, the company says. www.techfriends.com, 1.870.933.6386
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Dynamic Displays JailCall is revolutionizing the way inmate information is shared with the jail’s visiting public. Using LCD monitors and the jail’s existing jail management system, the JailCall software can display an inmate’s name, bond
information, status and more to visitors seeking information. The bright displays are easy to read and instantly inform visitors, alleviating your staff from having to field questions about inmates. www.infax.com, 1.770.209.9925
Walkthrough Caster Set Garrett’s Walkthrough Caster Set is said to be ideal for corrections and court facilities. The casters allow full mobility of a Garrett PD 6500i walk-through
Communications Software Securus Technologies announced the release of the latest version of its industry-leading Investigator Pro platform. The newest version includes the cutting-edge solution—Searchable
Voice. The new software gives investigators the ability to select a voice sample from either the inmate or called party side of an inmate’s telephone call and then use that sample to search for all other calls where that voice occurs. The Searchable Voice feature makes it possible to follow an individual voice, not just the Personal Identification Number (PIN) or telephone numbers. https://securustech.net, 1.972.277.0656
works seamlessly with records management systems, commissary systems, inmate telephone systems, and other third-party applications to promote information sharing and automation of many of the booking and recordkeeping tasks of any size detention facility. From intake to release, SallyPort helps agencies ensure due process and increase efficiency in operations, reducing the time spent and thus the administrative costs associated with managing inmate records. www.blackcreekisc.com/jms, 1.205.949.9900
Real-time Inmate Location TimeKeeping Systems manufactures systems for documenting well-being checks, cell checks and suicide watches. The Guard1 sys-
Jail Management System SallyPort is a web-based, enterprise class, fully agency-configurable jail management system developed exclusively to meet the
tem also provides real-time inmate location and movement, and records provided medical services, medication and more. The firm also offers duress devices for officers and staff emergency signaling. www.guard1.com, 1-800-THE-PIPE.
Inmate Management System metal detector by one person. Detectors can be moved to a secure location when they are not in use and provide an unimpeded exit at the close of an event. The caster assembly is constructed of durable, powder-coated steel for use in all types of environmental conditions. www.garrett.com, 1.972.494.6151 16 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
management needs of local, city, and county-level jails. Complete user-configurability allows SallyPort to meet the quick changing needs of any agency. The simplicity and ease of use of the software makes the process of booking and detention as efficient and simple as possible. It
COMPAS is a dynamic inmate management software tool that can interface with a Jail Management System to provide a comprehensive decision support mechanism for inmate classification operations. The software contains a nationally recognized Decision Tree—the only software permitted for automation of the instrument—for Primary Classification and Reclassifications/
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Commissary Programs With a full suite of programming for offenders and staff, Aramark is able to customize their services, programs and technology Classification Reviews. The software Suite also contains Medical/Mental Health/Suicide Screenings, PREA Screening and Response functionality, PTSD Screening and reporting, inmate housing management, gang management, inmate program management, inmate complaint/grievance management, and a robust reporting capability. www.equivant.com/, 1.800.406.4333
Security Systems ASSA is a premier manufacturer of mogul cylinders meeting the UL 437 high security and the ASTM 1577 detention lock standards. ASSA mogul cylinders and master key systems are used in a wide variety of detention lock systems for the protection and reliability provided by the Twin dual locking mechanism. ASSA offers a full line of cylinders designed to retrofit most U.S. lock manufacturers’ grade 1 locksets, exit devices & auxiliary locks. www.assalock.com, 1.800.235.7482
to fit the unique needs of a facility, in order to help you grow business. Aramark thanks attendees for visiting their booth during the conference and looks forward to the opportunity to partner with them to deliver these solutions. www.aramark.com/corrections
ID and Tracking Solutions Endur ID builds customizable Identity and Tracking Solutions for detainees and inmates. Endur ID’s Solution includes Secure MAX Identification Wristbands, which are produced in color and are water resistant and durable, paired with the Secur Loc Clasps for wristband security. Completing the solution is the IDMX Identification Manage-ment Software, designed to manage and produce identification bands, as well the Secure Trak Bar Coded Tracking Solutions to
track and record Detainees activities within the facility using handheld scanners. www.endurid.com, 1.603.758.1488
Detection Device Cellsense Plus offers unmatched detection capabilities in screening for cell phones, weapons and other dangerous contraband. It is highly versatile, for use at checkpoints and within the facility such as in the yard, mailroom, housing units, and loading docks. Featuring unique detection technology, Cellsense Plus is effective at screening people for contraband, including those items that are internalized, and identifying the presence of cell phones whether they are on or off. Set up in as little as 30 seconds, Cellsense Plus does not require calibration, and it is nonemitting, making it safe for all individuals. www.metrasens.com, 1.630.541.6509
Pouched Meals Union Supply took their top pouched meal sellers and developed them in their own private label making them affordable,
great tasting commissary items (not to mention Halal certified). Pancho’s Cantina items are Roast Beef in Gravy, Shredded Beef and both regular and spicy Beef Crumbles. www.unionsupplygroup.com, 1.310.604.4626 18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Management Software: Integration from A to Z From an offender’s Arrest to their ZIP code upon release, these software programs keep track of offenders at all times and places, throughout the criminal justice ecosystem.
INFORMATION IS KEY— providing staff with the information they need, auditable reports and activity tracking, leads to more efficient management, says Robert Chadwick, president, Endur ID Inc. “Our goal is to eliminate labor intensive and tedious activity tracking and make it easier to produce reports about the activities of a particular inmate so their stay can be effectively managed.” This past year Endur ID has introduced two new software applications to accompany and enhance the ID Management Solution. IDMX software manages all the individual demographics, collects and stores pho20 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
tos and specific alerts and warnings in regards to the individual, he says. The software then configures and prints wristbands to a standard color laser printer. Handheld wireless scanners operated by their Secur Max Tracker application scan the barcodes printed on the wristbands to track activity and movement. “This information-gathering software allows the staff to create Roll Call Reports, Attendance at Classes and Meetings, Pass Through Commissary Records, Medication Management and Departure and Destination Records,” he furthers. With a color printer the software allows for color coding of bands and
alerts customized to the inmate. “For those whose processes either use monochrome bands or have additional classification processes, the color-coded Secur Loc Clasps can be used,” he adds. Gone are the days when someone had to remember everything and if they didn’t, things fell through the cracks, notes John Lowry, senior product manager, Product Management at GTL. Today’s management solutions allow for immediate notification of potential issues and/or for the need for additional data collection, he says. “More accurate data collection on the front end promotes accurate reporting on the back end.”
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Through the use of tablets, officers are no longer anchored to a fixed location to get data, Lowry continues, and now GTL, through partner Dynamic Imaging, extends key OMS functionality to the Apple iPod. Correctional Officers can record Rounds, Cell Checks, Service Deliveries, Counts, Program Attendance, verify inmate identification, and update an inmate’s current physical location from a handheld device. Such technology features are also employed to keep detainees informed. Monitors in booking areas for arrested individuals serve to ease the detainee’s state of mind and eliminate staff interruptions from detainees wanting to know when they can bond out or move on to a housing unit. “These IMS solutions can aid agencies to return inmates to society in better physical and emotional condition than when they were committed to custody by ensuring each detainee’s individual needs are met.” Lowry adds, “Compliance and risk mitigation continue to be high among the benefits of technology.” Risk is everywhere in corrections, acknowledges Ken Dalley Jr., president of GUARDIAN RFID. “Documentation that is thorough, concise, easy to collect, actionable, and accessible can forever transform the way a jail operates. Great documentation isn’t just an effective counterpunch to risk, it can be wholly preventative.”
SallyPort jail management system from Black Creek allows for photographic records of scars, marks and tattoos.
Mobility is a critical piece of the company’s risk mitigation. Recently debuted is its next-generation mobile platform, Spartan, an Android device equipped with high-resolution imaging, RFID, Wi-Fi, and several security-critical features. Running the fifth-generation of its mobile software, corrections professionals can quickly and securely scan, swap, and sync a wide range of inmate management duties in real-time to the cloudbased platform, GUARDIAN RFID OnDemand.
Eliminate the Juggling Act Without a comprehensive inmate management system, jails frequently juggle all sorts of tools to manage logging responsibili-
Management System Terms
OMS—Offender Management System Also OMS—Operational Management System IMS—Inmate Management System JMS—Jail Management System CMS—Correctional Management System IMS—Incarceration Management System
24 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
ties, whether cell checks on highrisk inmates, logging cell searches and contraband discoveries, inmate program attendance, or positive-identification headcounts, according to Greg Piper, training and implementation leader at Guardian and former 13-year corrections officer. “Relying on so many tools at once can result in miscommunication and inconsistency since important information can exist in three or more areas—none of which talk with each other.” That’s why configurability is important in a quickly-evolving corrections landscape, concurs Michelle Connell, sales manager, Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp. To that end, Black Creek’s SallyPort 4.0 is a user-configurable, web-based, jail management system operating on Windows, Apple, and Android tablets and desktops that “works seamlessly with records, commissary, inmate telephone systems, and other third-party applications to promote information sharing and automation of many of the booking and record-keeping tasks of any size detention facility.” The software is capable of documenting everything that happens to an inmate from booking to custody, historical records of times, dates, and activities, etc.
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
equivant’s nationally-recognized Northpointe Suite COMPAS Classification Decision Tree is fully automated with appropriate information displayed to answer each risk split.
“Staff can view inmate information at the click of a mouse, including previous bookings, photographs, funds, release, charges and holds, threat group, visitation contacts, and more.” Sallyport also provides an electronic shift log, and “workflow queues that assure efficient processing of inmates no matter how complex or disjointed a jail’s processes may be, a full medical module, biometric identification, and DNA sample tracking,” Connell says.
GTL offers officer mobility through use of handheld solutions.
The industry also struggles with the interagency exchange of inmate records, she notes. “An individual may have been incarcerated in the adjoining county numerous times yet the arresting agency doesn’t know until the records department runs a report later.” With SallyPort Inmate Data Exchange (SPIDEX) agencies can participate in data viewing and importation reducing booking costs, and inmate behavior can be identified increasing staff and operational safety.
Automatic Information Flow Integrated safety is a key consideration in choosing software. Odyssey Jail Manager, which VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 25
Corrections professionals can quickly and securely scan, swap, and sync a wide range of inmate management duties in real-time to GUARDIAN RFID’s cloud-based platform, its RFID OnDemand.
automates business processes at intake, release and everything in between, does just that. Seamless integration among justice agencies enables immediate access to critical information about inmates, the automatic flow of information from one agency to the next while maintaining protection of sensitive data, details Michael Kleiman, director of marketing, Tyler Technologies, Courts & Justice Division. Fingerprint biometrics promotes security through the positive identification and verification of inmates at the time of intake, time of release and during specific movements and eliminates duplicate record creation, furthers Kleiman. “Jail Manager uses an integrated imaging feature that presents image types, including facial images and photos of scars, marks and tattoos that can be added and printed on documents and reports.” Odyssey Jail Manager is currently adding capabilities of scheduling and movement of inmates in jails of all sizes, 26 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
expected to be part of Odyssey 2018. Any type of event can be scheduled and corresponding movements can be tracked based on these plans. “Movements can be viewed at the individual level, by unit or at the facility level,” he explains. Tyler products share a consistent technology foundation via a Universal Service Bus (USB) that seamlessly connects Tyler products, enabling them to operate collaboratively. Tyler Alliance as a multi-agency, distributed platform, integrates public safety and criminal justice systems by connecting departments, agencies and jurisdictions, breaking down barriers to sharing information.
Classification Interfacing Sharing critical inmate management information to help support all aspects of a jail’s classification operations is the purpose of the COMPAS Classification software that can be interfaced with existing jail management systems,
according to Greg Eash, manager, Jail Services for equivant. New procedures often aim to achieve greater efficiency, to comply with legal requirements, or to solve critical organizational problems (e.g., jail overcrowding), he says. “With COMPAS Classification users can examine these procedures for performance indicators with user configured dashboards, Quick Charts, and Ad-Hoc Reporting that provide numerous rosters and other statistical data for both classification staff and administrators.” COMPAS Classification has automated classification instruments to provide important inmate information that will support all jail operations. Features in the software include: Decision Tree Primary Classification and Reclassification Instruments, NIJ Mental Health Screening and Brief Jail Mental Health Screening, PREA Assessment and After-Action Plan, Inmate Housing Management, Inmate Discipline, Gang Tracking, Inmate Programs Management, Inmate Complaint/Grievance Management and Reporting. He explains, “Our nationallyrecognized Decision Tree model is fully automated with appropriate information displayed to answer each risk split.” The classification officer can seamlessly add criminal history, disciplinary history alert flags, and holds/ detainers while conducting the classification. “For instance, our
PREA Checklist assists agencies in determining whether a particular individual should be managed differently due to PREA concerns.” The automated instrument generates an alert for users to assist in housing and management decisions. Through a new capability being introduced this year, PTS Solutions, Inc.’s new Platinum OMS will enable PTS to provide management
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
“We are seeing a shift from the focus on the individual to the focus on movement and location from a higher, more global facility level,” Parrie furthers. “Classifying and identifying potential problems with individuals as they are placed and move throughout the facility, and even outside the facility, is becoming more important to track.” And tracking the offender’s stay through options and improvements allows facilities to manage the process from arrest to housing to their new ZIP code. ✪
Secur Max Tracker from Endur ID scans wristbands to track activity and movement.
Real-Time Advantage: A Case Study BY KEN DALLEY JR., PRESIDENT OF GUARDIAN RFID
Lt. Josh Combs from the Benton County Jail, a 500bed jail in Kennewick, Washington, was transporting an inmate from a pre-trial hearing. During the transport, the inmate began self-harming himself with his handcuffs. The inmate suffered cuts and bruising to his face. Deputies using GUARDIAN RFID Mobile captured images of the inmate’s selfinflicted injuries, which were instantly accessible from GUARDIAN RFID OnDemand and attached to an incident report. As Warden Michael Book from the Mifflin County Prison in Lewiston, Pennsylvania, routinely reminds his staff: “If it isn’t logged, it didn’t happen.” With this product, and its next-generation mobile platform, Spartan, jails can realize stronger compliance, superior defensibility, and real-time operational awareness. 28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
software to larger and more complicated facilities, says Staci Parrie, marketing manager. “The ability to customize will allow facility administrators to track what they want, and hide what they don’t.” PTS provides users with an integrated product line from dispatch through court and beyond, including mobile CAD, law enforcement reporting, jail/offender management, evidence/property management, investigations case management, and more. “In this new version of PTS Platinum OMS, we have added a greaseboard that makes it quicker and easier to track offenders within the system. For instance, a simple drag/drop to a location will automatically write activities to each offender’s record.
For More Information Contact: PTS Solutions, Inc., 888.831.5151, www.ptssolutions.com, staciep@ptssolutions.com Endur ID Inc., 603.758.1488, www.endurid.com, info@endurid.com GUARDIAN RFID, 855.777.RFID (7343), www.guardianrfid.com, ken.dalley.jr@guardianrfid.com, www.linkedin.com/in/kendalleyjr GTL, 800.306.2957, www.gtl.net Black Creek, 205.949.9900, www.blackcreekisc.com, sales@blackcreekisc.com Tyler Technologies, 800.431.5776, www.tylertech.com, cjsales@tylertech.com equivant, 574.312.7167, www.equivant.com, greg.eash@equivant.com
The PTS Platinum OMS greaseboard inmate movement management home screen: Moving inmates and indicating their new location is as easy as highlighting and dragging them from their current location and dropping them onto a new one. VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Recognizing Mental Illness in Inmates Suicide risk, solitary confinement and serious mental illness make the stakes high for CO training and inmate treatment.
30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
I
n a famed episode of The Twilight Zone called “Time Enough at Last,” Burgess Meredith played Henry Bemis, a henpecked bookworm who gets his wish when a nuclear war annihilates everyone but him and leaves him in peace with a lifetime of needed supplies and the entire collection of books from the public library. When he gets settled and leans over to pick up his first book to finally read in peace, his Coke-bottle glasses fall off and break. He is left alone with nothing. He was in solitary confinement in a very large cell. The audience most likely considered the irony of the situation, but probably ignored thinking about what came next. What happened to Henry Bemis one year later? Five years later? Ten? With the closing of state mental health hospitals and the subsequent amped up war on drugs, prisons have been flooded with people who have mental health issues, in many cases, severe ones. John Wilson, PhD, CCHP-MH, who is MHM’s vice president of Clinical Development, says, “Current rates of mental illness in jail settings are reported to be 30% to 40% in male detainees and 50% to 60% in female detainees. “In prisons, rates are somewhat lower, but correctional authorities can still expect about one in five male inmates and two in five female inmates to suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. These estimates can be used as rough benchmarks in correctional systems, with the implication that lower rates may reflect under-detection,” he says. In California alone, says Bill Sessa, information officer at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, nearly 38,000 inmates—a third of the population—receive some form of mental health treatment. “The need for mental health treatment is significant among both jail and prison populations and our effort to provide it is a significant aspect of our opera32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
tion, some of it in cooperation with the Department of Mental Health.” The CDCR’s budget for mental health services in 2015 alone was nearly $400 million. That is a significant amount of mental illness, and correctional officers (COs) may not have had formal training in recognizing it or dealing with it. Recognizing mental health matters upon intake is one thing. Says Wilson, “Most correctional systems have an intake screening and assessment process that specifically inquires about past mental health problems, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment, psychotropic medications, symptoms, and medications.” A discussion about family history and functioning prior to incarceration can also be a valuable tool to assess the risk of mental health issues. The screening process also includes observation of the inmate’s manner and mental status. “If patients exhibit the need for mental health treatment, they are placed on an ongoing mental health caseload and checked periodically, typically with a minimum frequency of every 30 to 45 days.” There are, says Wilson, certain well-known high-risk times for mental health issues and suicidality. One of them is the first 24 to 48 hours of incarceration, upon return to jail or prison from court hearings, parole violations, withdrawal from substance use, placement in restrictive housing, or receiving news related to family loss or notifications of new charges. Staffs are trained regarding these risk periods, and most correctional systems follow standards that require mental health screening or assessment during these periods. One issue, though, is that not all inmates discuss their mental health needs at all or feel uncomfortable discussing them. “Cultural, racial, and gender differences between the inmate and the mental health staff can be a barrier to communication, and if there are no
opportunities for private and confidential interviews, the inmate is unlikely to become a patient. Experienced correctional administrators and staff can typically point to more than one inmate suicide in which no warning signs were given prior to the inmate taking his/her life.”
Dementia on the Rise Many inmates arrive at the facility with a mental health condition, but as a result of the mandatory minimum sentencing, inmates convicted of drug crimes in the 1980s are now reaching the age in which dementia might set in, and if an inmate spends most of his or her time in a cell, the condition might go unnoticed for years. Wilson notes that the rise of dementia in correctional settings continues to be a significant challenge and is growing more frequent. Dementia can manifest in numerous ways, but it usually involves difficulty in inmates following directions for complex sequences of behavior, remembering how to get back to their housing unit, or what they are doing. Other signs such as selfneglect and poor hygiene may also indicate dementia. Correctional officers need specific training in recognizing these signs and referring the inmate for a mental health evaluation. “If dementia is confirmed, these inmates will need special accommodation and support within the correctional system and may qualify for a medical furlough or compassionate release near the end of the disease process.” Wilson furthers, “Inmates may also be more likely to suffer from dementia earlier due to head traumas or the sequelae of severe substance use disorders associated with their impulsive lifestyle.” Milfred Holmes spent five years as a CO for the Dakota County Jail in Minnesota where he “worked every aspect of the job.”
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
He is currently writing his master’s thesis in psychology with the intention of returning to the correctional world and working with inmates suffering from mental illness. When asked how much training he had gotten as a CO in regard to recognizing mental illness in inmates, Holmes replied, “None. That’s how I knew I wanted to be a part of this industry.” Holmes is well aware of the effects trauma can have on mental well-being. “These guys fight all the time, and the moment they fall, they get kicked in the head.”
already in the CDCR system are diagnosed by mental health professionals (psychologists and psychiatrists), some of whom work for the Department of Mental Health even though they are assigned to our prisons.”
Signs of Suicide Risk Wilson notes that correctional systems that follow the standards
of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) provide annual comprehensive suicide prevention training to all employees. Correctional officers, medical and mental health staff, staff who provide case management, substance use disorder treatment, and other services attend this training, which includes the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and “implicit as well as
Recognizing Symptoms In some cases recognizing mental illness is more apparent than others. Holmes recalls a time at intake when an inmate dropped to his knees and started speaking into the drain. When asked what he was doing, the inmate replied, “I’m talking to my family. They live down here.” Other times the signs are more nuanced and go unnoticed. Other times it remains hidden. Just last month, former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez hanged himself in his cell. At CDCR, training begins even before intake. “Training in recognizing symptoms of mental health problems is included in the academy that all cadets go through before they become correctional officers. Their main purpose is not to diagnose a problem but to recognize an inmate who may be in need of referral to a mental health professional,” notes Sessa. On intake, the staff that has primary responsibility for recognizing mental health problems is professional psychiatrists and psychologists and mental health nurses. All inmates undergo a thorough assessment of their mental health (and other) needs when they first arrive at the facility. That can be the first opportunity to recognize that an inmate needs specialized mental health care. “Inmates VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 33
explicit signs of suicide risk.” Often, says Wilson, the inmates who hide suicide ideation are at the highest risk, so it is important to pay attention to inmates’ behavior as well as what they say. The reason he left the position he enjoyed, says Holmes, was the bureaucracy. (He was at one point sanctioned for having never put anyone in solitary.) For example, COs were given 20 minutes to do rounds and would be written up if they took 30 minutes despite that “talking to a potentially suicidal inmate is why we do rounds.” He also noticed an exaggerated culture of “safety first” at the deficit of helping inmates. An inmate who may or may not have had a mental illness and even raised his voice, which suggested aggression, may have had his arms, feet, and constrained to a chair and wearing a spit guard. “So he’s sitting there with fifteen deputies standing around, his heart pounding, his circulation in his arms cut off and thinking, ‘Oh, now you want to talk to me?’”
Limits on Solitary Solitary confinement has been a topic of discussion for some time. In 2013, Tom Clements, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections and a man who dedicated his life to public service, was shot and killed when he opened the door to his Monument, Colorado, home. Clements was a reformer with a mindset to improve mental health services to inmates and to reduce the use of solitary confinement in prison. Evan Spencer Ebel, the parolee suspected of killing Clements, spent much of his eight years in prison in solitary confinement. Wilson says that the impact of solitary confinement on mental health can be particularly deleterious, especially for inmates who have serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or intellectual disabilities. “While further research would be helpful, we 34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
know enough to be certain that solitary confinement is not good for your health.” The National Commission on Correctional Health Care recently issued a position statement with the attempt to limit the use of solitary confinement, and many organizations have joined in the call to reduce or eliminate these units all together. Some large correctional systems have begun changing practices and reduced the number of inmates in solitary confinement. “While improvements continue to be needed, many state correctional systems sharply limit the length of time an individual with serious mental illness can be placed in segregation/restrictive housing.” Wilson furthers that the New York and Massachusetts Departments of Correction (DOC) were among the first to develop special treatment units to divert inmates with serious mental illness or behavioral disturbances from segregation or other restrictive housing. The Pennsylvania DOC and other state correctional systems have followed suit. These units provide both individualized and group treatment to address the inmate’s serious mental illness or behavioral disturbances and have proven to be very effective, even among inmates who engage in recurrent episodes of violence or self-injury. Other large systems, such as California, do not practice solitary confinement. Says Sessa, “We do house inmates in Administrative Segregation if they commit crimes within the prison, which means they are housed in a special wing that is more like a jail within the prison. They still have regular contact with custody officers, physicians, and mental health professions.” Solitary confinement, Holmes recalled, had negative effects on inmates in the Minnesota jail in which he worked. In solitary, he says, there is nothing to stimulate the inmate’s brain. Everything is concrete, and stimuli are magnified. “The only thing you hear is yourself thinking.” Inmates begin
to believe that their thoughts are actually voices. Upon being let out, the feelings carry over. Every noise is startling. Inmates become more isolated and tend to keep to themselves.
Early & Frequent Assessments Best practices regarding detecting mental health issues, says Wilson, include “early and frequent assessment of inmates to ensure prompt detection of mental health needs, routine follow-up, additional mental health contacts during high risk, high stress situations, comprehensive suicide prevention training, and reduction of segregation and restrictive housing whenever possible all constitute best practices.” Wilson, who is certified in mental health by the NCCHC, furthers that multidisciplinary collaboration in detecting and addressing mental health needs and suicide risk is essential and must include correctional, medical, case management, addictions treatment, and mental health staff. “The need to provide treatment in confidential and private settings is so essential to mental health services that it has been compared to the need for antiseptic conditions to conduct surgery.” At CDCR, says Sessa, “We provide every level of mental health treatment.” Among them are group and individual therapy. While working in the county jail, Holmes started a group program called Barbershop in which up to 50 inmates sat in a circle and talked about their lives, and what he found was striking. In many cases, the common thread among the inmates was that they had not been raised. That’s not to say they weren’t raised properly. Many hadn’t been raised at all. Inmates told him that he was literally the first person to ever tell them right from wrong. “They wanted to be heard. They wanted to purge it. That’s when the light went on. That’s why I want to go back to prison.” ✪
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Successful Community Supervisory Programs A practical guide to effective substance abuse treatment for probation and parole supervisors.
S
ubstance abuse treatment for those under community supervision differs from treatment for those who are incarcerated. One reason is that access to drugs and alcohol is much easier, and the abusers also have greater influence by acquaintances and through social situations they encounter. After all there are no bars in prison (excuse the pun). Further, compared with those who are locked up, probationers and parolees may be undergoing greater duress and turbulent times during their initial release into the community. Those under supervision are attempting to overcome great personal odds 36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
Establishing an offender's motivation to change is an essential first step in substance abuse treatment. It cannot be skipped.
over and above their addictions. Besides battling their deep physical cravings, securing basic needs such as food and shelter is often of paramount importance, especially for parolees attempting to reintegrate into society, underscores the publication Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is part of the Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series (No.44) to assist criminal justice professionals manage substance abuse in all phases of the justice arena.
History of Substance Use Despite differences in their situation, parolees and probationers often share a history of drug or alcohol use. It comes as no surprise to our readers that an overwhelming percentage are substance abusers. According to the above Substance Abuse Treatment report, approximately 83% of probationers can be characterized as alcohol- or drug-involved, while 74% of parolees are such involved (based on State prisoners that were to be released between 2000 and 2001). Unarguably, drug abuse continues to be a huge problem with a high cost to society—in lost
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
productivity, health care expenses, increased crime, and the cost of law enforcement, adjudication and incarceration. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the economic cost of drug abuse in 2002 was estimated to be approximately $181 billion, with an average annual increase of 5.3%. Proof of that is almost 1 million visits in 2009 to U.S. hospital Emergency Departments involved an illicit drug, either alone or in combination with other types of drugs, according to the National Institutes of Health. In addition, approximately 32 percent (658,263) of all drug abuse ED visits in 2009 involved the use of alcohol, either alone or in combination with another drug. Research has repeatedly shown that investment in treatment is valuable and, furthermore, produces better outcomes with more cost-effectiveness than incarceration alone. The Justice Policy Institute reported that if an individual receives treatment while incarcerated, there is, on average, an estimated benefit of $1.91 to $2.69 for every $1 invested in prison programs. “Benefit” is measured for taxpayers by program costs and for crime victims by lower crime rates and less recidivism. There is also an estimated $8.87 benefit for every $1 invested in therapeutic community programs outside of prison. JPI found that other community-based substance abuse treatment programs generate $3.30, drug courts generate $2.83 and intensive supervision programs to generate $2.45 in benefits for every $1 spent (McVay D, Schiraldi V, Ziedenberg J. 2004 and Aos S, Phipps P, Barnoski R, Lieb R. 2001). In recent years the nation has been focusing on VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Counsellors should help the client address basic needs, such as employment.
providing a growing number of drug and alcohol treatment programs, according to the Drug Policy Alliance and the New York Academy of Medicine. Early examples include legislature and programs that divert people convicted of low-level drug offenses to treatment and other services. In one early instance, the California Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 diverts people convicted of nonviolent drug-related crimes to community-based treatment, education, or training and probation. A fiscal evaluation estimated that for every $1 allocated to fund SACPA, $2.50 was saved, resulting in a net savings to the state and local governments of $173.3 million per year in avoided criminal justice costs, reduced trial court costs, and reduced arrest rates of drug court participants (Carey SM, Finigan M, Crumpton D, Waller M., 2006). Another such program, New York’s Kings County Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison (DTAP) program provides treatment as an alternative to prison for people convicted of a second time non-violent felony drug offense. Studies have found this program to produce a cost savings of $38 million for the 971 DTAP clients it has graduated at an average cost of $32,975 per client. These savings are seen in the significantly decreased recidivism rates, health care and public assistance as well as in the increased employment earnings by the individuals (Zarkin GA, Dunlap LJ, Belenko S., 2005). Yet, even with overwhelming documented evidence of success, persons needing treatment still do not receive it in great proportions. According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatCORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 37
ment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, only 2.6 million—11.2 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility.
Treatment Programs Sorely Needed Work on pairing offenders with treatment programs is still sorely needed. What goes into a successful treatment program? Chapter 10 of the SAMHSA report provides an overview that covers all the basics to establishing a solid plan. First, it notes, different levels of supervision are necessary to best accommodate each probationer or parolee according to their individual circumstances. Traditional supervision, which involves some drug testing, minimal programs and reporting to supervisors, can be used when the infraction is minimal. Intermediate supervision can include increased drug testing, short jail stays, increased reporting to criminal justice staff, referral to day reporting centers, attending 12-step meetings, community service requirement, curfews, work release centers, and electronic monitoring. For those needing extra over-
sight, “Intensive supervision generally involves frequent contact with supervising officers, frequent random drug testing, strict enforcement of probation or parole conditions, and community service. The level and type of supervision that are labeled intensive vary widely but usually require closer supervision and greater reporting requirements than regular probation. “Contacts can range from more than five per week to fewer than four per month. Conditions usually include having a job or attending school, and participating in treatment.” The appropriate levels for each individual can be found in more detail in the report, which notes: “The level of treatment services recommended for the offender should be individualized and based on a multidimensional, diagnostically driven assessment; clinical judgment; and availability of resources in a given community.” Types of treatment services consist of varied methods that are best suited to the individual. These include residential, outpatient, halfway houses, and day reporting (see sidebar page 40). Because substance abuse is a chronic, relapsing disorder influenced by numerous interacting
biological, psychological, and social factors, treatment should address a full range of services. Some of these might include: • Screening and assessments— medical, psychiatric, and substance abuse • Detoxification • Medical assessment—pregnancy tests and treatment for HIV and AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis • Treatment planning—medical, psychiatric, and substance abuse • Counseling—group, individual, family, couples • Substance abuse education— didactic lectures, interactive groups, videos, reading assignments, and journal-writing assignments • Relapse prevention services • Crisis intervention • Drug testing and monitoring • Self-help education and support • Mental health services—medications when indicated • Family services unrelated to substance abuse treatment • Assistance in managing entitlements (e.g., food stamps, veterans benefits) • Housing Assistance Parolees and probationers often cannot meet their basic needs. A lack of housing for offenders Community service can help an offender gain a feeling of self worth.
38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
under community corrections supervision is a major problem in most jurisdictions, yet stable living arrangements are crucial to treatment. Available housing often is inconvenient to jobs, public transportation routes, community social services, or other agencies and includes drug-involved family members and/or friends. Sometimes a halfway house, a “sober house,” or recovery house are better alternatives than the offender-client's home. Probation and parole officers should be required to visit and evaluate client residences promptly.
two systems laying out protocols and consequences of infractions, and the agreement between the two agencies, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that defines how each will manage the caseload of offender-clients in the jurisdiction. There can be one or two case managers representing each system. If two case managers are involved, they must coordinate efforts, working to encourage a multidisciplinary response that takes advantage of a wide range of treatment and rehabilitation options.
Understanding Relapse The Right Programs at the Right Time Although highly important to an offender's recovery, vocational training and employment can create problems when they are mandated by the community supervision agency before the offender has been engaged in treatment. If the client has not undergone treatment, there is a high risk that money earned will be spent on drugs or alcohol. Another common result of mandating employment before treatment is that the offender may lose his or her job because of behavior related to substance abuse. Achieving and maintaining abstinence depends on structured, phased programming. Vocational training should occur before employment to enable the offender to retain a job or obtain a better one (Wexler 2001a). Case Management, the process of linking the offender with appropriate resources, tracking his or her progress through required programs, reporting this information to supervising authorities, and monitoring court-imposed conditions when requested, is crucial to the offender’s success. Case management tests the ability of the criminal justice and treatment systems to work collaboratively and is based on two types of agreement: the agreement between the client and the
When an offender experiences relapse, it is crucial to gauge the seriousness of the “slip” to determine appropriate interventions. One positive urine test or one drink after a long abstinence should not be viewed as failure but as a signal for stepped-up treatment and closer monitoring. Because resumption of drug abuse can lead to resumption of criminal activity, graduated sanctions for relapses should be specified in the treatment plan. It is essential that personnel from both the criminal justice and treatment systems agree to the range of responses and times when certain responses are appropriate. Repeated relapses must trigger consequences based on danger to the community and the offender's treatment progress. The rate of relapse is high among offenders, and relapse prevention training must be provided at the beginning of and throughout treatment, and stressed prior to release. Personal relapse plans along with relapse prevention skills should be part of each offender-client's treatment plan, addressing how clients can refuse drugs and identify and manage triggers for craving. When relapse occurs, clients must be helped to understand it is part of the recovery process, rather than a personal failure, so they can rededicate themselves to success. If properly handled, relapse
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
can lead to increased motivation for recovery, strengthening an individual's knowledge of his or her limitations, the dangers of stressors, and awareness of what could be lost by leaving the treatment process. Criminal justice decisionmakers at all levels, including judges and court personnel, should be aware that relapse is a characteristic feature of substance use disorder that must be anticipated, prevented, and addressed. Sanction possibilities include: • House arrest • Assignment to halfway house • More frequent drug testing • Electronic monitoring • Day treatment • Brief jail stays • Assignment of community service hours
Probationers’ Treatment Issues & Obstacles Those under community supervision, whether they are probationers or parolees, have common psychological issues. Shame and stigma are tremendous obstacles for offenders to overcome after an arrest or in making the transition between incarceration and the community. One effective approach to overcoming this stigma involves encouraging offender-clients to become active as volunteers in support of a community activity. Providing an opportunity for individuals to make a positive contribution to the community—to “give back”—may reduce feelings of alienation and build self-regard. At the same time, self-esteem is not always a useful treatment target or goal with offenders. Feelings of shame and stigma are sometimes missing, especially in those having antisocial traits and psychopathy. Targeting self-esteem without also increasing sense of personal responsibility and empathy for others may only result in a more confident criminal. Community service serves to reconnect the offender with the community CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 39
Treatment Services Residential Residential treatment for those supervised in the community incorporates several approaches involving cooperative living for people receiving treatment. The most used residential model is the therapeutic community (TC), which provides a well-controlled, 24-hour, structured treatment environment. Some programs provide services for eight or more hours a day, 5–7 days a week, with clinical staff available days and evenings. Other residential programs are recovery homes for employed offender-clients, with evening and weekend treatment and limited onsite staff. Facilities may include hospitals or hospital-based programs, institutional housing, sections of apartment complexes, and dormitory-like residences. Most residential treatment programs use a group-centered approach to create an environment that duplicates certain aspects of a family and makes clients accountable to their peers.
Outpatient Outpatient treatment for probationers and parolees can be provided to many more offenders for the same level of funding as residential treatment. It ranges from traditional outpatient services provided by treatment professionals in regularly scheduled sessions in a group or individual setting, to intensive outpatient treatment several hours per week. Because outpatient treatment tends to be more intense in community settings than in correctional institutions, offenders may be receiving more intense treatment than during incarceration. Intensive outpatient treatment includes day or evening programs in which clients engage in a full spectrum of services while living at home or in a special residence. Within a treatment continuum, intensity decreases over time as the individual meets treatment goals. Offenders may initially be placed in residential settings, followed by intensive outpatient treatment and continuing care.
Halfway Houses Halfway houses are transitional facilities where clients are involved in schoolwork, work, training, and other activities that do not necessarily include any drug abuse treatment when run by the criminal justice system. The halfway house can be a step up to greater liberty (i.e., for a person released from prison) or a step down for an offender in need of greater supervision (i.e., for a person who violated probation requirements). Some clients need halfway houses that Day reporting may involve community service can help them stabilize or maintain recovery as they enter society. Usually these programs provide individual counseling along with group, family, or couples therapy. Offenders can leave the facility for work, school, or therapy but are otherwise restricted to the halfway house, which is in the community but can be attached to a jail or other correctional institution. House responsibilities are shared and rules must be followed.
Day Reporting Day reporting centers are facilities to which offenders must report in person or by phone from a job or treatment site as part of their larger supervision plan. The regular reporting back to probation or parole officers mandated under this intermediate sanction is aimed at monitoring offender movements or incapacitating them. Reporting must be done at specified times, often throughout the day. Day centers may include assessment for special needs and such services as anger management, drug testing, GED preparation, drug/mental health treatment, violence prevention, community service, and vocational training. Some day centers primarily function as staging areas from which offenders are sent out in work crews to perform manual labor in the community: cleaning highways, painting schools, etc. Others offer chiefly educational opportunities. In many jurisdictions, day centers have become day treatment centers whose primary mission is to provide outpatient alcohol and drug abuse treatment of various intensities. Public or private treatment agencies or correctional agency staff may provide the treatment. 40 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
and allows for retribution. Many offenders have multiple financial responsibilities—child support, family obligations, job requirements, restitution, and treatment schedule—which can be major obstacles to successful treatment. A client burdened with overwhelming responsibilities sometimes gives up, saying, “I just couldn't handle it.” Criminal justice and treatment professionals need to plan realistic requirements for individuals under community supervision. Some communities have recognized the obstacles and stress presented by competing assignments and schedules imposed on offenders, which often necessitate expensive and time-consuming travel between sites. On Maryland's Eastern Shore, Tyson's Food, a major chicken producer, has given parole officers an office on-site at the processing plant so that employees do not need to miss work to meet reporting requirements. Probationers and parolees have internal barriers to treatment as a result of their path in life. These may include: a history of failure; alienation from and cynicism about the social structures and governmental agencies; a sense of hopelessness that anything can make a difference in their lives; and a culturally supported belief that treatment is for weak people. Those working with probationers and parolees need training to address each of these barriers. It is important for professionals working with offenders under community supervision to learn that offenders often do not realize that the goal of community corrections is to prevent them from being reincarcerated.
Motivation for Treatment Establishing an offender's motivation to change is an essential first step in substance abuse treatment. It cannot be skipped. Generally, clients lack focus or goals, which must be established to permit motivation. Those
working with probationers and parolees need to be familiar with techniques of motivation and how to create and/or support the offender's desire to break a pattern of criminality. Without genuine motivation on the part of the offender-client, treatment problems cannot be guaranteed. Clients need to feel hope and counselors need to plan a continuum of events that can begin to generate hope. During early stages of treatment, the offenderclient should be oriented toward small accomplishments.
Counsellor Qualities Flexibility on the part of community corrections officials is important. Both treatment programs and corrections agencies can work together to build opportunities for success—keeping an appointment, having a clean urine test, or completing homework—small, structured steps that clients can take with relative ease and derive confidence from as they progress. When the client completes one goal, the provider should be ready to suggest the next. Incentives can be built into the system as well. For example, the more frequent the negative drug test results, the less frequent the mandatory testing. Treatment is impeded when counselors have a negative perception of the client's desire to change, believe there is a poor prognosis for recovery, or are reluctant to serve offenders in general. Clients easily pick up on a provider's negative attitude, which often confirms their own feelings about the futility of attempts to give up drugs. The cross-training of professionals helps build an understanding of offender-clients' needs and potential, but professionals in both systems must acknowledge that the very nature of substance abuse means that maintaining recovery is a long-term goal. The kinds of changes community corrections professionals ask
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
drug offenders to undertake are extraordinarily challenging and difficult to contemplate on a personal level. A counselor who is a role model of courage or compassion can often be very effective in persuading clients to reevaluate their lifestyles. On the other hand, counselors should also be prepared for setbacks, lapses, and slow progress, as offenders come to terms with the extent of lifestyle change that is being asked of them. Self-help groups are a crucial component in recovery; they can provide peer support and nurture positive change. As bridges between incarceration and community, they can help with crises and personal growth. Probation and parole officers often advise clients to attend well-known programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, saying, “Don't take my word. I'm not the expert. Listen to the folks who've been there.” Practitioners need to remember that although self-help groups are not a substitute for counseling, they can be an important adjunct to it. Both parole and probation officers need to be attuned to treatment needs, the dynamics of substance use disorders, and the changes required to maximize an offender-client's chance to succeed. Training needs to be provided to them on how to craft requirements that support a client's potential for success. Flexibility must be built into the requirements, given the complex pressures on most offenders in the community. Revocations because of technical violations of probation or parole requirements are a major barrier to completion of successful treatment. Required expectations for offender behavior need to be realistic. Cross-training can be helpful in fostering a shared vision of success. Such training should have specific goals. For example, the consensus panel suggests that CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017 41
COMPLETE EYEGLASSES
$14.95
RX Eyeglasses On-Site Optometry On-Site Ophthalmology Testing
Increase safety in your facility with our Flexible Security Toothbrush Textured grip makes the brush easy to handle TPR handle is entirely flexible, extremely durable and tamper-resistant
1000 Facilities Nationwide 44 States - Federal in all 50 States Correctional Vision Care Since 1983
1-800-334-9880 www.bobbarker.com
Institutional Eye Care website: institutionaleyecare.com email: info@ institutionaleyecare.com
AD INDEX Page No.
Alkermes/Vivitrol...................................8 Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp................................. 17 Bob Barker...........................................43 California Coast University....................6 Corizon Health...................................... 7 Correctional Cable TV......................... 27 Diamond Drugs Inc............................. 35 Endur ID Incorporated........................ 25 Guardian RFID..................................... 13 Institutional Eye Care.......................... 42 Keefe Group........................................ 44 Medi-Dose Company...........................29 MHM Correctional Services, Inc........... 2 NaphCare............................................ 33 Point Blank Industries........................... 5 Schedule Anywhere / Atlas Business................................. 14 StunCuff Enterprises, Inc.......................6 Swintec Corporation........................... 22 Tidal Wave Telecom.............................. 3 Time Keeping Systems, Inc................. 19 Trinity Services Group, Inc..................15 Western Union.................................... 21 Wexford Health Sources..................... 31 This advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers only. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions. 42 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2017
Reversible Black-Fire Nitrile Exam Gloves Smooth orange side for pat-downs Textured black side for cell searches Quickly spot tears
1-800-334-9880 www.bobbarker.com
training for probation officers working with drug offenders could include education on what treatment is and is not. Generic models of treatment should be presented. Similarly, treatment professionals working with drug offenders should be trained on the role of parole and probation in the criminal justice system. Probation and parole are frequently the most misunderstood element of the system, considered to be “law enforcement” by treatment professionals and “social work” by law enforcement. Often the breakdowns in communication between probation, parole, and treatment professionals are the result of a lack of understanding of each other's roles. Both parole and probation officers, who may have a supportive role before the client enters treatment, are likely to move into supervisory mode once treatment is underway to reduce public safety and liability risks. Zero tolerance and “three strikes” policies make it difficult for officers to overlook drug lapses and contradict knowledge that substance use disorder is a chronic disease. Relapse is not necessarily a failure. The common belief that treatment does not work is often based on the fact that most people recovering from substance use disorders relapse from time to time. Increasingly, vocational training, GED programs, and job readiness training are being added to treatment. Counselors can help clients applying for employment prepare for responding to a prospective employer's questions about their past. The report also contains further suggestions too many to list for specific populations on both probation and parole that may be helpful to supervisory officers. ✪ For the full report see: Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System, SAMHSA, 2005, at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/books/NBK64141/ VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET