MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRE-RELEASE SERVICES
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
December 4, 2003
Attendance:
John Arney, Maryland Parole & Probation; Eric Brenner, Center for the Study of Social Policy; Tom DeGonia, State's Attorneys Office; Marsha Engel, PRS CART Manager; Carl Hamstead, PRS Organizational Development Manager; John Lavigne, Public Defenders Office; Donald Martin, HHS Addiction Services Coordination; Jane Sachs, PRC Unit IV Manager; Jim Shannon, Acting PRS Chief Administrator; Teresa Still, PRS Assessment Services Manager;
Bill Wallace, Prison Aftercare Ministry; Art Wallenstein, DOCR Director
Introductions:
The meeting was opened at 3:35 P.M. by Chairperson John Lavigne. All present introduced themselves and their community function. Art Wallenstein introduced Jim Shannon as the Acting Chief Administrator and spokesperson for the Pre-Release Services Division. Jim is a 'knowledgeable staff member and program veteran . Jim stated that he has no intention to reorganize and wants to keep the Division running smoothly until the new PRS Chief Administrator is hired. Art stated he did not know when the position of PRS Chief Administrator will be filled due to budget restraints.
Sue Wiant's Retirement:
Jane Sachs announced that Sue Wiant retired December 1st after 27 years of dedicated service to the Department. Sue started her career with the Department as an Intern at the old Pre-Release Center on Huff Court. She was promoted to Resident Supervisor, to Correctional Counselor, to Community Release Coordinator, to CART Manager, and finally to PRS Chief Administrator. Sue's retirement party is set for Friday, December 10th at the Garrett Park Town Hall. The announcement of Sue's retirement party went out by e-mail to all Community Advisory Board members, all DOCR staff, retired PRS staff, and others she had worked with through the years.
Budget Issues:
Art Wallentstein stated that the County needed to cut this current fiscal year's approved budget. DOCR must cut over $420,000 (equal to one percent). The expenditures for items such as medical, food, and utilities are very difficult to predict. A written plan on how the Department plans this savings is due by December 22nd to the County Council. Art was asked about increasing revenues he stated that the Department is getting as much as possible from Maryland Division of Correction and Federal Bureau of Prisons. He explained that we cannot sell off all of our County bed space to outside agencies as we would then become totally dependant on their revenues. Eventually, both the State and Federal Bureau of Prisons may start cutting back referrals, which in turn will reduce our revenues. Art stated that the D.C. Marshals wanted the Department to take 300 Federal inmates and Art's answer was 'no . Most Federal inmates are housed at MCDC for less than one week prior to being transferred to a Federal prison. The Department can never not accept a County prisoner because we are over-crowded with Federal or State inmates.
Art announced that the County is not broke, however the revenue increase is about five percent but the expenses are at 6.5 percent. The County has over-spent millions of dollars by providing outstanding services that County residents have come to expect.
CART's Adjustment to PRC:
Marsha Engel stated that CART's count is increasing with approximately 60% of the cases referred from PRC and 40% are coming direct from MCDC. Most of the new clients will be the on CART Program for four to five months instead of 60-70 days as in the past. With the CART Program now located at PRC, there is increased collaboration between the staff of the two programs. The transfer of PRC residents to the CART program is going much more smoothly.
PRS Intakes:
John Lavigne asked if pre-screen interviews were increasing. Teresa Still stated that more requests for pre-screens are coming from attorneys (as compared to earlier from judges) and referrals from the Public Defenders Office are increasing. Art stated that the weekenders at MCDC are paying for the Domestic Violence program by working Saturdays. The number of weekenders is decreasing. Attorneys for high-income offenders are having their clients attend private drug programs so they are not receiving sentences. John Lavigne stated that 15 to 20 weeks on private home detention is not punishment and judges have other options to choose from. Art stated that, historically, inmates were denied work release but were released on parole with no program requirements. Going on work release does not extend the offender's time all have a mandatory release date.
Parole and Probation:
Currently, Parole and Probation has about 2,000 individuals in counseling programs utilizing private counselors and counselors in their intake offices. It was suggested by a committee member that PRC offer counseling to outsiders. Don Martin stated that PRC would have to be licensed by the State in order to provide this type of counseling service. Parole and Probation has just had two classes, of thirty-five agents each, graduate from the State Academy. Another class is in progress and another class set for in the Spring. There is a new Probation office in the Silver Spring Courthouse and two offices for DOCR's Pre-Trial Services Division. The Department has not decided just yet how to use these offices.
Director's Report:
DOCR Facilities: Art Wallenstein stated that keeping the buildings up is almost impossible. The Pre-Release Center facility is twenty-six years old and is in excellent condition. MCCF staff is working very hard to keep up the new facility. The PRC, MCDC, and MCCF are cleaned daily by the residents/inmates and the County's Facilities and Services Department maintains the heating/AC, electrical, plumbing problems, etc. However, at times outside contractors are hired for repairs.
Escapes: The last offender to escape from PRC was picked up six hours later by the Frederick County Police. The Department takes escape very seriously and ensures that each case is handled individually by the State's Attorneys office, with the expectation that the offender will receive a justifiable sentence. PRC staff have established procedures to spend time during the orientation of the new residents discussing the consequences of escape explaining that escape charges will be filed, loss of 'Good Conduct Time will result, and receiving a sentence of least 18 more months or longer should be expected.
| YEAR | TOTAL PRS DMISSIONS | ESCAPES | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 603 | 11 | 1.8% |
| 2000 | 748 | 11 | 1.5% |
| 2001 | 775 | 4 | 0.5% |
| 2002 | 736 | 3 | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 700 | 4 | 0.6% |
New Business Item: The Interfaith Group of Catholic parishes goal is team managing. This volunteer group would like to assist offenders while in prison and for one year after release. However, the group did not get a grant for this community re-entry program. Art stated that possibly the Department would help them get money for training as he does not want to see people wanting to volunteer be disheartened.
2004 Community Advisory Board Meeting Dates*:
Thursday, February 12th
Thursday, April 8th
Thursday, June 3rd
Thursday, September 9th
Thursday, December 2nd
* The Pre-Release Services Community Advisory Board meetings are held at the Pre-Release Center at 3:30 P.M.
Attachments: PRC Monthly Data Report for October 2003
PRC 2003 Data Report (Year to Date)
PRC FY04 Data Report (Year to Date)
CART Monthly Data Report for October 2003
CART 2003 Data Report (Year to Date)
CART FY04 Data Report (Year to Date)