MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRE-RELEASE SERVICES
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
February 12, 2004
Attendance:
Eric Brenner, Director, State Grants Office for Maryland; Robert Carter, Police Department; Tom DeGonia, State's Attorneys Office; Marsha Engel, PRS CART 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; Avery Tabb, Montgomery Works; Bill Wallace, Prison Aftercare Ministry
Introductions:
The meeting was opened at 3:35 P.M. and Chairperson John Lavigne welcomed all members. The members introduced themselves and their community function.
Increase in PRC and CART Population:
Jim Shannon announced that the population has increased to 155 residents at PRC and 40 clients on CART. The Division has aimed for these magic numbers for quite a long time. More applicants are applying and the Screening Office is doing a great job. Although the Division has lost four staff positions due to budget issues and redistribution of staff, the residents are receiving more services. However, moving four staff (out of 55) to other divisions within the Department, PRC can definitely feel it. Former Community Advisory Board member Carl Hamstead, PRS Organizational Development Manager, was placed in a Correctional Specialist IV position at Pre-Trial Services Division. His position of Organizational Development Manager was abolished along with two Counselors and one overage Resident Supervisor position. With the increased population, the increased workload, and more residents in-house, the CART program is not threatened to be eliminated as it was in past budget years.
Pre-screen referrals seemed to have stopped from the Public Defenders' Office. John Lavigne asked why Public Defenders would send their clients to PRS for screening, knowing that chances are that an unfavorable letter will be sent to the sentencing judge. The Correctional Screeners are averaging eight to ten newly post-sentenced applications weekly. Teresa Still stated that she would be meeting with the Circuit Court judges at their next monthly meeting. She hopes to meet with the District Court judges in the near future. Jim Shannon asked John Lavigne if the Public Defenders' Office would like a meeting with the Screening staff. John said that he would rather meet with the Screening staff himself and maybe one other Public Defender.
With the increase in population, revocations and escapes have not increased. One PRC escapee was in court last week. This offender was caught two months after he escaped. He was sentenced to an additional 18 months and the judge stated that the offender was too young for a longer sentence, which would have resulted in a DOC sentence. Resident Supervisor Andre Stepp represented the Department along with a letter to the judge from the Department Director regarding the escapee. Only one escapee remains at large. He escaped in December 2003 and occasionally calls residents on the Unit III pay phones. Bob Carter explained surprise that we allow incoming telephone calls - it was explained that this is the difference between secure confinement and minimum security. Asked what is done at the time of an escape, Jim explained that an escape warrant is issued and family and friends of the escapee are continuously contacted. Tom DeGonia stated that the States Attorneys' Office could send a unit to watch for an escapee (even if it is in Washington, D.C.) and if the escapee is seen, they call the Police. Bill Wallace asked how many residents leave the PRC homeless. The answer was very few. Most return to their families, however a few go to a crisis center. Jim admitted that housing is not one of PRC strengths. Don Martin stated the County is sorely lacking in housing for ex-offenders.
Accreditation Awards:
The American Correctional Association (ACA) and the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (MCCS) audits were completed. The MCCS was completed the end of last year. ACA will let us know the date they plan to present the award at PRC. Jim stated he would like to have the ACA award presented during a Community Advisory Board meeting.
Outreach Ministry:
Jane Sachs, Eric Brenner, and Art Wallenstein met with Pastor Tim Wolf and Pastor Joe Boyd from the Outreach Ministry. They are setting up two focus groups ' one with staff and one with residents. These groups will assist the ministry with establishing a focus and fulfilling the needs specific to our offender population in Montgomery County.
Drug Court:
As part of the proposed Drug Court, Judge Nelson W. Rupp, Jr. is focusing on intensive supervision of offenders in lieu of incarceration. It would consist of case managers, not probation officers. The case managers would have small caseloads and provide the judges with information on the offenders prior to sentencing. There is a task group working on a Montgomery County Drug Court but implementation is approximately two years away according to Tom DeGonia. Tom has agreed to keep us updated on its progress.
PRC Exercise Room:
Bob Carter asked who runs the exercise room at PRC. He knows a business in Silver Spring that would donate a Life Cycle (model 9500). The only cost to PRC would be to purchase the batteries, which cost approximately $75 each. Jim stated PRC could definitely use one.
Probation:
John Lavigne asked how many residents have probation with conditions after release. In the case of many Violation of Probation offenders, District Court judges have them complete their probation time incarcerated. Then upon their release, their probation is completed. Teresa Still asked if PRC could write the sentencing judge to request adding probation when the offender is nearing the end of their sentence ' answer 'no'. Teresa did state that many of the Violation of Probation cases PRC staff see have additional charges (which caused the violation). If the offender is pre-screened by PRC staff prior to sentencing, specific probation conditions may be suggested to the judges.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M. The next meeting of the PRS Community Advisory Board is Thursday, April 8th at 3:30 P.M. at the Pre-Release Center. Future meeting dates are:
- Thursday, June 3rd
- Thursday, September 9th
- Thursday, December 2nd
| YEAR | TOTAL PRS ADMISSIONS | 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.
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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)