MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRE-RELEASE SERVICES
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

June 12, 2003

Members Attending:

  • Robert Carter
  • Tom DeGonia
  • Marsha Engel
  • Carl Hamstead
  • John Levine
  • Don Martin
  • Loretta McClintock
  • Jane Sachs
  • Avery Tabb
  • Eleanor Walker ' Staff Guest
  • Art Wallenstein
  • Susan Wiant

 

The Pre-Release Services Community Advisory Board Meeting began at 3:35 P.M. by Chairperson John Lavigne. All were welcomed and two new Board members were introduced:

' Tom DeGonia from the State's Attorneys Office ' Tom is the Assistant States Attorney who handles the prosecution of escaped residents. He has been exceedingly helpful in supporting the Department's position on tough prosecution to protect the programs.
' Avery Tabb (a retired DOCR employee) who currently works for Montgomery Works ' Avery assists individuals, including ex-offenders, in getting jobs.

Eleanor Walker, PRS Support Services Manager, was invited to speak to the Board members about the capital improvements in progress at the facility. A modular unit has been ordered for additional classroom space. The unit was purchased at half the price through the Howard County Board of Education contract. Because of the permitting process, we are now anticipating an August 1st completion date. The electrical work will be the major cost. The classrooms currently next to the dining room will become part the dining room allowing for more seating room during meal times. The Honors Unit/Unit I rooms which have been single rooms will become double rooms. This is all part of our innovative plans to increase the population at PRC. Monday's count was 141; today it is 135 ' we are aiming for a maximum count of 155.

Art Wallenstein reported that the courts continue to commit multiple DWI/DUI offenders to weekend sentences. Most of the DWI/DUI weekenders show up drunk and are spending the weekend sleeping. Art would like the judges to understand that PRC can transfer offenders quickly and these offenders need to come to PRC and CART to address their problems. Starting July 12th, all sentenced weekend offenders will be living in one unit at MCDC and be engaged in productive work during the day and attend a special treatment program on Saturday night. As a result, the weekend sentences will have less appeal, offer some benefit to the community, and exact some restorative price from the offenders. Art stated that many defense attorneys often argue that offenders will lose their jobs if they go to PRC - it has been discovered that many offenders have either just started the job or their employer would prefer to see them get the treatment assistance that PRC can offer. Art suggested to both John Lavigne and Tom DeGonia that this be taken into consideration at sentencing.

Sue Wiant stated that the Community Corrections people at the Federal Bureau of Prisons think that PRC is an incredible program. Since July 1, 2002 (through June 30, 2003), $653,829 has been paid to PRC for housing of Federal offenders and an additional $29,938 has been paid for the Federal clients on the CART program. PRS is now accepting Federal inmates who are returning not only to Montgomery County, but to the surrounding Washington metro area, especially since we tend to live 'regionally' in this area.

Jane Sachs, Unit IV Manager, spoke of the Community Faith Based Mentoring Program that is seeking offenders who are willing to participate in a pilot plan to find out how people stumble back into criminal life after release. The only qualification for participation is the motivation to change. Loretta McClintock explained that Faith Community Re-entry is recruiting and training people as mentors. A team of three mentors will develop a transition plan and personal goals with an offender at MCCF. This plan/goals will continue as the offender enters PRS and for twelve to fourteen months after release. Stats will be kept on the offenders' personal goals, addiction, family issues, etc. Phil Andrews and Mike Knapp (County Council members) are in support of this concept. There are approximately 500 releases from PRS yearly and some of these people have no real support system and could benefit from participation in this type of help.

Jane also spoke of the 'image' changes in Unit IV and staff are looking for new approaches to assist residents including a resident 'Peer' group. The resident facilitators will meet with Jane to discuss unit issues and concerns and how improvements can be made. New bulletin boards have been installed for pictures of the residents as they are professionally dressed for job interviews and other achievements. Unit IV Resident Supervisor Steve Borkoski will be writing letters to residents a few weeks after their release asking how they are doing. Currently, the Work Release Coordinators follow-up with employers to check on job retention post release.

Craig Dowd, DOCR Workforce Manager; Joanne Zacharias, DOCR Food Service Administrator; and Cpl. Craig Longcor, Workforce Supervisor at MCCF, are working on innovative ideas that can impact the recidivism rate of ex-offenders. A grant proposal was developed for a Bakery Job Training Program for inmates. Due to the County's current fiscal situation, the grant was not submitted but collaboration of this type will continue. PRS staff are currently meeting with MCCF and Department staff on other collaborative efforts to include parenting, mentoring, and workforce issues. These efforts are aimed toward closing up some of the existing gaps among services for offenders.

Art Wallenstein discussed the FY04 budget process. The Department's FY04 budget was largely unscathed. Increasing the number of Federal Bureau of Prisons' offenders served has greatly increased the PRS Division's revenue. Moving the CART Program to PRC will save money and bring more supervision to the facility to handle the increase. At MCDC and MCCF, increased numbers of federal inmates will also be housed in available space. DOCR is in good shape with the stabilization of staff and the intern program. MCCF has been open for sixty-five days and working out well. The County is in the process of selecting an architect for the renovation/reuse of MCDC.

GED classes were discussed and the Department's need to assist non-English speaking offenders. PRC residents could benefit from an in-house ESOL program. Sue said she would like to see the offenders' families involved in both ESOL classes and Spanish language family education/sponsor groups. Art said he would like to know when plans are made for these classes. Avery Tabb stated that the Wheaton One Stop facility has ESOL classes held on Tuesday nights. One Stop is an organization supported by federal funds that assess individuals who are actively pursuing gainful employment. One Stop staff assists individuals at no costs with basic community resources for education, training, resume writing, employment, rehabilitation, etc.

Art Wallenstein suggested that the Board members continue over the summer to focus on bringing new members to the PRS Advisory Board by reaching out to community groups and individuals.

The next PRS Community Advisory Board meeting was scheduled for Thursday,
September 18, 2003, at 3:30 P.M. at the Pre-Release Center. The meeting was originally scheduled for September 11th, however due to the Grand Jury Tour that day, the meeting date had to be changed. Board and community members are invited to join the Grand Jury tour. If you are interested, please call on Wednesday for the approximate time of the tour. The last meeting of the PRS Community Advisory Board for 2003 is scheduled for December 4th at 3:30 P.M. Community members are invited to attend.

Meeting adjourned at 5:05 P.M.

V:\PRS Comm.Advisory Board\6-12-03 Comm.advisory Board Mtg..doc

Attachments:
PRC Monthly Data Report for June 2003 (Download in Excel Format)
CART Monthly Data Report for June 2003 (Download in Excel Format)

Note: Data Reports show total FY03 Data