Pre-Release and Reentry Services

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

June 9, 2005

Attendance:  John Arney, Maryland Parole and Probation; Patricia Braun, PRRS Community Release Coordinator; Eric Brenner, Director of the Governor's Grants Office; Cherise Burdeen, Montgomery County Resident; Robert Carter, Community Services Division of the Montgomery County Police; Thomas DeGonia, State's Attorneys Office; Steve Feigin, Montgomery County Resident; POIII Denise Gill, Montgomery County Police Community  Policing Coordinator; Captain Wayne Jerman, Bethesda District Commander , Montgomery County Police;  Susan Kirk, Bethesda Cares, Inc.; John Lavigne, Public Defender's Office; Stefan LoBuglio, PRRS Chief;  Don Martin, Health and Human Services;  Loretta McClintock, Community Member; Dr. Susan McFeaters, University of Maryland ' Shady Grove Campus;  Tina Michaels, PRRS Screener; Hillel Raskas, PRRS Work Release Coordinator;  Jane Sachs, PRRS Unit Manager;  Teresa Still, PRRS Assessment Services Manager; Angela Talley, PRRS Work Release Coordinator; Patricia Taylor, PRRS Work Release Coordinator  

Welcome and Introductions:  Chairperson John Lavigne called the meeting to order at 7:35 A.M.   All members and guests introduced themselves.

PRRS Division Chief's Report:  Stefan LoBuglio provided an overview of some of the changes to programs at PRRS since the last meeting of the community advisory board in April: 

  • Integrating the home confinement program (formerly CART) with the residential program at the Pre-Release Center program both to strengthen and provide greater continuity of case management services and to increase the involvement of residents' families in the reentry process;
  • Re-focusing of case management services on the fundamental reentry needs of residents such as documentation, housing, employment, as well as such issues as child support, court restitution requirements, and credit history;
  • Re-establishing the GED Program with teachers hired through the Montgomery County Board of Education and the MCCF Model Learning Center;
  • Developing a career development and resource center at the PRC with internet access;
  • Pursuing a joint RFP for electronic monitoring equipment with the Pre-Trial Services Division in order to standardize equipment and training between divisions;
  • Implementing a new statewide drug testing protocol and integrated data management system used by many HHS programs and state Probation and Parole which is called the HATS;
  • Drafting legislation to increase the maximum sentence eligibility criteria for placement at PRC from six months to one year.  The legislation will also codify PRRS's home confinement program;
  • Establishing a co-payment of $4.00 for non-emergency visits to the Medical Section;
  • Acting on recommendations of a security review conducted by the Deputy Wardens from MCDC and MCCF to assess the need to enhance the security of the PRC;
  • Planning for the implementation of a new telephone system that is part of the County's 240 exchange service and which will also provide staff with direct lines and Caller I.D.;
  • Introducing a new assessment instrument to screen candidates for eligibility to the PRC.  The LSIR (Level of Service Inventory-Revised) is an instrument widely used in probation across the country and provides more useful information to identify individuals' reentry needs.  The LSIR replaces a psychological screening instrument that was previously used.
  • Pursing the contracting of psychiatric nurse practitioners that will provide enhanced mental health care for residents in PRC.

Statistical Overview:  PRRS Assessment Manager Teresa Still distributed data on the increase in PRRS population.  From January to May, there have been approximately thirty more offenders going through PRC and Home Confinement).  The average daily population has steadily risen during the past five months.  In her presentation, she also mentioned:

  • Successful PRRS releases increased by over ten percent from January to March;
  • There have been five escapes since the beginning of the year which is a very high number for PRRS.  Four were PRC residents and one was a client on home confinement.  Criminal charges have been filed in all cases.  Andre Stepp, Resident Supervisor and Escape Officer created Escape Notebooks for each unit and the Director's Office.  This notebook includes all the necessary instructions to handle an escape and what steps to follow;
  • A Committee member asked what the approximate percentage of Hispanics at the Center is.  According to PRRS statistics, this rate is 8-10%, and the relatively low number is due to the fact that many individuals in the detention center of Hispanic origin face immigration issues and are not eligible for placement at PRC. 

Work Release Presentation:  Angela Talley, Patricia Taylor, and Hillel Raskas (PRRS Work Release Coordinators) presented a power point presentation on the work release program at PRRS.  Some of the presentation was previously given at the Transitional Jobs and Reentry National Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 6, 2005.

Briefly, the Work Release Coordinators (WRC's) stated that it takes most residents three to four weeks to find employment.  Prior to a resident securing employment, the Work Release Coordinators confirm that the employers are fully aware of the status of the resident within PRRS.  After a resident is hired, the Work Release Coordinators work closely with the employers ensuring accountability by conducting on-sites and by maintaining a close relationship by telephone.  The Work Release Coordinators try to assist the residents in securing employment that they can continue after release. 

Click on the link below to view the presentation.

Work released program presentation

 

Community Advisory Meeting Dates for 2005:  All meetings are held on Thursdays at 7:30 A.M. at the Pre-Release Center.  A light breakfast buffet will be served.   The next meeting is scheduled for September 15th.