Pre-Release and Reentry Services

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

September 22, 2005

 

 

Attendance: Patricia Braun, PRRS Community Release Coordinator; Eric Brenner, Director of the Governor's Grants Office; POIII Denise Gill, Montgomery County Police CommunityPolicing Coordinator; Karl Girshman, Community Member; Norma Jennings, Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition; 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; James Shannon, PRRS Budget Manager; Teresa Still, PRRS Assessment Services Manager

Welcome and Introductions: Chairperson John Lavigne called the meeting to order at 7:40 A.M. All members and guests introduced themselves.

PRRS Division Chief's Report: Stefan LoBuglio highlighted items from his Chief's Report to the Community Advisory Committee:

  • American Correctional Association (ACA) Re-accreditation:An ACA audit of the Pre-ReleaseCenter was conducted on September 19th and 20th.During the PRC audit, several deficiencies were discovered mostly in tool, key, and chemical control.The audit was a challenging process and over the next three months staff will create a plan of action to correct the deficiencies.
  • The USDOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance announced a $300,000 grant to the Urban Institute  for planning a national conference on jail reentry for Spring 2006.The John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Montgomery County DOCR are partners with the Urban Institute on this grant.
  • The Pre-Release Center Accounting procedures were audited for the year 2004 by independent and internal auditors.The audit revealed that the PRC Accounting Section had good procedures and the residents accounts were in sound financial condition.
  • PRC staff are excited about working with the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition on an initiative in identifying housing of female offenders and their children.The Montgomery County Housing Partnership will be placing its first female offender in housing in a few weeks.Prior to this, they excluded individuals with criminal records.
  • In the near future, PRC could be housing Drug Court participants that have violated aspects of their program requirements with the court.
  • PRRS has begun using Pre-Trial Services electronic monitoring equipment to monitor certain individuals living at PRC such as sex offenders.
  • PRRS Chief and Unit Managers accompanied the Detention Managers on their weekly inspection tours of MCDC and MCCF.These tours were very informative to the PRRS Unit Managers in the ways of looking for contraband, housekeeping, and security and control issues.
  • Sex offenders:PRRS staff treat sex offenders respectfully but hold them highly accountable at all times.After they arrive, they are taken to Rockville Police Headquarters to register as sex offenders at PRC's address.The programs for sex offenders include immediate placement in counseling and treatment.Many of their victims/victims'  families are not aware of the Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) system and staff are examining if they should take on the responsibility to inform them of VINE and that the sex offender is at PRC.
  • Internship Programs (academic and community correction internships) are administrated by Jim Shannon.An intern training program is being designed with the help of Susan McFeaters of UMBC -  Shady Grove.A UMBC and DOCR co-funded position is being created which will greatly assist student intern research and data studies/projects.
  • The FY06 Budget created a new front desk security post position.
  • Escapes from PRRS:Five Pre-Release and Reentry residents/clients have escaped since January 1, 2005.Two have been indicted by the Grand Jury, two received additional sentences, and one remains a fugitive.
  • The PRRS facility is still waiting for the installation of its new telephone system.This new system will allow most staff members to have a direct telephone number along with Caller I.D.Caller I.D. will enhance the accountability of residents.

New Case Management Model:Patricia Braun, Community Release Coordinator, discussed the transformation of the PRRS case management program and services to residents.In February 2005, a Program Review Committee was formed to review the long-standing current resident programming questioning "have we done reentry right".This was a major challenge as staff were not sure where to start, what changes were needed, and what the results would be.The first challenge was to create a Mission Statement and Goals.Following is the Mission Statement:

"The mission of the Montgomery County Pre-Release and Reentry Services is to provide A community residential and non-residential alternative to secure confinement for adult offenders which provides reentry services while maintaining community safety."

Some changes in the programming included the combining of the PRC and CART programs.The CART Program now is a continuation of the residential unit as the resident reaches his/her final stage of reentry they are allowed to go on "home confinement". The resident continues his/her individualized program but is allowed to live at home.The three CART Caseworkers were transferred to a Unit with their current caseload and became a Case Manager with the Unit Team.The Case Managers work closely with the sponsor and/or family, who are a significant part of the resident's successful reentry into the community.With this combined process, there is a continuity of caring/working with the residents as they return to the community.Residents are encouraged to think of the present and future, not the past.Education/employment, housing, family, financial independence, leisure activities, substance abuse abstinence are all keys to successful reentry.

Learning from Practice:Tina Michaels, Correctional Screener, discussed the new screening and assessment tool, Level of Service Inventory Revised (LSI-R).The Screening staff started giving prospective PRRS participants the LSI-R a few months ago and have trained staff on scoring the tests.The LSI-R provides scores, ratings, and measures the risk of recidivism.The LSI-R is an instrument widely used in probation across the country and provides more useful information to identify an individual's reentry needs.The LSI-R replaces the psychological screening materials (MCI) that were previously used.

The revised Program Contract has been converted into one document for both the residential and non-residential segments of PRRS.The Case Managers meet with the residents and their sponsors and/or family members often, identifying areas to work on in hopes of making concrete and strategic changes in the offender's future.

The new Rating System enhances positive reinforcement for the residents' present and future goals.It is performance based on completing strategies and goals.The Rating System is simply "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory".Team staff hope to include residents' sponsors into the rating meetings.Case Managers work closely with residents and are now assisting the Community Release Coordinators by approving passes for AA/NA meeting in the community.

Reentry Board:The Reentry Board was created in the Spring (May 2005) and designed to challenge the thinking concerning reentry decisions for the purpose of improving our practices, identifying gaps in service delivery, how well goals of reentry were addressed, and exploring potential reentry resources.Case Managers are asked to present cases prior to or immediately after release with what the resident accomplished while at PRRS (employment/education or GED, documents such as Social Security card, transportation, housing upon release, financial security/family support.Further community issues and organizations where staff could be trained are addressed such as Child Support Enforcement, Health and Human Services, faith based organizations, MVA/drivers licenses, etc.Future initiatives for the Reentry Board to review are victim impact, restoration of justice, mentoring, job skills training, medication resources, and financial training.

The Next Community Advisory Meeting:Thursday, December 9th at 7:30 A.M. at the Pre-Release Center. A light breakfast buffet will be served. Meeting dates for 2006 will be discussed.