Community Corrections Program

Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week

July 18 - 24, 2010

The number of people under correctional supervision in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, and the vast majority of them are supervised in the community by staff in probation, parole and community corrections agencies. The week of July 18-24, 2010 is being observed nationally as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week. These dedicated professionals serve crime victims and hold offenders accountable for the wrong they have committed to our families, friends and communities. Their commitment to public safety helps make our communities a safer place for everyone.

Over 5 million adults and 600,000 juveniles are being supervised in our communities by these officers. In the Richmond, VA metropolitan area, they work for state probation and parole offices, juvenile court services units, and local community corrections and pretrial services agencies. Their work can be dangerous and the challenges they face are tremendous, yet they continue to make a difference. They are professionals who constantly acquire knowledge of best practices and apply that knowledge in the most effective way possible. All of this is done in an effort to ensure the highest level of public safety.

Many offenders under community supervision have struggled with addiction, and the time spent administering drug tests and contacting treatment providers is now a core part of the officer's job. Probation and pretrial officers today can face staggering caseloads, including people with mental illness and no stable residence, and many without jobs. Agencies are confronting the challenges through extensive partnerships with community resources, training in motivational approaches based on the latest research, and new technologies to increase efficiency, conduct risk assessments and case planning.

Probation and pretrial officers are a true force for positive change in their communities and deliver on their promise to enhance public safety and help restore juvenile and adult offenders to lead productive lives. During this week, please help us honor and recognize the work these professionals do each and every day of the year.

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Community Collaborator is a newsletter for community service sites, court personnel, County officials, and concerned citizens produced by Henrico County Community Corrections Program. Read about Evidence-Based Practices, CC year-to-date highlights, and more, in the Summer 2009 Community Corrections newsletter (PDF). New: read about CCP participants sprucing up Henrico, in the Community Corrections Winter 2009 newsletter (PDF).

What is Community Corrections?

The Community Corrections Program works in conjunction with other government agencies to provide a system of intermediate punishments and services for adults referred by Henrico Courts. All cases receive probationary supervision and case management services in the community as ordered by the courts. Our target populations are those defendants or offenders who need supervision but require less than institutional custody, thereby reducing the use of jail facilities at County taxpayers' expense.

 

What do we do?

Pretrial Services:

• Interviews, criminal history checks and background investigations of jailed defendants prior to court arraignment
• Recommendations to the court regarding a defendant's release on bond pending trial
• Supervision of defendants bonded to pretrial supervision until their trial
• Drug testing
• Monitoring of any special conditions
• Information and referral to services
• Written progress reports to court on defendant compliance with supervision

Post Trial Services:

• Local probation supervision for adult offenders ordered from court
• Initial contact with offenders at sentencing in the District Courts
• Face to face meetings with offenders at least once a month
• Intake interview to determine need for additional information or services
• Drug testing
• Manage all aspects of court requirements (e.g. community service, drug testing or treatment, evaluations, counseling, restitution, court fees)
• Information and referral to services
• Written progress reports to court on offender compliance with supervision

Community Service Work:

• Place offenders in public or private non-profit agencies
• Verification of hours worked
• Provide Saturday community improvement projects
• On-site supervision for community improvement projects
• Recognition of agencies serving as sites for community service

Group Services:

• Substance Abuse Education Group
• Shoplifting Prevention Group

Restitution Monitoring:

• Payments made to County Finance Department
• All payments from offenders tracked by CCP
• CCP initiates process for Finance Department to pay victims

Drug Court:

• Intensive probation supervision and treatment for adult felons
• Must meet eligibility criteria
• Breaks the cycle of drugs and crime
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