IMPLEMENTING THE TRANSITION FROM PRISON TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA

Presented by:Leann Bertsch, Director, North Dakota DOCR

VISION / MISSION OF THE ND DOCR Vision Statement: A safer North Dakota

through effective correctional services.

The mission of the North Dakota Department of Corrections is to enhance public safety, to reduce the risk of future criminal behavior by holding adult and juvenile offenders accountable, and to provide opportunities for change.

WHERE WE WERE Started TPC Initiative in 2003 Several work groups put together to

address the TPC Model decision points Division rift continued… Re-energized in 2007 after

organizational restructure Went from a tall, narrow organizational

structure to a short flat structure

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION 2007 – Assembled Transition

Leadership Team State, local, private department heads

tasked with oversight of TPC. Vision : To keep North Dakota the safest

state in the nation.

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION 2007 – Transition Leadership Team

chartered Transition Steering Committee Key staff in stakeholder agencies Review systematic barriers to the

Leadership Team’s vision Develop strategies to address those

barriers Make recommendations back to Leadership

Team

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION Inability to share presentence

investigation Solved in early 2008

ID Cards Effort to bring DOT staff to the prison-

completed in 2010. Short Sentenced Offenders Enhancement of

Education/Employment Skills

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION Reentry Phase Issues

Release and Integration Project Targets seriously mentally ill inmates for

enhanced case management Sex Offender release planning

Homeless Sex Offenders Transition of Native American offenders Expansion of Local Reentry Teams

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION Fargo & Bismarck

Formed under SVORI Operational since 2003

Grand Forks & Lake Region Recently formed Advisory & Working Teams

Provides a process for local solutions to reentry issues, and case planning.

WHAT WE’VE DONE - COLLABORATION North Dakota Reentry Summit

Held in October 2009 250 participants (half stakeholders) Plan developed to address Reentry issues

WHERE WE WERE -TPC MODEL Case Planning

Case planning disjointed Offender may have several case plans

Institutional Transitional Facility Parole/Probation

Communication and planning issues

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Initial Classification/Case Planning

Committee Performs initial classification hearing for

inmates Examine all assessment information Develops individual case plan based on:

Risk (LSI-R) Needs Custody Level Length of sentence

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Transition Accountability Plan (TAP)

Group chartered in 2008 Develop TAP based on criminogenic risk/needs Used from admission to prison/caseload until

release from DOCR supervision (prison or community)

Internal software developed to be used by all staff in case management role (including contract facilities and P&P Officers)

Roll-out June 2012

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Behavior and Programming

Entered into contract with University of Cincinnati to redesign correctional programming.

Focus on Cognitive Behavioral Treatment model.

Implement system of rewards as well as sanctions throughout correctional system.

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Release Preparation

Developed Inmate Release Handbook Helps inmate develop release plan Lists resource referral agencies Lists positive family members, companions,

etc. for support.

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Revocation Decision Making

Developed “Managing Noncompliant Behavior”

Provides a consistent, department-approved guideline to help Parole & Probation staff manage violations.

Reviewed by several national experts in addressing parole and probation violations.

WHAT WE’VE DONE – TPC MODEL Implemented Intensive Transition Program

Coordinator Staff member committed to staffing & managing

parole/probation violations. Staffing consists of officer, supervisor, ITPC. Develop recommendations for intermediate

measures, diversion opportunities, revocation sentence recommendations.

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

ASSESS ACTUARIAL RISK/NEEDS Utilization of the LSI-R since 2001

Administered in community and prison. QA Training Utilized in Presentence Investigation Utilized to develop case plans (TAP) 2011 Validation Study

Inter-rater reliability Statistically significant predictor of risk

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

Other assessment tools Static-99R MnSOST-R Acute Stable 2007 TCU Criminal Thinking Scales

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

ENHANCE INTRINSIC MOTIVATION Effective Communication and Motivational Strategies DOCR Management trained December 2010

Practice groups weekly All DOCR Staff trained throughout 2011

Practice groups weekly Development of minimum proficiency standards underway

Core Correctional Practices/Cognitive Behavioral Treatment

Internal trainers being trained by UC, all custodial/P&P staff to be trained

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

TARGET INTERVENTIONS Risk Principle (prioritize supervision and

treatment resources for higher risk offenders) Proxy assessment Diversion supervision Top 50 Report Evidence Based Sentence Recommendations-

PSI Pilot project Staff, judicial training

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

Need Principle (target interventions to criminogenic needs) TAPs focus on Top 3 of Big 6 LSI-R domains. Program redesign focus on treating dynamic

criminogenic risk areas first. Responsivity Principle (be responsive to

temperament, learning style, motivation, gender and culture when assigning to programs) Treatment Department Multi Discipline Staffing. More consideration to responsivity in program

redesign.

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

Dosage (structure 40%-70% of high-risk offenders’ time for 3-9 months) 2010 85% left inmate status through

transitional services (treatment, transitional housing, or had parole/probation supervision)

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

SKILL TRAIN WITH DIRECTED PRACTICE Use cognitive-behavioral treatment

methods –Core Programming in prison: Thinking for Change

Prison – program redesign Community – pilot project at regional human service

center Conflict Resolution Substance Abuse – new curricula Sex Offender Treatment – new curricula

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

INCREASE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT 4 (+) to 1 (-) ratio Program redesign subcommittees

developing evidence-based behavior modification protocol for all 3 prisons.

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

ENGAGE SUPPORT IN COMMUNITIES Reentry Teams

Bismarck, Fargo, Devils Lake, Grand Forks ICCPC targeting release community to

align services TPC stakeholders

Leadership and Steering Committees Stakeholder training

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

MEASURE RELEVANT PRACTICES Correctional Program Checklist Data Dashboard (PBMS, Revocation) Implementing goal/strategy evaluation in

TAP Itag & Docstars Several data tracking

ICCPC data Reentry Teams Transition

IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

PROVIDE MEASUREMENT FEEDBACK CPC reports. Some data feed back to staff &

management. Annual report to Reentry Teams.

QUESTIONS?

Thank you.