On August 8, the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center issued A Ten-Step Guide to Transforming Probation Departments to Reduce Recidivism, “designed for these community corrections officials and policymakers responsible for funding and overseeing probation.”
The Guide is divided into two sections. The first section is comprised of methods that those in positions of authority in probation departments can use to “…engage stakeholders, evaluate agency policies, and develop a strategic plan for implementing reform.” The second section offers suggestions on redesigning policies and practices in probation departments.
The CSG Justice Center reports that after Travis County, Texas began implementing changes to its probation department, felony probation revocations dropped by 20 percent, and the one-year re-arrest rate for those on probation fell 17 percent, when compared to similar probationers before the changes were made.
The CSG Justice Center references a Pew Center on the States study which reports that currently over five million Americans are on parole or probation. This staggering number represents an increase of 59 percent during the past 20 years. As budgets are cut and caseloads are increased, probation department heads are scrambling to find ways to reduce recidivism and at the same time increase public safety. A Ten-Step Guide provides methods of transforming probation departments that have proven successful in these areas.
To view the full report click here to go to website
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