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| Sheridan office pilots new program for WDOC |
| By Wyoming Department of Corrections |
| Published: 07/08/2011 |
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Cheyenne – The Division of Field Services’ Sheridan office of Probation and Parole for the Wyoming Department of Corrections is piloting a new approach for supervising offenders within the community. The program, called the Quality Supervision Project (QSP), builds on existing protocols using offender risk assessment information to guide supervision strategies, while at the same time reducing the emphasis on contact and paperwork standards that takes away from focusing on the needs of the offender. The use of risk assessments has been a standard for many years at the department, but the pilot focuses on the improved use of this tool for community supervision and resource assignment. The new approach also allows field agents and offenders to increase the opportunities to respond to needs of the individual while maintaining a focus on public safety. This shift in supervision strategies places increased attention on using motivational interviewing skills while conducting assessments and recognizing an individual’s readiness for change. Understanding the needs of an offender based on the crime involved is critical for field agents, who work collaboratively with offenders to develop case plans, allocate resources, and community referrals so that an offender under supervision can be discharge successfully. One of the key aspects of the pilot is recognizing that not all offenders require the same intensity of supervision or access to resources. Identifying offenders who require minimal intervention to those who present a high risk for community safety through the new system will allow better use of agent time and community services such as workforce trainings, educational opportunity, and substance abuse treatment. This new system promotes focusing on the individual and helping them to reach their goals for reentry in a more productive manner than being focused on checking boxes that can inhibit the process under the old system. “The Quality Supervision Project has provided me with additional training and understanding on the risk assessment tool the Department of Corrections currently uses, which in turn has allowed me to appropriately address the needs of the individuals we are supervising within the community,” Sheridan Probation and Parole Field Office Agent Stephanie Wagner said. “It has also allowed me to spend more of my time and attention on the individuals who require a higher level supervision as opposed to those who are in need of minimal supervision.” “The Quality Supervision Project is a novel approach in dealing with our offenders.” Sheridan District Supervisor Tony Garber said. “It provides us greater sanctioning and positive reinforcement options and allows us to better identify and focus more on the higher needs cases without spending a lot of time on needless standards on those who are compliant.” While the program is currently being piloted in Sheridan, the Evanston Probation and Parole office will soon be the second location for this effort. If successful and supported by local court systems, the program would be expanded to other areas around Wyoming. |
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