Innovative & Cost Innovative & Cost EffectiveEffective Supervision Supervision

PROBATION GROUP REPORTINGPROBATION GROUP REPORTING Presented by:

James E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC-R A Community Corrections’ Response to A Community Corrections’ Response to

Domestic Violence:Domestic Violence:   

1212thth Annual International Family Justice Center Conference Annual International Family Justice Center Conference April 16, April 16, 2012 New Orleans, LA 2012 New Orleans, LA

Rated MRated M: Suggested for Mature Audiences, may contain adult language.: Suggested for Mature Audiences, may contain adult language.

Why consider probation Why consider probation group reporting?group reporting?

Rationale with particular OffendersRationale with particular Offenders.

Why we choose to incorporate daytime, Why we choose to incorporate daytime, evening and pretrial group reporting.evening and pretrial group reporting.

Victim & Community SafetyVictim & Community Safety

Offender AccountabilityOffender Accountability

Clear message from/to the communityClear message from/to the community

The benefits of monitoringThe benefits of monitoring

To the Person VictimizedTo the Person Victimized

To the CommunityTo the Community

To the DefendantTo the Defendant

To the Criminal Justice SystemTo the Criminal Justice System

To the AgentTo the Agent

Why consider a supportive Why consider a supportive and accountable group and accountable group

reporting format reporting format

Why consider a supportive Why consider a supportive and accountable group and accountable group

reporting format reporting format

Research has indicated that group work Research has indicated that group work is often more effective and less costly is often more effective and less costly then other alternatives.then other alternatives.

A similar research study of psychiatric as A similar research study of psychiatric as well as substance abuse patients well as substance abuse patients revealed a decline in both symptoms and revealed a decline in both symptoms and a need for treatment after patients a need for treatment after patients entered support groups.entered support groups.

How group reporting How group reporting supports compliance and supports compliance and

changechange

Gives defendants a reference group Gives defendants a reference group wherein one shares common road wherein one shares common road blocks to compliance, problems, or blocks to compliance, problems, or concerns with others . concerns with others .

Provides an opportunity to hear multiple Provides an opportunity to hear multiple solutions from peers.solutions from peers.

How group reporting How group reporting supports compliance and supports compliance and

change change (cont’d)(cont’d)

Defendants gain hope based on the Defendants gain hope based on the knowledge that other members have knowledge that other members have experienced similar difficulties..experienced similar difficulties..

How group reporting How group reporting supports compliance and supports compliance and

change change (cont’d)(cont’d)

Defendants often start confronting Defendants often start confronting problems and accepting responsibility.problems and accepting responsibility.

This is often quicker then if only This is often quicker then if only confronted in the programs or by confronted in the programs or by probation.probation.

Why?Why?

How group reporting How group reporting supports compliance and supports compliance and

change change (cont’d)(cont’d)

Defendants begin putting their problems in Defendants begin putting their problems in perspective and applying knowledge and perspective and applying knowledge and skills deriving from experiences shared by skills deriving from experiences shared by others.others.

The probation officer can tap the strengths of The probation officer can tap the strengths of group members, fostering independence and group members, fostering independence and self-esteem in the process. self-esteem in the process.

Before You StartBefore You Start

Find a location ( hallway, conference room, Find a location ( hallway, conference room, training office at police station/jail etc)training office at police station/jail etc)

Assure staff safety at location ( 2 staff on-Assure staff safety at location ( 2 staff on-site or other employees near by)site or other employees near by)

Pick defendants from one particular Pick defendants from one particular program. ( This covers you for issues on program. ( This covers you for issues on confidentiality, program rules and confidentiality, program rules and objectives)objectives)

Before You Start Before You Start (cont’d)(cont’d)

Probation Officers need to be familiar Probation Officers need to be familiar with the program you choose, so that with the program you choose, so that your group functions in synergy rather your group functions in synergy rather than in competition with those programs.than in competition with those programs.

Meet with the programs and inform them Meet with the programs and inform them of your new monitoring practices. ( You of your new monitoring practices. ( You will need their reports before each group will need their reports before each group meeting)meeting)

Getting StartedGetting Started Inform Defendants of the dates for PGM. Inform Defendants of the dates for PGM.

• Have programs announce times /dates and locationsHave programs announce times /dates and locations• Post in Office Post in Office • Put on phone messagePut on phone message

Keep groups between 15 and 25 defendants Keep groups between 15 and 25 defendants per one hour meetingper one hour meeting

Offer groups during the day and evening hours.Offer groups during the day and evening hours.

Start of GroupStart of Group Have Defendants pass in monthly reports.Have Defendants pass in monthly reports. Announce purpose of the group. I always Announce purpose of the group. I always

say “say “I have never been on probation, I can not I have never been on probation, I can not tell you how to manage a family, job, and all the tell you how to manage a family, job, and all the requirements of probation. However several of requirements of probation. However several of the people in this room have done so the people in this room have done so successfully. We want to help you make it successfully. We want to help you make it through probation and for this to be the last through probation and for this to be the last time. I willing to listen to your feelings and time. I willing to listen to your feelings and discuss options.discuss options.

Start of GroupStart of Group (cont’d)(cont’d)

However I am not interested in complaining However I am not interested in complaining with out a purpose. I know probation can be with out a purpose. I know probation can be overwhelming for many of you, but if you look overwhelming for many of you, but if you look around you, are not alone and many of these around you, are not alone and many of these guys are doing well. I also want to inform you guys are doing well. I also want to inform you of consequences if you do not comply ,with the of consequences if you do not comply ,with the hope that you never have to experience them . hope that you never have to experience them . Finally I want to monitor the program you are in Finally I want to monitor the program you are in and am interested in if you feel it is helpful or and am interested in if you feel it is helpful or not”not”

Conducting the Conducting the groupgroup

Go through each defendants’ monthly Go through each defendants’ monthly report and reports from the agency .report and reports from the agency .

Focus on compliance issues: Is he/she Focus on compliance issues: Is he/she attending and paying for services, attending and paying for services, doing homework, passing drug test etc.doing homework, passing drug test etc.

How is he doing in general, compliment How is he doing in general, compliment him/her on progress or compliance.him/her on progress or compliance.

Look for Cognitive Look for Cognitive DistortionsDistortions

That disavow responsibilityThat disavow responsibility

That minimizes the effects of violence, That minimizes the effects of violence, drugs/alcohol, crime, etc.drugs/alcohol, crime, etc.

That dehumanize or blame the victim.That dehumanize or blame the victim.

By challenging these distortions the By challenging these distortions the Probation Officer can achieve therapeutic Probation Officer can achieve therapeutic results for the offender , group & society.results for the offender , group & society.

IncorporateIncorporate Motivational Interviewing Motivational Interviewing

Express EmpathyExpress Empathy

Roll with ResistanceRoll with Resistance

Develop DiscrepancyDevelop Discrepancy

Support Self-EfficacySupport Self-Efficacy ( Walters et al.,2007)( Walters et al.,2007)

Motivational InterviewingMotivational InterviewingTechniques Techniques

Ask Open ended questionsAsk Open ended questions

Affirm positive talk and behaviorAffirm positive talk and behavior

Have the group reflect what they are Have the group reflect what they are hearing and seeinghearing and seeing

Have the offender summarize what has Have the offender summarize what has been said.been said.

Keeping group interestingKeeping group interesting

Try not to spend more then 5 minutes per Try not to spend more then 5 minutes per issue.issue.

If an issue needs more time pull in feed back If an issue needs more time pull in feed back from more advanced members or people who from more advanced members or people who can relate.can relate.

Set guidelines on feedback (Tim can you tell Set guidelines on feedback (Tim can you tell Tom how you dealt with your lack of Tom how you dealt with your lack of transportation to AA) transportation to AA)

Setting BoundariesSetting Boundaries

Do not allow offenders to enter group late.Do not allow offenders to enter group late.

Do not allow hats to be worn, or Do not allow hats to be worn, or disrespectful clothing.disrespectful clothing.

Do not allow disrespect or feedback that Do not allow disrespect or feedback that may collude with a defendants entitlement may collude with a defendants entitlement to engage in abuse tactics or substance to engage in abuse tactics or substance abuse.abuse.

Other things to do at PGMOther things to do at PGM

Conduct PBT/ Breathalyzers. Conduct PBT/ Breathalyzers.

Invite guest ( BIP staff, Victim service Invite guest ( BIP staff, Victim service workers, Judges, Arresting officer, etc)workers, Judges, Arresting officer, etc)

Offender photos. Offender photos.

Make announcements. ( About court Make announcements. ( About court requirements or services in the requirements or services in the community)community)

Looking at the Old way:Looking at the Old way:

Now the new wayNow the new way

In the END In the END

We have more time to complete other We have more time to complete other task.task.

Our offenders spend quality time at Our offenders spend quality time at probation.probation.

In the END In the END

Offenders earn leadership roles, often Offenders earn leadership roles, often enhancing self-esteem and compliance.enhancing self-esteem and compliance.

Offenders understand the concepts of Offenders understand the concepts of graduated sanctions and are less graduated sanctions and are less resistant to imposed consequences for resistant to imposed consequences for their choicestheir choices

PGM help with Court reviewsPGM help with Court reviews

You have witnesses to what was told to You have witnesses to what was told to the defendant.the defendant.

Defendant could have been offered Defendant could have been offered assistance from group. (document)assistance from group. (document)

PGM can help with your PGM can help with your CCRCCR

Community partners can observe and…Community partners can observe and… Educate you on group workEducate you on group work Learn about your weaknessesLearn about your weaknesses Empower youEmpower you Learn from you and the groupLearn from you and the group Send a consistent message to offendersSend a consistent message to offenders Create a unified frontCreate a unified front

Change Takes Resources:Change Takes Resources:Reflection #10Reflection #10

““Tradition is what you Tradition is what you resort to when you donresort to when you don’’t t have the have the timetime or or moneymoney to to do it right. do it right. ””

Kurt Herbert Kurt Herbert

AdlerAdler

Hands on ResourcesHands on Resources

    You can access the DV Supervision You can access the DV Supervision Guidelines at the following link: Guidelines at the following link: http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/APPA/pubs/CCRDV.pdf..

Link to 8 Hrs of DV training Link to 8 Hrs of DV training http://www.appa-net.org/dv/online_training.htm

Questions/comments/Questions/comments/concerns?concerns?

Probation: working smarter, not Probation: working smarter, not harder while being fiscally harder while being fiscally responsible.responsible.

Good Luck and Thank YouGood Luck and Thank You

James E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC-RJames E. Henderson Jr. MSW, CAC-R Battered Women's Justice ProjectBattered Women's Justice Project

1801 Nicollet Ave South, Suite 1021801 Nicollet Ave South, Suite 102Minneapolis, MN  55403Minneapolis, MN  55403

p 800-903-0111, ext. 1p 800-903-0111, ext. 1technicalassistance@bwjp.org

James_henderson@yahoo.com (517) 414-7302 Fax (517) 522-8521(517) 414-7302 Fax (517) 522-8521