5 Ws of enhanced supervision at Community Corrections Centers for probation officers

Learn more about enhanced/intensive supervision for probationers at Community Corrections Centers (CCCs).

1. Who?

Probationers who score very high or high on the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS). The ORAS recommends enhanced supervision for offenders assessed to be at high or very high risk of recidivism. High and very high risk offenders have deficiencies in multiple ORAS need domains.

2. What?

Enhanced/intensive supervision

• Intermediate Sanction Level (ISL) IV: 4–6 hours per day, 5 days per week
• Intermediate Sanction Level (ISL) III: 1–4 hours per day, 3–5 days per week

Enhanced/intensive supervision means structuring 40–70% of a probationers free time with programming that addresses ORAS moderate and high need domains for 3–9 months.

Enhanced/intensive supervision also means services that are integrated with sanctions. Services are required to address offenders needs but sanctions are necessary to promote accountability and ensure public safety.

Services Services +

• Substance abuse treatment
• General Educational Development (GED), Adult Basic Education (ABE), education
• Life skills
• Job development
• Case management

Sanctions Sanctions +

• Random drug/alcohol screens
• Community service
• Electronic monitoring
• Accountability

3. Where?

Community Corrections Centers are located in: Boston, Brockton, Dartmouth, Fitchburg, Hyannis, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Northampton, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Salisbury, Springfield, Taunton, West Tisbury, and Worcester.

4. When?

Trial disposition or probation violation disposition

ISL III/IV must be imposed as a condition of probation by a judge. It can be imposed as an alternative to incarceration either at:

1. The disposition of trial or plea agreement (as a means to decrease or avoid a period of incarceration) or
2. The disposition of a probation violation proceeding (as a means of progressive sanction to avoid incarceration).

5. Why?

Community corrections centers incorporate Evidence Based Practice (EBP). Evidence Based Practice is effective.

Scientific research shows that targeting high risk, high need offenders (ORAS high and very high) for highly structured programming (enhanced supervision) leads to greater reductions in recidivism. Research also shows that providing high intensity treatment to low risk offenders may increase their risk level.

Findings from hundreds of scientific studies and analysis of criminal justice interventions indicate that successful programs have common features. These common features are called, "Evidence-Based Principles for Effective Offender Intervention." The Community Corrections Centers adhere to these eight evidence-based principles.

EBP principles

1. Assess risk
2. Enhance intrinsic motivation
3. Target interventions
   1. Risk
   2. Need
   3. Responsivity
   4. Dosage
   5. Treatment
4. Skill train with directed practice
5. Increase positive reinforcement
6. Engage ongoing support
7. Measure relevant processes/practices
8. Provide measurement feedback

CCC program standards

1. Standardized assessment tools required such as: Level of Service Inventory-Risk, Need, Responsivity (LSI-RNR), Global Assessment of Individual Need (GAIN), Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and/or Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS)
2. Required staff credentials such as: Master’s level supervision, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC), Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Consultant (CADAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), etc.
3. Individual treatment plans
   1. ORAS high, very high
   2. Assessment determines center services; case management to community based services
   3. Gender specific, culturally competent programming interventions
   4. Center schedule based on assessment, reviews every 30 days for potential increase or decrease as appropriate
   5. Integrated services and sanction, clinical behavioral interventions, benchmarks for transition, cognitive behavioral curricula
4. Cognitive behavioral curricula including: Thinking for a Change, Hazelden New Directions, Accountability Model, etc.
5. Participant recognition ceremonies, certificates of achievement, reductions in sanctions, etc.
6. CCCs are in community, aftercare planning, linkages with community based agencies
7. Assessment summary, 30-day review, individual treatment plan, weekly utilization report, annual report
8. On-site program supervision, weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings, quarterly working group meetings

Last updated:	April 25, 2018