MICHAEL A. WRIGHT, CHIEF PROBATION & PAROLE OFFICER COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Department of Corrections Probation & Parole District 1 829 OLIVER HIL WAY RICHMOND, VA 23219 PHONE: 804-786-0251 FAX: 804-786-0252 804-786-0253 June 28, 2010 Probation & Parole District 1 Adult Probation & Parole District 1 is a Virginia Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections, operating unit located in the City of Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia and covers an area of 62.5 square miles, with a population of approximately 200,000. District 1 is among the largest Probation & Parole Districts in Virginia. District 1 serves the 13th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. District 1 enjoys a good working relationship with it s local criminal justice partners, including but not limited to the Richmond City Circuit Court, the Richmond City Circuit Court Clerk s Office, the Richmond City Commonwealth Attorney s Office, the Richmond City Public Defender s Office, the Richmond City Police Department, the Richmond City Sheriff s Department, and the Richmond City Drug Court Treatment Program. The district office is located within a five minute drive of the courthouse and within walking distance of the Richmond City Jail and Richmond Juvenile Courthouse and Detention Center. District 1 is the sole occupant of a building with a large parking lot located in a business district of the City of Richmond. The office is located within walking distance of a public transit system serving the Richmond Metropolitan Area, making it assessable to the offender population. The District 1 hours of operation are from 8:15 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Monday thru Thursday and from 8:15 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Friday. The evening hours Monday through Thursday allow those offenders that work during the day an opportunity to participate in treatment group meetings and to attend scheduled appointments with their supervising officer.
2. District 1 is responsible for the supervision and services of approximately 2,900 adult felon offenders residing in the City of Richmond and conducts the Presentence Investigations for the Richmond City Circuit Court. Statistically, an offender on supervision in the City of Richmond is more likely to be violent and in need of more services than in any other area of the Commonwealth. The district s 59 employees are committed to the balanced approach of offender supervision and services, providing surveillance and accountability while offering meaningful alternatives to meet the offender s complex needs. The district s four (4) Deputy Chief s, seven (7) Senior Officers, and the Office Services Supervisor assist the Chief Officer in the management of this large and complex community corrections operation. An Intensive Supervision Program provides maximum community supervision to those offenders with a history of violent behavior where a victim sustained a physical injury. Often times, these offenders are in need of specialized treatment to address their significant substance abuse and mental health problems as well as assistance to meet their physical needs such as housing. Two (2) Probation & Parole Officers and a Surveillance Officer are assigned to this program. A Sex Offender Containment Program provides intensive community supervision to those persons under supervision that have been identified as sex offenders. In addition to frequent personal office contacts with the sex offender specialists and intense surveillance in the community by a field worker, each offender is required to participate in a highly structured sex offender counseling program. A licensed sex offender treatment program provides specialized on-site assessments and treatment services. In addition, sex offenders are required to undergo polygraph tests conducted by certified polygraph examiners. Home Electronic or Global Positioning Monitoring may be required for sex offenders on a case-by-case basis. The Sex Offender Containment Program consists of a Team Leader (Senior Officer), an Intensive Supervision Officer, two (2) Probation & Parole Officers with a caseload of sex offenders that have completed the initial phases of intensive supervision, and a. A Substance Abuse Treatment Program provides supervision and services for offenders with substance abuse issues. This in-house program offers screening, assessment, and treatment for any offender deemed to be in need of substance abuse services. The treatment team consists of a Team Leader (Senior Officer with CSAC credentials), two (2) substance abuse treatment counselors, and a substance abuse clinician. In addition, volunteers from the community and district personnel assist in the delivery of services. The counselors and clinician are provided through a Memorandum of Agreement with the local Community Services Board (Richmond Behavioral Health Authority). The counselors and clinician are provided individual office space and equipment. They are considered to be an integral part of the district team. Not every offender with a substance
3. abuse problem is assigned to the treatment program but, with the exception of residential placements, very seldom is an offender in need of treatment required to leave the district office for services. This program offers individual as well as specialized group counseling sessions tailored to meet the offender s needs. The close working relationship between the treatment team and the district s Probation & Parole Officers has proven to be a highly effective tool in working with District 1 s high risk and needs offender population. Offenders may be required to participate in the District 1 Urinalysis Testing Program. A full-time lab technician is assigned to manage the program and to operate the lab equipment. District personnel assist the technician with the collection and screening process. A random color code system is utilized with as many as 175 offenders being required to report for drug testing on any given day. In addition, hand held testing devices that produce instant results are utilized on a case-by-case basis. A breathalyzer is also available for alcohol testing. A Gang Intervention Unit provides specialized case management supervision and services to those offenders on supervision that have been validated as criminal street gang members by approved criteria. The cornerstone of this unit is sharing intelligence and collaboration with law enforcement agencies. Each gang member assigned to the unit will undergo a review to determine the risk they pose to the community and their needs with respect to intervention/ prevention services. An individualized supervision plan is developed by the supervising officer to address each gang member s identified risk and needs. They will be required to comply with specialized supervision mandates designed to dissuade gang involvement. In addition, a system of graduated sanctions will be utilized to address less serious probation and/or parole violations. When intervention and prevention efforts fail, high risk gang members in violation of the requirements of supervision will be returned to the sentencing/paroling authority for revocation proceedings. A Team Leader (Senior Officer) and three (3) Probation & Parole Officers have been assigned to this unit. The Re-Entry/Intake Unit provides specialized offender re-integration and placement services for those offenders re-entering the community from state and local correctional institutions. Designated unit personnel (Intake Workers) meet with the offender s that are reporting to the district directly from court, a correctional institution, or another sentencing/paroling jurisdiction pending case assignment. The Intake Worker attempts to
4. determine the criminal justice status of the offender, obtains pertinent data, and provides the offender with information as well as specific reporting instructions. Unit personnel also obtain digital fingerprints and a photo of the offender, ensuring that the information is ultimately disseminated properly. The unit is also responsible for reviewing and responding to all incoming electronic messages from other entities concerning offender re-entry and supervision issues. A team leader (Senior Officer), two (2) Probation & Parole Officers, and a are assigned to the unit, with one (1) of the Probation & Parole Officers providing specialized re-entry services. The District 1 Community Corrections Facilities Program processes referrals and evaluations for placement in a Community Corrections Detention Center and/or Diversion Center Program. A Probation & Parole Officer is assigned to this program and is kept busy by the numerous referrals from the Richmond City Circuit Court and the Virginia Parole Board. District 1 actively participates in the Richmond City Drug Court Treatment Program. One (1) Probation & Parole Officer is assigned to work with this local program on a full time basis. The Officer provides intensive supervision for offenders placed in the program as a requirement of their probation by the Richmond City Circuit Court. Circuit Court Judges preside over the program and District 1 fully supports the concept. The District 1 Voice Recognition Self Reporting Program (vsr) enables offenders to perform required, periodic, check-ins from any telephone. When an offender checks in, vsr verifies their identity with biometric voiceprint authentication and, according to their protocol, requires each offender to respond to a series of interview questions. For any exception (such as a change in address), vsr requests and records the offender s audio response and notifies the district office electronically. vsr also provides features such as automated reminder calls and grace periods to facilitate higher offender compliance. This supervision tool is used to assist in monitoring a large caseload of low risk/needs offenders or to enhance intensive supervision services in high risk cases. The District 1 Voice Recognition Curfew Monitoring Program (vcm) provides verification that an offender is at a designated location, normally at home or at work, at any given time. vcm attempts to contact the offender by telephone, requiring the offender to response within three (3) minutes by a telephone call from the designated location using a land line (wired) telephone. Offenders may also be instructed to checkin with vcm at preset times from home or other locations. vcm verifies the offender s identity with biometric voiceprint authentication, requiring the offender to respond to a series of interview questions. This supervision tool is used to closely monitor compliance with supervision instructions in high risk cases and/or as a sanction for non-compliant behavior. Note: AnyTrax, a Department of Corrections contract vendor, provides the vsr and vcm automated services. Currently, two (2) probation officers are assigned to the AnyTrax Program.
5. District 1 has three (3) Probation & Parole Officers that specialize in conducting Presentence Investigations for the Richmond City Circuit Court as well as Pardon Investigations for the Virginia Parole Board and Postsentence Reports for the Department of Corrections in those cases requiring the investigation. Many offenders are placed on probation but must serve a sentence in a state or local correctional facility before they are released to begin community supervision. District 1 has hundreds of these inactive cases and must keep track of them to ensure they are placed on active probation supervision when they are released from incarceration. Quite often, these cases will reside in another locality when they are released. District 1 must make arrangements for these offenders to receive supervision in the area where they reside whether it is in Virginia or another state. The Probation & Parole Officers that specialize in conducting Presentence Investigations are assigned to process these cases to ensure that they receive proper supervision on their release. An additional 16 Probation & Parole Officers are responsible for providing the supervision and services for the large majority of offenders under the supervision of the district. In many instances, offenders are required to undergo intensive supervision and may be in need of an array of services. However, due to the limited resources of the intensive programs, those offender s that have a history of violence and non-compliant behavior will often be placed with the non-specialized officers for supervision in larger caseloads. District 1 has seven (7) clerical staff, including an Offices Services Supervisor and Office Services Specialist, to support the entire office. Administratively, District 1 is a very complex operation. Hundreds of cases are opened and closed monthly. The support staff must conduct a multitude of functions, everything from answering incoming telephone calls to providing the technical support for the district s automated system. They are a vital part of the operation and without their assistance, the district would be nonfunctional. District 1 will continue to strive for self improvement and providing the most efficient product possible. It will never become complacent or accept the status quo. It will be involved in a gradual but constant process of growth. It will be a place where offenders will be provided the services and tools to succeed with passion and understanding but held accountable for their transgressions. It will be a place where the staff is encouraged to grow professionally and use their creative skills and talents in service to their community.
Probation & Parole District 1 Overview (A Virginia Department of Corrections Operating Unit) Supervision/services for 2,900 felon offenders (2,650 probation/250 parole) on probation/parole/post release supervision in the City of Richmond. 150-200 cases are opened in any given month Presentence Investigations & Sentencing Guidelines for the Richmond City Circuit Court. Business hours from 8:15 A.M. 9:00 P.M. Monday thru Thursday & 8:15 A.M. 5:00 P.M. on Friday In addition to the routine offender supervision & services, District 1 provides the following specialized programs & services: Gang Intervention Program Urinalysis Testing Program On-site Treatment Programs Reentry Program (Specialists) Intensive Supervision Program Drug Court Program Participation Intake Services (24 hours per week) Sex Offender Containment Program GPS Monitoring Program (Sex Offenders) Automated voice recognition self reporting and curfew monitoring programs (AnyTrax). District 1 now uses the Virginia Department of Corrections Automated Offender Information System (VirginiaCORIS) for all offender data and record keeping. This system links DOC time computation, institutions, and community corrections to an offender file on each person being supervised, incarcerated or investigated by the DOC. In addition, District 1 utilizes/provides/participates in the following public safety procesesd: Individual desktop access to Richmond PD data (PISTOL) Individual desktop access to the Richmond City Jail s Inmate Records Active participation in Richmond s Violence Reduction Partnership (a collaborative partnership involving all federal, state & local law enforcement agencies) Active participation in Richmond PD Violent Crimes Unit Team Meetings Active participation with Virginia State Police/U.S. Marshall s Service in the apprehension of probation/parole fugitives COPPS-Net (P&P offender demographic data on a web server). DNA samples obtained/submitted on eligible offenders that aren t listed as having a sample on file with the Commonwealth s DNA data bank Active participant in the local and statewide offender reentry program councils. LiveScan digital fingerprinting of all offenders.
STATE OPERATED COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS) MISSION The mission of community corrections (Probation and Parole) is to enhance public safety by positively impacting offenders so they will lead pro-social and crime free lives. In practice, this is accomplished through: Pre-sentence background investigations, including sentencing guidelines and substance abuse assessments for Circuit Courts. Investigation and assessment of offender s risks and needs. Careful and focused plans of supervision. Use of a wide variety of resources and treatment services. Purposeful and proportionate application of sanctions for delinquent and non-compliant behavior. PROBATION, PAROLE & POST RELEASE SUPERVISION Probation A judicial action in lieu of incarceration which allows an offender to be supervised in the community subject to court-imposed conditions. Parole A legal status which allows an inmate to complete his sentence to incarceration in the community subject to certain conditions and supervision. Offenders who committed their offenses before January 1, 1995, may be eligible for discretionary parole consideration. Inmates who committed felony offenses on or after January 1, 1995, are not eligible for discretionary parole consideration. However, offenders that are incarcerated as the result of multiple misdemeanor convictions are eligible for mandatory parole. Post Release Supervision A judicial action which requires a period of supervision in the community following court imposed incarceration for a felony offense committed after January 1, 1995, and for which there was no suspended sentence or probation imposed. PAROLE ELIGIBILITY For those inmates who are eligible for discretionary parole consideration, the parole eligibility date represents the date on which the inmate becomes eligible to be considered for parole. Having a parole hearing does not guarantee that parole will be granted. Being granted parole does not indicate instantaneous release. If parole is granted the inmate will be released as soon as all administrative work is complete. If parole is not granted, then the inmate will be eligible for reconsideration, each year, within the same quarter as the original parole eligibility date. If an inmate eligible for discretionary parole consideration is never granted parole by the Virginia Parole Board they are eligible for mandatory parole release after serving all but six(6) months of their remaining sentence.
Probation and Parole District 1 Virginia Department of Corrections Probation Director P0101 Probation Supervisor P0131 Probation Supervisor P0157 Probation Supervisor P0191 Probation Supervisor P0122 Probation Director P0101 P0102 P0121 Senior P0153 P0126 Senior P0119 P0127 P0135 P0103 P0134 P0128 P0136 Mental Health Specialist P0105 P0168 P0141 P0148 P0106 P0195 P0173 P0167 P0120 Senior P0178 P0193 P0179 P0152 P0164 Senior P0109 Senior P0110 P0172 P0198 P0176 Drug Test Coordinator P0192 P0199 Senior P0132 P0182 Office Services Supervisor P0158 Senior P0130 P0107 Senior P0111 Office Services Specialist P0160 P0104 P0113 P0112 P0108 P0147 P0129 P0166 P0137 P0171 P0170 P0177 P0150 P0180 P0145 P0163 P0169 March 25, 2010
District 1 FTE Information 59 FTE 1 Restricted CPO 1 DCPO 4 SPO 7 PO 33 M/H Spec 1 SO 5 OSSuper 1 OSSpec 1 OSA 5 Lab Tech 1 SPO 1 (Restricted to replace SPO assigned to the Virginia CORIS Project)