High-Risk Probationer Recidivism Reduction Project

High-Risk Probationer Recidivism Reduction Project

Massachusetts Executive Office of the Trial Court

FY2021 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative

Category 1:  Performance-Based and Outcomes-Based Contracting for Reentry Services

PROJECT ABSTRACT

Legal Name of The Grant Recipient:  Massachusetts Executive Office of the Trial Court (EOTC)

Project Title:  High-Risk Probationer Recidivism Reduction Project

Use of Outcomes Based Contracting in the Past Five Years:  The EOTC, on behalf of the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS) is partnering with Roca, Inc, to apply for Category 1 of the BJA FY2021 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative for a total of $1,100,000. The EOTC, through the MPS, continues to be a partner in the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Pay for Success Project and regularly issues outcomes-based contracts as part of our community corrections work.

Project Purpose, Objectives and Deliverables:  The EOTC, through the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS), with the support of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, propose to partner with Roca, Inc. to expand its work with our highest-risk young offenders, helping them to achieve long-term sustained behavior change and reduce rates of recidivism.  

EOTC/MPS will build off the Commonwealth’s successful, existing MA Juvenile Justice Pay for Success project, to serve an additional 180 high-risk young people in Suffolk and Hampden Counties through a new, outcomes-based contract.  At the same time, this partnership will fill a potential void in services as the existing PFS project winds down and allow MPS and other criminal justice partners to continue making referrals for these critical services. 

This project will target young people who are determined to be high risk on ORAS who are driving crime and recidivism in our communities.  These will be the young men who will not engage in other programming or work.  All young men will be enrolled in a four-year, cognitive intervention focused on creating a safe space for young people, addressing their trauma, and helping them develop and practice the skills they need for long-term behavior change.

Young men served through this project will demonstrate reductions in recidivism (as measured by re-arrests, re-convictions and re-incarcerations), increased rates of employment, increased court compliance, and reduced violations.  In addition, the young men served will address their own trauma, increase employment and educational skills, and increase rates of employment and long-term job retention.

Projected Number of Participants and Target Population Characteristics:  180 across grant period.