FY 24 Guam Smart Supervision Project

The Judiciary of Guam - Superior Court of Guam submits the FY24 Guam Smart Supervision Project, which aims to increase community safety by improving the capacity of adult probation services to more effectively address probationers’ risk and needs to improve outcomes for those on probation supervision and reduce recidivism. The objectives are: ensuring a comprehensive, strategic approach to adult probation reform that makes changes and aligns policies and practices to best practices; implementing evidence-based tools, programs, best practices, and technology enhancements that are proven to improve participant outcomes and reduce recidivism; and implementing strategies to improve probation officer health and wellness by increasing access to and availability of resources. Key outcomes include contracting technical assistance and evaluation services, establishing the Guam Smart Supervision Project team, and developing the Guam Smart Supervision Action Plan.

Focusing on the risk-need-responsivity model, the Smart Supervision Project covers evidence-based tools, programs, and best practices proven to improve participant outcomes and reduce recidivism. Activities include: implementing the Action Plan as guided by project team meetings; updating Adult Probation policies and procedures to reflect best practice standards; delivering training in evidence-based practices, cognitive behavioral interventions, and other tools including technology; and addressing the health and wellness of probation officers. In addition to the Action Plan deliverable, the project culminates in an evaluation and final report and will also include an analysis of the data collected from mandated performance measures.

With the entire island of Guam as the service area, the Probation Services Division, under the umbrella of the Judiciary, supervised and monitored 5,617 justice-involved individuals in 2023. The proposed project will gather prevalence, demographics, characteristics, risks and needs, trends, and outcomes to have a clear understanding of the probation population, particularly high risk-high need offenders and those from underserved and marginalized populations.