A Problem Solving Court Approach: Containing Sex Offenders Returning from State Prison

The Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management (CASOM) Grant Program is authorized under Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-322, 42 U.S.C. 13941. The CASOM grants are awarded to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to develop or enhance sex offender management practices for offenders under community supervision. The Office of Justice Programs awards implementation and enhancement grants. Implementation and enhancement grants are intended to assist jurisdictions either to implement strategic plans already developed or to enhance existing sex offender management strategies.

Tippecanoe County, Indiana will utilize fiscal year 2007 CASOM funds to address challenges experienced in existing sex offender management practices, to include assuring public safety through sex offender registration compliance and preventing victimization by deterring adult male sex offenders released from state prison with a moderate to high risk of re-offending.

These challenges will be addressed through the development and implementation of a one-on-one compliance program across law enforcement agencies within the county. Through the program, one police officer will be assigned to visit approximately five registered sex offenders at their homes, or places of employment to ensure compliance with state registration law on a monthly basis. Results will then be reported to a newly implemented Problem Solving Reentry Court, which will focus on compliance and deterrence principles. Cases within the Problem Solving Court will be systematically analyzed to determine how to change offenders' behaviors and increase public safety.

CA/NCF