Implementing Evidence Based Practices in the Post Release Offender Unit

The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities. The FY 2012 appropriations under the Second Chance Act made funding available for Smart Probation projects, in addition to providing federal awards to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration reentry projects. The goal of the Smart Probation Program is to improve probation success rates, which will improve public safety, reduce returns to prisons and jails, and save taxpayer dollars. Grant funds can be used to implement evidence-based supervision strategies to improve outcomes for probationers.

The grant recipient will use the grant to fund a full-time supervising probation officer whose primary responsibility will be to oversee, monitor, and quality assure the implementation of the systemic change in the County Probation Department's Post Release Offender (PRO) Division. Funds will also be used for an independent evaluation and to conduct a leadership academy for the PRO division management team.

CA/NCF