Court Support Services Division
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Adult probation services provide supervision of
court-sentenced individuals while maintaining public safety. Adult
probation services develop, implement, and expand supervision strategies,
techniques, and specialized adult supervision programs to change offender
behavior and reduce recidivism.
A person can be placed on probation by a judge of the
Superior Court after being convicted of a criminal or motor vehicle offense.
The judge can order the period of probation to begin at the time of
sentencing or after incarceration.
CSSD’s Adult Probation has been nationally recognized
for achieving accreditation in operation by the American Correctional
Association and Commission on Accreditation for Corrections for 2006-09,
2009-2012 and for 2012-2015.
Adult Supervision: Adult probation
officers provide intake, assessment, referral, and supervision services to
sentenced individuals. To ensure appropriate probationer supervision,
clients are classified and supervised based on their assessed risk and need.
Accurate assessment of probationers is the foundation for targeting
offender service needs and making appropriate intervention referrals.
Client Engagement, Case Supervision,
Specialized Caseloads: Throughout the assessment, classification
and case supervision process, adult probation officers engage clients
through a positive reinforcement supervision model. Motivational
interviewing, client engagement and case planning are primary activities
probation officers use to develop positive working relationships with the
probationers to increase the likelihood that probationers attend and
complete their treatment service. In addition, CSSD operates a number of
specialized case management units to focus services for a specified target
population.
The specialized units that provide enhanced
supervision services are:
Probation Transition Program (PTP):
Provides services to clients, for a limited period, who have served a term
of incarceration and are transitioning back to the community. These
services are delivered in collaboration with community-based service and
treatment providers. Pre-Release planning is conducted with the
Departments of Correction, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Social
Services.
Domestic Violence Supervision:
Provides services, by specially trained probation officers, to serious
domestic violence offenders. These services are delivered with
court-based Family Violence Victim Advocates and community-based service and
treatment providers.
Intensive Probation Supervision:
Provides intensive supervision services, including electronic monitoring and
home visits, to clients who were held on bond, had a plea agreement to serve
two years of incarceration, or released from incarceration early.
These services are delivered with community-based services and treatment
providers.
Technical Violation Unit (TVU):
Provides services to clients who are at imminent risk of technical
violation of probation, that is, any violation of the conditions of
probation other than a new arrest or conviction. These services are
delivered with community-based service and treatment providers.
Mental Health Supervision:
Provides services, by specially trained probation officers, to clients with
a serious mental illness. These services are delivered with the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and community-based
service and treatment providers.
Youthful Offender Supervision (YO):
Provides services to high-risk youth aged 18-21. These services are
delivered with community-based services and treatment providers.
Supervised Diversionary Program:
Provides enhanced pretrial supervision services, by specially trained
probation officers, to persons with psychiatric disabilities, or persons who
are veterans and have a mental health condition amenable to treatment,
accused of a crime or violation which is not of a serious nature.
These services are delivered with community-based services and treatment
providers.
Women’s Offender Case Management Model (WOCM):
The specialized Women’s Offender Case Management (WOCM) supervision
unit provides gender responsive services to female probationers through the
application of a research-based, female responsive case management model.
The model calls for a team approach in working with women to identify their
individual needs and strengths, establish mutually agreed upon goals, and
broker the necessary services within their community. Female
probationers eligible to participate in WOCM must be 18 years old or older,
convicted of a non-sex offense, newly sentenced to probation for a minimum
of 12 months, and score as a medium or high risk to re-offend.
Sex Offender Caseload (SO): Provides
services to sex offenders, by specially trained probation officers, using
appropriate treatment and strict enforcement of conditions. These
services are delivered with the Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual
Behavior, the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services Victim Advocates,
and community-based service and treatment providers.
Warrant service: When offenders do
not comply with their conditions of probation, officers have to apply for
and obtain a warrant for violation of probation. Special units in each
region work with other law enforcement units or agencies and focus on
service violation of probation warrants.
Interstate Compact: Many probationers
often move from one state to another, or are convicted in one state while
living in a different state. Historically, the “National Crime Act of
1934” permitted two or more states to enter into agreements for mutual
assistance in monitoring and tracking of these individuals. The
original compact legislation was revised in 2004 with the enactment of
“Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision” (ICAOS). This new
Compact established a National Commission on affairs. Rules were
established to govern interstate movement of offenders. The Interstate
Compact Offender Tracking System (ICOTS) is a web-based system that
facilitates the transfer of probationers from one state to another.
The 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands are all members of the Compact.