Court Support Services Division
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Introduction
Adult probation services provides evidence-based community supervision services to persons referred by the criminal courts, which enhances community and victim safety, condition compliance, and accountability. An essential element of this supervision is providing victim services, which include obtaining victim input, providing victim advocacy, and enforcing restitution compliance.
In addition, adult probation services conducts eligibility investigations for pretrial diversionary programs and presentence investigations to assist the court in sentencing.
Since 2006, adult probation services has been nationally recognized for achieving accreditation in operation by the American Correctional Association.
Community-Based Supervision Services
Adult probation services manages persons in the community by assessing a person's risk, needs, and strengths using validated, actuarial (data-based) risk assessment instruments, enhancing a person's motivation to change, targeting appropriate interventions, and assessing improvement and behavior change.
Specifically, the probation officer assesses the person's risk to reoffend, criminogenic (causing or likely to cause criminal behavior) need areas, and areas of strength (prosocial factors). Based on the person's risk/needs score, the probation officer places the person into a supervision level and develops a case plan, in collaboration with the person, to address, as applicable, top criminogenic need areas and conditions of probation.
The probation officer conducts office, home and field visits, employment, treatment, and other collateral contacts, and when appropriate, monitors the person's movements using radio frequency or global positioning system technology. During interactions, the probation officer employs a positive reinforcement model to engage with the person.
The probation officer's response to non-compliant behavior is measured relative to the nature of the behavior and the risk that the person presents. Responses range from a graduated sanction, for example, increased reporting to the probation officer, to a violation of probation arrest warrant.
Adult probation services is transitioning to a risk-based supervision strategy. This strategy utilizes evidence-based techniques, which are guided conversations used by the probation officer to connect and build the person's awareness of how the person's criminal/risky behavior and antisocial thinking influences the person's criminogenic risk areas while strengthening prosocial behavior and/or thinking.
Specialized Supervision Units
If a person presents a certain status/need area, the person is placed into a specialized supervision unit, in which the probation officer uses enhanced supervision practices and collaboration with community-based service and treatment providers, has a reduced size caseload, and has specialized training. The units are:
Collaborative Case Work:
High risk/needs females
Domestic Violence Supervision:
Persons who have committed serious domestic violence offenses
Intensive Probation Supervision:
Persons released on bond.
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:
Persons with a serious mental illness.
Probation Transition Program:
Persons who have served a term of incarceration and are returning to the community.
Sex Offender Supervision:
Persons who have committed sex offenses.
Supervised Diversionary Program:
Persons with psychiatric disabilities or 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.
Technical Violation Unit: Persons who are at imminent risk of a technical violation of probation, that is, any violation of the conditions of probation other than a new arrest/conviction.
Utilizing New Initiatives with Today's Youth: Youth Case Management Supervision: High risk/needs young adult males, aged 18-24
Other Specialized Units
Interstate Compact:
Administers the interstate transfer of persons sentenced to a term of probation through the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision.
Warrant Services:
Provides service of violation of probation warrants, prioritizing service in the interest of public safety and in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Adult Probation Services maintains a tip line for the public to leave information about the location of persons with outstanding violation of probation warrants. The tip line may be reached by:
Telephone: Toll-Free 877-235-1907
Email: JBCSSD.VOP@jud.ct.gov
For information on Adult Probation please contact Director
Mark White