CSSD Adult Probation - CT Judicial Branch

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Adult Probation Services
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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.

For information on Adult Probation please contact Director Eduardo Palmieri