In September, CSG Justice Center staff continued to socialize the guidelines and engage key partners in the field, provide technical assistance (TA) to selected states, further develop outreach strategies, update language for rolling applications for TA, present at conferences about the guidelines, and identify project next steps.??
The project team began prepping a proposal for a plenary session at APPA?s 2024 Winter Training Institute, taking place February 25?28, 2024, in Seattle. The proposal draft will be shared with BJA for review and approval. Additionally, the team has been asked to speak at the APPA New Leaders group during that time.
The project team followed up with CLA to check on the decision to include the National Guidelines project on the agenda for the director?s meeting in November 2023. The project team is awaiting a response.
?The project team started to draft ideas for the communication templates to be used with states to share information about risk and needs assessment instruments, specifically, their use and understanding by the audience.
TA applications for the national guidelines project should be?available on a rolling basis?starting next month. Edits are being finalized to the language and will be shared with BJA for updating. Technical Assistance (TA) StatesMassachusetts Probation Service (MPS)
On September 15, CSG Justice Center staff spoke with Dr. Brian Lovins (President-Elect, American Probation and Parole Association [APPA]; Associate Director, University of Cincinnati?s Corrections Institute) to discuss potential budgeting suggestions for MPS when drafting the RFP and any copyright issues regarding the ORAS.
On September 20, CSG Justice Center staff and Dr. Sarah Desmarais (President, Policy Research Associates, Inc.) conducted the second virtual working group meeting with the MPS. During the meeting, MPS staff provided an update on the RFP draft for the rest of the working group and discussed all current challenges for incorporating the recommendations provided by Dr. Desmarais. Current and future action items were discussed with an emphasis on establishing and organizing focus groups (both external and internal) to begin meeting toward the end of October or the beginning of November. Working group meetings for October were confirmed and scheduled.?
On September 21, CSG Justice Center staff spoke with Mike Coelho?(Deputy Commissioner of Programs, MPS)?to discuss the development of risk-related communication templates for external stakeholders.
Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC),?Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC), and Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers (MACPO)
On September 11, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff conducted a site visit with?MN DOC, MACCAC, MACPO, and Minnesota Tribal Nations, and Dr. Desmarais attended via zoom.?During the in-person meeting, CSG Justice Center staff provided an extensive overview of the National Guidelines project and an in-depth analysis of the three agencies? self-assessment tool results, and began discussing the goals, objectives, and challenges of the MN team?s TA strategy. In concluding the site visit, CSG Justice Center staff provided the stakeholders with action items and determined the next steps to focus on during the continuation of the TA process. ?
On September 29, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff presented during the initial MN Community Supervision Advisory Committee Meeting with representatives from MN DOC, MACCAC, MACPO, and?approximately 20 individuals also in attendance. During the meeting, CSG Justice Center staff again provided an extensive overview of the National Guidelines project and an in-depth analysis of the three agencies? self-assessment tool results, and began discussing the goals, objectives, and challenges of the MN team?s TA strategy.?
New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJ DOC)
On September 5, CSG Justice Center staff held a call with Dr. Laura Salerno (Director of Compliance and Strategic Planning, New Jersey Department of Corrections), Dr. Desmarais, and Dr. Emily Salisbury (Associate Professor, Social Work, University of Utah; Director, Utah Criminal Justice Center) to discuss the validation and implementation needs and next steps for NJ DOC.
?CSG Justice Center staff conducted a site visit with the NJ DOC in Trenton, NJ. During the in-person meeting, CSG Justice Center staff and NJ DOC staff discussed the WRNA validation and implementation, discussed education for community stakeholders and criminal justice partners, emphasized the importance of the examination of race and ethnicity, and identified current roadblocks and challenges?both internal and external. NJ DOC provided updates regarding contract needs and approvals, discussed the composition of the core team and working group, and began discussing the goals, objectives, and challenges of NJ DOC?s TA strategy. In concluding the site visit, CSG Justice Center staff provided the stakeholders with action items and determined the next steps. CSG Justice Center staff will contact Dr. Salisbury?to share a few outstanding questions from NJ DOC,?follow up with NJ DOC to provide a summary of pending questions to discuss and provide dates for a visit to the facility, and attend a standing monthly core team call. There were 11 attendees at this in-person meeting; some NJ DOC staff attended virtually. ?
On September 28, CSG Justice Center staff attended a virtual meeting with NJ DOC and Dr. Salisbury to further discuss the validation and implementation needs of the WRNA and training needs for NJ DOC and identify questions to keep moving the process forward.
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