In December, CSG Justice Center staff continued to socialize the guidelines and engage key partners in the field, provide technical assistance (TA) to selected states, further brainstorm outreach strategies, apply new changes to language for TA requests, review self-assessment tool submissions, develop and update presentations for APPA virtual and in-person conference sessions, and identify project next steps.?
The project team is developing communication templates to be used with states to share information about the use and understanding of risk and needs assessment instruments, based on audience.?
On December 1, in response to a TA request from the Washington State Department of Corrections (WA DOC), the team met with the WA DOC?s senior research manager, chief data officer, and principal research statistician. During the meeting, an in-depth synopsis of the National Risk Guidelines project was provided to WA DOC staff, along with information related to the use of risk and need assessments throughout the country.
During the first week in December, the project team shared a one-page document about the National Risk Guidelines project at the National Summit to Advance States? Criminal Justice Priorities in Atlanta, GA.
Throughout the month, the project team identified updates for the existing project ?take action? page and TA request form and updated email drafts to be used to reach out to different audiences to promote TA for the project.
The project team also started drafting and updating the presentation drafts for the upcoming APPA in-person and virtual conference sessions. These drafts are being reviewed by the project team and internal communications team. Once drafting is complete, these presentations will be submitted to BJA for review and approval.
On December 20,?CSG Justice Center staff held a call with the senior policy advisor at the Bureau of Justice Assistance to discuss updates for the National Risk Guidelines project. During the call, the project team shared updates about each of the TA states, changes to the TA request language, new self-assessment tool submissions received, upcoming presentations and conferences, an invitation for submitting a journal article, outreach strategies, and the expected timelines for items requiring BJA review and approval.
Technical Assistance (TA) States:
Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS)
On December 4, 2023, the project team conducted a phone call with the deputy commissioner of Field Services at MPS regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP) draft and to provide feedback ahead of the larger MPS working group meeting.
On December 20, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff conducted a working group meeting?to discuss the results of the in-person focus groups that took place in October and to provide feedback on the RFP draft. MPS staff, along with the project team, also discussed logistics for virtual focus groups and the potential for another in-person visit in early 2024. Lastly, CSG Justice Center staff, in congruence with MPS, will finalize the timeline for the RFP and re-validation in January.
Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC),?Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC), and Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers (MACPO)
On December 7, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff presented during the December 2023 Minnesota Community Supervision Advisory Committee Meeting with representatives from the?Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC), Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC), and the Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers (MACPO).?During the meeting, CSG Justice Center staff provided a brief overview of the National Risk Guidelines project and an in-depth analysis of what TA will look like in Minnesota (MN) and began discussing the goals, objectives, and focus of the MN team?s TA strategy. There were 17 attendees at this meeting.
On December 18, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff attended a virtual meeting with the MN DOC Tribal liaison, a corrections agent, and a board member of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC). The discussion centered on the MN Tribal Nations population and its connection to validating the LS/CMI risk and needs assessment. The Tribal liaison will attend MIAC?s first quarterly meeting on February 20?21 to discuss the MN Tribal Nations population and the validation of the LS/CMI. There were 5 attendees at this meeting.
On December 19, 2023, CSG Justice Center staff attended a virtual meeting with the president of Policy Research Associates, Inc. and the MN DOC Field Services director to discuss the RFP process and timeline for the validation of the LS/CMI risk and needs assessment. There were 5 attendees at this meeting. ?
New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJ DOC)?
In December, the project team met with the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJ DOC) core team, including the NJ DOC?s director of Office of Compliance and Strategic Planning, assistant commissioner of women?s services, and the supervising administrative analyst of the Grants Management Unit, to discuss updates from NJ DOC regarding the Women's Risk Needs Assessment Research (WRNA) implementation plan, the status of planning with the associate professor of social work at University of Utah/director of the Utah Criminal Justice Center, upcoming TA activities, and dates for the next full core team meeting. NJ DOC put together a packet of information to submit to their commissioner for approval to move forward with the next steps for this project and the work with the associate professor.
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