Corrections Professionals

During this reporting period, a No Cost Extension (NCE) was submitted and approved by BJA. This was the fourth NCE approved under this grant. The training was scheduled to start on 12/1/2024; however, the training vendor contract is pending legal approval and other requirements of the procurement process. Once the training begins, it will be offered once per week to agency and facility staff. NYC DOC was provided with guidance about using a segregated housing unit based solely on LGBTQI+ status and guidance about staff using window coverings on their office windows.

Essex County closed out their grant during this reporting period. By the end of the grant, Essex County established a permanent state-level position for a mental health clinician. The county tried multiples measures to solicit and hire for this position, including advertising through the existing contract medical provider and the local rape crisis center. Unfortunately, perhaps due to COVID or the impermanence of the position, they continued to encounter barriers to hiring.

During this reporting period, the Somerset County Sheriff's Office has completed the transition of the jail into a short-term holding facility. Lt. Quintero received notice that their third no-cost extension had been approved, and the coach talked through ideas for project activities that would support sexual safety in their new configuration as a short-term holding facility. Technically, they will likely not be classified as a lockup by the State of New Jersey until 2026, but they are rarely holding people overnight. Lt.

During this reporting period, Escambia County closed out their grant. By the end of the grant, ECCD appointed a PC and two PCM's; one for the Main Jail and one for the Work Annex to direct ECCD's PREA program implementation efforts. TMG coaches provided coaching meetings twice per month to allow time for discussion about the PREA Standards and ECCD's PREA program development. Additionally, TMG coaches facilitated several on-site reviews at the Main Jail and the Work Annex.

During this reporting period, the agency was mostly concerned with completing grant activities under its BJA-TTA 2020 grant, which the grantee was able to close. By the end of the grant, BSO-DoD purchased cameras and cables to upgrade the camera system in areas where existing cameras were beyond their life span. It was essential to the sexual safety of the incarcerated persons that cameras are up to date and depict clear images of activity in areas lacking direct supervision.

During this reporting period, Bucks County closed out their grant. By the end of the award, a PC was hired, and a new risk assessment tool was developed. However, the PC was terminated and never replaced, leading to difficulties in maintaining focus on PREA standard compliance. The BCDOC received two (2) No Cost Extensions with no changes to the desired goals and objectives. In July, 2024, the BCDOC submitted a Grant Award Modification for programmatic goal changes and budgetary adjustments. This allowed the BCDOC to close the grant on September 30, 2024.

During this reporting period, the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (PRDCR) and JDI met several times. The grantee's main activities included updates to educational materials and progress on camera installations. PRDCR is currently awaiting approvals for their training contract, which has delayed further implementation toward that goal. Notably, their federal advisor's contractor's contract was once again up for renewal, posing a repeated challenge that has historically disrupted progress.

Training Title: New Approaches to IOT Crime Scene Analysis in 2024

Training Title: Reconsidering a Famous Crime with Modern Evidence (2 of 2)

Training Title: New Approaches to IoT Crime Scene Analysis in 2024 (1 of 2)