LGBTQ

During the first quarter 2024, an on-site visit was conducted on January 23-25, 2024. During the visit, the coaches met the new PREA Coordinator (PC) and provided general guidance about PREA compliance. Intake and classification staff met with coaches to discuss, review, and revise the PREA risk assessment/30-day re-assessment forms, and MH referral process. The PREA risk assessment/reassessment process and basic framework for data collection (LEP/LGBTI/disabled) related to the PREA risk assessment was developed.

The Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (PRDCR) started this period with a lot of enthusiasm, but engagement dwindled down during the second half of the quarter. The grantee and JDI coaches met with their new grant manager for a really productive conversation about their budget modification and next steps for their project. PRDCR's proposed changes were approved, but the agency must now apply for a NCE in order to achieve their project goals.

The grant POC has been promoted into a new role, but will continue to oversee the grants until their conclusion. Combined with the new job and managing the grants, she has been operating in crisis mode.

The site has the purchase orders approved for the mobile lab and have begun purchasing equipment. While they are making progress, time is running out. They will apply for a no cost extension to allow more time to expend all grant funds and complete grant objectives.

The grant point of contact has been promoted into a new role, but will continue to oversee the grants until their conclusion. Combined with the new job and managing the grants, she has been operating in crisis mode. The grant was extended through March 2025. This will allow the agency to complete the remaining few peer education trainings.

The project has wrapped up grant activities and is just working on satisfying the match requirement.

In a previous report it was mentioned that the state had expanded the regional PCM approach to cover the entire state. This is a huge win for the grant and for the DOC. However, these positions were placed under someone in the agency who really was not qualified for overseeing the positions and did not know anything about PREA. In a recent meeting the site shared that the positions are being reassigned under the PREA Coordinator where they should have been all along.

Guam DOC and DYA met with their assigned coach in May and June. While they did not meet in April there was email contact.
Both sites continue to make progress on their grants. Overall their goals are to become PREA compliant. This is a long-term goal, but they are chipping away.

Provided support while the grantee waits for the IT department to complete other projects, solicit and accept bids and purchase equipment.

In addition to the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Statewide Survey, an analysis was created to thoroughly assess the data and responses of the 433 survey participants. This survey was unique because the state sought input from residents, individuals with lived experience, as well as system partners and community-based organizations. The Rhode Island SAA aims to develop a comprehensive strategic plan that addresses a wide range of issues within the state.

Cases responded to and closed for Contact Us during the reporting period of January - June 2024 were 440.

Representatives from the four of the five CTI Demonstration Sites were chosen by their leadership to attend the Out to Protect LGBTQ+ Liaison Training in Orlando, Florida. This opportunity was a peer learning experience where the selected individuals were able to bring direct knowledge back to their agencies on public safety issues specific to LGBTQ+ community members, which were addressed in all of their Community Trust Initiative application, subsequent monthly check-ins, and/or quarterly all-sites calls.