2018 Annual report

Georgia Department of Community Supervision
2018 ANNUAL REPORT

our mission
As an integral part of the criminal justice system, we protect and serve all Georgia citizens through effective and efficient offender supervision in our communities, while providing opportunities for successful outcomes.
our vision
To become the national leader for innovative and progressive community supervision; we will accomplish this by:
Embracing best and next evidence based practices Utilizing an integrated approach to improve offender behavior Effectively coordinating between all concerned stakeholders Ensuring victim's voices are heard and victim rights protected

our values
Accountability Integrity Selfless service Teamwork Personal and professional development

2

2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

DCS year in review: august 1, 2017July 31, 2018

In many ways, Fiscal Year 2018 was a year of strengthening our systems and our ability to carry out our mission with sustained excellence. We sought expert consultations--from Deloitte, Georgia State University, and other thought-leaders--to guide us to improved efficiency and collaboration throughout our operations, reentry services, and organizational structure. We initiated enhancements to our case review tools, expanded technology for our officers, developing new career paths, and implementing better responsiveness to safety risks for our officers and those we supervise.

I am pleased to present the Georgia Department of Community Supervision's 2018 Annual Report, which includes highlights of several of these initiatives alongside our operational information.

The core of our work remains the same: DCS seeks to serve our state as a valuable contributor to our criminal justice system, and to make best use of our opportunities to improve public safety, mitigate the impacts of incarceration and recidivism on our communities, and reach each individual under our supervision in ways that will ultimately improve their life's trajectory.

The efforts we make now in strengthening our operations and aligning them with community supervision's best and next practices will allow us to find new opportunities to enhance this core work and further amplify its impact throughout Georgia's communities.

Thank you to the many people and partners who help make DCS the agency where public safety and progress meet.

-michael w. Nail
Commissioner
3

by the numbers

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

FY17

$174,288,742

FY18

$183,738,485

*Not included in these numbers are expenditures related to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, which is administratively attached to DCS. The alignment of our agencies allows us to better identify and respond to domestic violence and its impacts within the families we serve.

4

2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

69+ 01+ 4+ EXPENDITURESBYPROGRAM $168,947,840

$9,250,858

$574,310 $4,965,477

administration

field servicpersobmatisiodnemoevaenrosirght reentry services

EXPENDITURES BY FUND SOURCE

State

$ 181,127,308

Federal

$1,026,343

Other

$1,584,834

FY18 TOTAL EXPENDITURES: $183,738,485

0.6%

6+13480B86.5%

4.9%

0.1% 0.8%
2.4%
1.8%

0.06%

3%

personnel services

$159,077,278

regular operating

$8,880,376

motor vehicles

$1,137,108

major equipment

$187,438

computer charges

$1,389,871

real estate leases

$4,391,205

telecommunications

$3,230,537

other

$1,184

contractual services

$5,443,488

5

by the numbers
FY18 is the first full year of data collection for many of the operational measures in this Report. As we continue to improve these data systems, DCS will be able to track and report more comprehensive metrics for felony offenders, DCS programs and initiatives, and services provided by DCS and partner agencies.
275,777
Cumulative total of all individuals under active DCS supervision

6

2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

4.74 YEARS
Average time of supervision episode
105
Average caseload per community supervision officer

$

$2.11
Daily cost of supervision per

offender

#

51,077
Count of supervision exits

7

dcS Community supervision

DCS employs evidence-based practices to hold
offenders accountable and reduce the state's
recidivism rate. We also help offenders access
opportunities to make positive changes while in
the community by providing individual support,
programming, and connections to resources.
DCS utilizes Personalized Responses for Offender Adjustment and Community Transition (PROACT), a sanctioning matrix, to guide positive interactions between officers and offenders by providing our officers with an evidence-based framework to help form their responses to an offender's behavior. The
officer has the discretion to tailor sanctions based on the offender's actions instead of following an outdated one-sizefits-all model. PROACT also enables the officer to engage the individual, focusing on gaining the buy-in of the offender in the decisions and processes necessary to create successful, long-
term outcomes in their lives.

In FY18, DCS worked to develop an Automated Case Review module to streamline agency data systems interface with the process of reviewing supervision cases, which was previously done manually. This module will automatically flag problematic cases, including cases requiring medication compliance checks, an individual who has no employment within three months, or in the event of a missed payment. This module will provide an additional layer of assistance to officers seeking to provide the highest quality of supervision.
1,184
Number of DRC graduates in FY18

Day Reporting Centers
DRCs provide a non-residential prison diversion program targeted at high-risk, high-need offenders with a history of substance abuse and non-compliant behavior. DRCs seek to address the root problem of substance abuse, rather than the non-violent crimes that result from addiction. Offenders placed in DRCs complete an intensive, highly-structured, non-residential addiction recovery program lasting six months or more. In FY18, DCS began working with the University of Georgia to undertake a full analysis of the efficacy of DRCs. Although our results have been successful at consistently reducing recidivism and the program has become a model for other states, the expert counsel of UGA's thought leaders will help keep the DRC programs operating at maximal effectiveness.
9

DRIVING SUCCESS THROUGH COLLABORATIONS

For each person who comes under our supervision, DCS seeks to meet them where they are and identify available resources that will help them overcome
their individual risks and needs. Whatever someone needs, be it a copy
of their birth certificate, a place to live, a license or a job, our Community Supervision Officers call out to networks of resource partners to try to find ways to help supervised individuals succeed.
10 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

MAX-OUT RE-ENTRY
Max-Out Re-Entry (M.O.R.E.) is a collaborative program between the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, designed to provide max-out offenders with a progressive transition back into society. M.O.R.E allows for statutory and board mandated max-out prisoners to relocate from a prison bed to intensive community supervision in a transition center up to 18 months before the completion of their prison sentence.
The success of this program is due to the guidance M.O.R.E. officers provide to participants, helping pave the way for them to find success as they reenter their communities. During their last months in incarceration, M.O.R.E. participants live in a Georgia Department of Corrections' transition center. While under intensive supervision, they have the opportunity to:
Work and pursue employment Access mental health and substance abuse services Obtain their driver's licenses Find stable post-incarceration housing

"Last year, I began to have M.O.R.E. Cases that were due to get out of prison without their drivers licenses because they didn't have access to a vehicle to take the driving portion of the test. Not having a license puts people at a great disadvantage when they get out. Some had jobs they wanted to keep after leaving the Transitional Center, but couldn't because they would not have transportation.
I decided to speak with some of the used car lots in the area to see if they would be willing to help. My first stop was Frometa Used Cars in Valdosta, where I spoke with owner Agner Formeta about the M.O.R.E. program and the enormous impact one donated vehicle could make. Mr. Frometa said he was always willing to help others in need and if it would help even one person be successful he would be glad to donate a vehicle.
Mr. Frometa graciously donated a 2007 Dodge Caliber, which can now be used for driving tests by the 150 residents of the Valdosta Transition Center.
This is the true power of a community working together."
-DCS Community Supervision Officer Michael Stalvey
11

housing
DCS does not directly provide housing or other basic needs to Georgia's residents. However, we seek to connect supervised individuals with resources available in their communities that may impact their ability to successfully complete their supervision sentence. Stable housing is shown to be a key factor in an individual's overall ability to avoid revocation.

THOR
The Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) is a public directory of community-based housing for persons releasing from prison or on probation or parole located on our website.
Currently there are 76 THOR facilities, 6 of which are able to serve those who are classified as Sexual Offenders. DCS conducts audits every two years to ensure that our standards regarding safety, programming, communication with agency staff and employment are met. Recovery Residences provide safe and healthy housing for people who need a more structured environment and higher levels of accountability.

RPH

Re-entry Partnership Housing (RPH) is a housing program hosted by DCS in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Council of Accountability Court Judges. Our partners share the common goal of improving access to housing in order to more effectively invest criminal justice spending to improve public safety.
RPH providers have traditionally provided only room and board, but in 2018 RPH added a treatment component to better assess provider applications.

Between FY11 and FY18, 3,411 inmates granted parole have been successfully placed in housing through RPH providers. Of these placements, 81% have successfully completed parole supervision or are currently on active parole. Compared to housing these individuals in prison, RPH housing offers significant cost savings to the state. Since the inception of RPH in FY11, that cost savings is estimated at $72,637,943.00.

12 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

coordinating community resources
NAVIGATING A COMMUNITY OF RESOURCES
Every individual will encounter challenges when returning to their home communities from prison--and each community has its own unique configuration of resources, leaders, and organizations committed to assisting those in need. DCS Community Coordinators are focused on working within each district to build strong, collaborative networks of resources across the myriad types of providers offering assistance. When an individual under DCS supervision needs help, our Community Coordinators and specialized Housing Coordinators have the localized knowledge necessary to be able to connect them to organizations best able to respond.

20,142

We rely on collaborative relationships with community organizations to create

local networks of reentry support.

Number of contacts made

Growing our awareness of available

with 3,861 community

resources and sustaining strong

resources in FY18

communications with existing partners is

vitally important to our effectiveness.

13

Our reentry services focus on addressing the needs of individuals returning to
their communities after imprisonment, but we also strive to push these services further so that our officers are equipped to better impact the lives of all supervised individuals, including those who have not been to prison, as well as their families,
faith communities, service providers, and employers--all of whom can help
strengthen the chances of success.
PRISON IN-REACH SPECIALISTS
Creating points of connection with mentors and specialists helps provide one-on-one aid for reentering citizens. Prison In-Reach Specialists develop comprehensive transition plans for returning citizens before they leave prison. This helps ensure that offenders have opportunities to successfully utilize the full breadth of Georgia's reentry services.

HEALING COMMUNITIES OF GEORGIA
The Healing Communities of Georgia offers community groups the chance to participate in a statewide network, helping maximize the effectiveness and impact of these groups' efforts and aligning their work with best practices. Meanwhile, these groups help foster the restorative healing required to repair families and communities torn apart by incarceration. A Station of Hope is a designation given to organizations who serve as exemplary models of participation in Healing Communities of Georgia. These sites help provide services such as clothing, food, jobs, counseling, and mentoring.
STATIONS OF HOPE & I CHOOSE SUPPORT
"I Choose Support" is a component of Healing Communities of Georgia. This faith- and community-based mentoring program consists of volunteers who provide support and guidance to returning citizens. In addition to offering positive social support, volunteers help returning citizens navigate the often overwhelming issues of reentry, including finding employment, transportation, and housing.

DCS hosted the second annual Reentry Summit on May 17, 2018. The summit serves as an opportunity for more than 700 attendees from organizations invested in Georgia's criminal justice and reentry initiatives to share ideas, forge new collaborations, and assess opportunities for improvement in the state's network of reentry resources.
I do this work not for me, but for those that we are serving, and to not only ensure they
have a second chance, but a better chance.
Michelle stanley, dcs reentry services
As quoted in a June 18, 2018 article about the 2018 Reentry Summit. Read the full article here.
15

office locations
DCS officers are equipped with the tools needed to provide effective and efficient supervision beyond the desk so they can focus on providing supervision out in the community. Embedding virtual tools throughout our operations has allowed us to reduce operational costs--including allowing us to close or consolidate 12% of our physical offices since the agency's inception, reducing lease costs by more than $200,000 in FY18-- while enabling DCS officers to spend more time in the communities they serve. These tools include Docusign, a program that allows us to collect legally binding electronic documents, thereby reducing our agency's reliance on paper documents. In addition to conserving resources, this also ensures more efficient document transfers and increased document security. Meanwhile, our DCS officers use body cameras to enhance case management, training and officer skills development.
16 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

misdemeanor probation oversight
DCS is responsible for providing oversight to private and governmental misdemeanor probation entities. While the supervision responsibility of misdemeanor probation cases does not reside with DCS, we do provide the oversight infrastructure needed to ensure the integrity of Georgia's misdemeanor probation system.
provider training
In FY18, the DCS Misdemeanor Probation Oversight Unit initiated training programs to assist misdemeanor probation providers. By offering to co-host training modules with participants at their homebases, instead of requiring participants to travel to a centralized location, DCS improved access to affordable training, especially for Misdemeanor Probation agencies in rural areas or those with limited resources to support travel to trainings. In FY18, DCS offered 184 hours of training and served 339 attendees.
17

18 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

#TeamDCS
Our performance relies, first and foremost, on our employees. We seek to build the capabilities of DCS staff to help them develop both professionally and personally
and to position our agency for future success.
19

DCS Employees

2,096 dcs employees
DCS employed 1,573 sworn staff, and 523 non-sworn staff, as of July 31, 2018.

44,027 hours
DCS employees received 44,027 hours of training in FY18--an average of 29 hours per sworn employee. DCS Training provided 673 courses, including 28 online courses.

224 Graduates
90% of new Community Supervision Officer candidates successfully completed the Basic Community Supervision Officer Training course. In FY17, 79% of new candidates completed the training course.

20 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

Court Specialists
This year, DCS implemented a new Court Specialist position in nine circuits throughout the state. In this position, non-sworn support staff focus on courtrelated tasks, including building effective longterm relationships with the courts, and improving work flow and communication between our agency and our criminal justice partners. This provides a new avenue for support staff to use their valuable expertise. Meanwhile, having dedicated Court Specialists in their offices enables certified officers to focus more fully on the core of their work: supervision.

Our officers are rooted in the
communities they serve, and
their spirit of service extends
past the bounds of their job
descriptions.
Here, Officer Chan Strickland is pinned by Red Cross Shelter Director Mary Ann West in appreciation of Strickland's tireless commitment and assistance while providing hurricane relief in Bainbridge, Georgia. DCS employees served nearly 400 overtime hours responding to Hurricane Irma evacuation and relief efforts in October 2017, and in October 2018, more than 100 DCS officers joined the response efforts for Hurricane Michael.
Beyond hurricane relief, DCS employees donated more than $13,000 to charities during the 2017 Statewide Charitable Contributions Campaign and collected and distributed 2,200 books for children in need throughout Georgia.
21

DCS leadership

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Michael Nail Scott Maurer Bert Flewellen Robert Orange Phil Sellers Sandra Thomas

Commissioner Assistant Commissioner Chief Operating Officer Chief Financial Officer Chief Information Officer Executive Operations Director

22 2018 Annual report Georgia Department of Community Supervision

BOARD
Avery Niles, Board Chairman Terry Barnard Greg Dozier Sonja Fillingame Judy Fitzgerald Brian Owens Tom Rawlings Kevin Little Michael Terrell Mike Yeager Steve Queen

Commissioner, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Chairman, Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles Commissioner, Georgia Department of Corrections City Manager of Union City Commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Vice-Chairman, Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles Director, Office of the Child Advocate Chairman, Walton County Board of Commissioners Chief, Coweta County State Court Coweta County Sheriff Director, Georgia Probation Management

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Judge Neal Dettmering

State Court

Judge John Ott

Superior Court

Judge Nathan Wade

Municipal Court

Judge Chase Daughtrey

Probate Court

Judge W. Allen Wigington

Magistrate Court

Tim Donovan

Private Probation

Shonda Gilkey

Public Probation

Lon Kemeness

Criminal Defense Attorney

23

public.affairs@dcs.ga.gov
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SE Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower Atlanta, Georgia 30334

facebook.com/GeorgiaDCS twitter.com/GeorgiaDCS

dcs.georgia.gov