2020 Annual report

FY2020
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROGRESS MEET

Office

Our Mission

Locations -- Georgia Department of Community Supervision

--Field Office Locations

As an integral part of the criminal jus20t15ice system, we protect and serve

all Georgia citizens through effective

WHITFIELD HABERSHAM

DADE

CATOOSA

FANNIN

UNION

WALKER
Lookout Mountain
CHATTOOGA

Conasauga GILMER MURRAY Appalachian

GORDON

Enotah LUMPKIN

TOWNS

RABUN

Mountain

WHITE

STEPHENS

and efficient offender supervision
Judicial Districts
in Judicial Circuits our communities, while providing

Cherokee

FLOYD
Rome

BARTOW

PICKENS
CHEROKEE
Blue Ridge

DAWSON
BFoerlsl-yth
FORSYTH

HALL
Northeastern

BANKS

JACKSON

FRANKLIN MADISON

HART
Northern

Active Office
Active opportunities Office - Closing AFY20 for successful outcomes.
Active Office - Closing FY21

POLK
Tallapoosa
HARALSON

Paulding

COBB
Cobb

PAULDING

DOUGDLAAoSutlgalansta

CARROLL

COWETA FAYETTE

HEARD

CLAYTON

FULTON DEKALB

Clayton

GWINNETT

Piedmont
BARROW

ELBERT

Gwinnett
WALTON

WOCeOCsNLtEAeRErKnE

OGLETHORPE WILKES

Stone Mtn.

Alcovy

GREENE

Toombs

LINCOLN

NERWoRTcOkCOKdNDalALeE

Flint
HENRY

MORGAN PUTNAM

TALIAFERRO HANCOCK WARREN

COLUMBIA

MCDUFFIE

RICHMOND

Our Vision

Coweta
MERIWETHER

SPALDING
Griffin BUTTS

PIKE

LAMAR MONROE

Towaliga

JASPER JONES

Ocmulgee

BALDWIN

WASHINGTON

GLASCOCJKEFFERSON

Augusta
BURKE

--

WEST

TROUP

UPSON

BIBB

WILKINSON

JENKINS

SCREVEN

Chattahoochee

HARRIS

TALBOT

MUSCOGEE

MARION

CHATTAHOOCHEE

TAYLOR

CRAWFORD
Macon PEACH

MACON

TWIGGS
Dublin
BLECKLEY

JOHNSON EMMANUEL
Middle

BULLOCH

TREUTLEN

CANDLER Ogeechee

HHOoUSuTsOtNon
MONTGOMERY

SCHLEY
Southwestern
STEWART WEBSTER

PULASKI DOOLY WILCOX CRISP

LAURENS
Oconee WHEELER
DODGE TELFAIR

TOOMBS
TATTNALL EVANS
Atlantic

BRYAN

EAST
EFCFIHNAGTHHAAMM
Eastern

To become the national leader for innovative and progressive community supervision; we will accomplish this by:

munity Supervision

SUMTER

QUITMAN

TERRELL

LEE

CLAY Pataula
RANDOLPH

CALHOUN Dougherty

EARLY

DOUGHERTY BAKER

Cordele
BEN HILL
WORTH TURNER

Tifton
COLQUITT

TIFT

IRWIN

BERRIEN
Alapaha

APPLING
JEFF DAVIS COFFEE BACON

WAYNE

LIBERTY LONG

Brunswick

ATKINSON

WARE

PIERCE

MCINTOSH
BRANTLEY GLYNN

Embracing best and next evidence based practices
Utilizing an integrated

cations

MILLER

MITCHELL

COOK

CLINCH

Waycross

approach to improve

SEMINOLE

DECATUR GRADY

THOMAS

BROOKS LOWNDES LANIER

2SG0oe1uo5trhgia

Southern

2019 Department of Community Supervision

ECHOLS

CHARLTON

CAMDEN

offender behavior Effectively coordinating

UN
in

between all concerned

TEPHENS FRANKLIN

HART

MADISON Northern

OGLETHORPE

ELBERT WILKES

Judicial Districts Judicial Circuits
Active Office Active Office - Closing AFY20 Active Office - Closing FY21

stakeholders Ensuring victim's voices
are heard and victim rights protected

GREENE

Toombs LINCOLN

N AM

TALIAFERRO HANCOCK WARREN

COLUMBIA

MCDUFFIE

RICHMOND

Ocmulgee

GLASCOCK FFERSON

WE ARE #TEAMDCS
CORE
Accountability Integrity Selfless service Teamwork Personal and professional development

Table of Contents
--
About | 2 By the Numbers | 8 #TeamDCS | 12 Events and Awards | 15 Reentry | 24 MPOU | 32 In The Community | 34

About Us

Commissioner's Greetings

Commissioner Nail
I am especially honored to present this annual report as it chronicles and celebrates the Department of Community Supervision's latest year of operation.
Fiscal Year 2020 marked 5 years of service to our State and I could not be more proud of the hardworking men and women who have tirelessly contributed their efforts to move DCS forward. As I reflect on our accomplishments, I am humbled by the lives our work has positively im-

pacted and the difference our work has made in communities across Georgia. Our goals were lofty and our vision was bold; however, our resolve was stronger and we have witnessed unimaginable success.
The course we charted for this year aimed to expand upon our mission through innovation, selfless service, and creating additional efficiencies. Like many Departments, many new goals we intended to pursue were impacted by the global public health emergency. However, our commitment to leveraging innovative technology to effectuate positive change in the lives of offenders, their families, and communities across Georgia enabled DCS to face many Covid-related disruptions with a great level of operational preparedness. In achieving progress this year we found that the virtual environment exposed DCS to new opportunities- not an entirely new normal.

ment initiatives, and evaluating our core programming were significant accomplishments that pushed the DCS team forward this year. Looking ahead, DCS will continue strengthening community supervision in Georgia through an evidence-based, community-focused, and holistic approach. We recognize that this is not accomplished in the short term, alone, or with simple one size fits all solutions.
We are committed to a multi-year application of expert recommendations, continued building of partnerships with stakeholders, and implementing a variety of innovative strategies that, in conjunction, are expected to reduce recidivism while providing the best opportunities for positive change.
This report serves as a recap of our progress and serves as a testament to the devoted efforts of all those who comprise Team DCS

Adopting a new supervision philosophy, successfully implementing employee wellness and engage-

Michael W. Nail Commissioner

Department of Community Supervion
Executive Leadership
Our senior leadership team ensures the mission and vision of the Department remain at the forefront of our daily work. These leaders offer valuable strategic direction to our operations and to the community supervision profession.

Scott Maurer
Assistant Commissioner

Bert Flewellen
Chief Operating Officer

Sandra Thomas
Executive Operations Director

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Johnny Knatt
Human Resources Director

Phil Sellers
Chief Information Officer

Olivia Duke
Chief Financial Officer

Board

Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

Sonja Fillingham

City Manager of Union City

Tyrone Oliver

Commissioner, Department of Juvenille Justice

Timothy C. Ward

Commissioner, Department of Corrections

Kevin Little

Chairman, Walton County Board of Commissioners

Judy Fitzgerald

Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and

Developmental Disabilities

Terry Barnard

Chairman, State Board of Pardons and Parole

Brian Owens

Vice Chairman, State Board of Pardons and Parole

Tom C. Rawlings

Director, Office of the Child Advocate

Steve Queen

Director of Field Services, CSRA Probation Services, Inc.

Nick Norton

Sheriff, Lanier County Sheriff's Office

Department of Community Supervion
Advisory Council

Judge Neal Dettmering

State Court

Judge John OttSuperior Court

Judge Nathan Wade

Municipal Court

Judge Chase Daughtrey

Probate Court

Judge W. Allen Wigington

Magistrate Court

Tim DonovanPrivate Probation

Shonda GilkeyPublic Probation

Lon Kemeness

Criminal Defense Attorney

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

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By the Numbers



256,398
Cumulative total of all individuals under active DCS supervision
45,262
Count of supervision exits
93
Average caseload per community supervision officer

Department of Community Supervion
Expenditures

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

Total Expenditures

FY 2019 FY 2020

$179,919,809 $ 179,066,715

*Not included in these figures 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.

Expenditures by Fund Source

State

$174,156,198

Federal

$2,351,823

Other

$2,558,692

Department of Community Supervion
Expenditures by Program

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#TeamDCS



external.affairs@dcs.ga.gov || dcs.ga.gov
DCS will continue to invest in employee engagement efforts to ensure the Department attracts and retains dedicated employees who will be strong stewards of our resources and difference-makers in the community.

Department of Community Supervion
Our Employees
1,968
DCS employees
DCS employed 1,426 sworn staff, and 542 non-sworn staff, as of July 1, 2020.
Employee Engagement --
During FY 2020, DCS made great strides on implementing employee engagement initiatives from our current survey results. One area of improvement the Employee Engagement Survey confirmed was that employees of DCS consistently expressed their need for assistance in planning their careers. This year, the Career Planning Tool was introduced. This tool contains all the information employees need for everything, from understanding the work, down to the compensation you can earn.

79,161
Hours of training
Professional development is a value for DCS and we invest heavily in our workforce. DCS believes in providing opportunities for our employees to enhance their talents so that we can remain a relevant and productive department. DCS employees received 79,161 hours of training in FY20--an average of 50 hours per sworn employee. DCS Training provided 454 courses, including 75 online courses.

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

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DCS has been fortunate to have lifelong public service professionals offer their skills and talents to chart a course for our success. Many of these dedicated employees have entered a special time of retirement and the entire DCS team is better because of their amazing contributions. Here is a listing of all the individuals who retired from active service to our State during Fiscal Year 2020. We thank them for their many sacrifices and wish them an enjoyable next chapter!

Retiree Spotlight

Department of Community Supervion
Charolette L Beard Michael Vernon Kraft Tomekia L Moss Jeffrey T Nutt Kenya I White James C Yawn Jimmy L. Best William Christopher Hall Rachelle Gillis Howling Cathy C. Lee Stephen P Morgan Robert K. Orange Cassandra Collier Walker Shannon Staton Chastain John Daniel Davis III Joyce Davis Michael Stacy Grizzard Debra Lynn Saggus Ted L Stradford Jill Natalie Hardegree

Hazel Catherine Logue John M Stalvey Richard Harold Watts Ellen M Capps Marie Fomerman Stephanie Michelle Hallisy Marsha C. Hopkins Devetta L Jones Phillip E Richardson Lawanna J Schultz Daniel Cliffton Bray Krista Evans Greene Willie J Rutland III Lisa L. Ashburn Gary Lamar Atwater Joseph Whitten Braswell Beverly R Garrard Emery Charles Heard Stephanie Y Joyner

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

A Not So New Normal: Our Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 public health emergency initiated an unimaginable series of change across the globe. The uncertainty caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 caused institutions all over the world to modify their operations. The resulting confusion could have been detrimental to our mission of protecting Georgia's communities while also keeping employees safe. Many `new normals' were

created for agencies and organizations trying to ensure services could still be delivered in a digital environment. For DCS, this was a not so `new normal' given that change is at the core of our mission and technological innovation is at the heart of our vision.
Following the Executive Action taken by Gov. Brian Kemp, DCS committed to doing our

Department of Community Supervion

Notable Events & Awards

part to assist communities impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. DCS Offices remained open by appointment only and access to secure areas is restricted. Our aim was to ensure community supervision and reentry services were still provided in a manner that protects our communities yet prioritized the safety of our employees. Officers and other employees began using video and telephone interactions whenever possible to remain in contact with individuals under supervision as well as other criminal justice system stakeholders. Our counseling programs and a host of other essential treatment services began being delivered digitally.
James Bergman, our Director of Special Operations, played an instrumental role in leading the DCS response. In no uncertain terms, James' steady, devoted, and calm leadership ensured that DCS not only operated efficiently; instead, James established an environment for the Department to prosper throughout the pandemic. DCS was also actively involved with emergency response efforts. Hundreds of our hardworking officers provided

important security details at testing stations and emergency management centers where protective equipment is being facilitated throughout the state. Additionally, DCS has helped create efficiencies with other State agencies by partnering with the Department of Human Services to ensure their employees had the necessary equipment and accessibility for teleworking.

The DCS Team remained committed to staying at the forefront of this fight. During this challenging time, we considered it a responsibility to each other to adhere to the most current updates from the appropriate officials.

"Even amidst the uncertainty,

DCS stood up to the

challenges and it was an

absolute honor to serve our

communities. From securing

testing stations to delivering

food supplies, our officers

worked hard and served with

dignity"

James Bergman

Director of Special Operations

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

Event

DCS Celebrated Five Years of Service!

When former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed HB 310 at a rather modest ceremony in 2015, the gathering of criminal justice leaders in attendance knew that the task ahead of merging two supervision systems would be no small feat. Establishing the proper supervision model, developing the proper training curriculum, and launching a new internal case management database were just a few of the initial challenges that

had to be addressed with bold leadership and innovative thinking. Over the course of the first 5 years, DCS has achieved tremendous success. In just five quick years, DCS has solidified its role as a force for progressive community supervision in the criminal justice arena. Here are few notable highlights from across the Department:

Department of Community Supervion

Every Community Supervision Officer has been outfitted with a body-worn camera device to maintain trust and transparency with the public and those we supervise.

convened numerous provider trainings with a total of 2,338 attendees and conducted 202 compliance audits to protect both the rights of minor offenders and the integrity of Georgia's court system.

The Reentry Services Division has made 7,282 placements and direct housing and employment connections to offenders in need of essential services.
Instituted a Behavioral Incentive Date provision which limits the length of probation terms for certain people who demonstrate successful compliance with supervision.
DCS has graduated 5,767 Day Reporting Center participants. These graduates received intense programming to replace criminal behaviors and attitudes with pro-social alternatives.
The Misdemeanor Probation Oversight Unit has

Launched a Blended Training Model whereby Basic Community Supervision Officer Cadets complete a combination of on-site, on-ground, or on-campus training and online academic courses. This was a first-time accomplishment for a state-level law enforcement agency.
DCS implemented a Court Specialist position which led to a reduction in caseloads allowing officers to spend more time supervising high-risk offenders.
100% of Community Supervision Officers have been trained using the Enhanced Supervision Program which is a set of evidence-based supervision techniques.

"We were not afraid to try new ways to approach our business. We challenged the status quo and sought to advance not just what we know, but what we believe will work better"
Scott Maurer Assisstant. Commissioner

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

Event

Information Technology

If the Georgia Department of Community Supervision is recognized for anything, it is our commitment to leveraging innovative technology in conjunction with the latest research to effectuate positive change in the lives of offenders, their families, and communities across Georgia. Since the creation of DCS, representatives from 14 states and countries across the globe as far away as Australia and Japan have either visited Georgia or contacted us directly to learn how we incorporate technology within our supervision model and to see if they can replicate our successes. This global recognition of our status as the industry leader is why DCS has been asked to present at numerous conferences organized by the American Probation and Parole Association, the International

Community Corrections Association, and even the World Congress on Probation.
Over the past year, the DCS Office of Information Technology cemented their reputation as an industry-leader when called upon by Governor Brian P. Kemp. Early in his administration, Governor Kemp and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations expressed a need for a statewide gang database. Informed by the private sector that such a database would be costly to Georgia's taxpayers, Governor Kemp turned his focus towards the one state agency known for innovative technology. Realizing that our case management system could be a perfect template for a potential gang database, the Governor requested our Information Technology division to create

Department of Community Supervion

Leveraging Technology

the database. Through many hours of hard work and dedication, Phil and his team managed to build the gang database ahead of schedule and it is now a valuable resource for law enforcement across the state. During the COVID-19 crisis, many state agencies were forced to rethink their operational models. This led to our counterparts in state governance quickly and closely relying upon the DCS Office of Information Technology to help agencies such as DFACS implement a virtual model

to ensure case workers could safely continue performing their vital functions.
"The value our strong IT Division adds to the Department simply cannot be understated. This past Fiscal Year, our Reentry Portal grew in capability that has allowed our officers and employees to focus more on our mission," surmises David Morrison, our Director of Field Operations. Here are just a few enhancements:

Automated Mental Health case reports Enhanced Supervision Activity recommendations Streamlined employment and housing referrals for individuals with reentry needs. Added efficiencies around medical information Enhanced officer safety responsiveness features

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

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Event

Day Reporting Center Evaluation--

The road to recovery can be full of detours. Sometimes people need extra guidance to find their pathway to success.
That's the idea behind Georgia's Day Reporting Centers. Since 2002, these centers have provided intensive, community-based counseling and rehabilitative services for nonviolent probationers and parolees with substance use and mental health problems. Those who complete programs at the centers have a better chance of staying out of jail and reintegrating back into society.
The Georgia Department of Community Supervision manages the state's centers, and desired to enhance the opportunities for positive outcomes but needed to know the right metrics to measure. That has been difficult because evaluation methods typically used for DRCs rely on tools primarily adapted from more custodial settings such as prisons, jails and detention centers. As a consequence,

administrators have been uncertain of where improvements are needed.
Until now. In December 2019, DCS partnered with the University of Georgia School of Social Work to develop a better way to assess program quality and participant outcomes.
Led by associate professor Orion Mowbray, researchers from the school developed and implemented a comprehensive process to evaluate operations of centers that serve both urban and rural areas in the state. From the evaluation, the researchers established an authoritative assessment tool and demonstrated that better assessment scores were associated with better outcomes for DRC participants, including fewer positive drug tests, fewer felony charges and fewer probation revocations.

Department of Community Supervion

Throughout the state, DRCs consistently scored well in areas of leadership, staff characteristics, program resources, program support, substance use programming, cognitive behavioral programming, mental health services, workforce services and aftercare services. Areas needing improvement included DRC participant assessment, case management and the delivery of family services.
In addition, the researchers found no differences in the outcomes of positive drug tests, felony charges and probation revocations between persons who attended the rural grant-funded reporting centers GDRCs and the urban-based DRCs.

show that, despite the differences in levels of community resources in urban and rural areas, most DRCs are making the best of the available services," said Mowbray. "Our study shows that the DRC Program Assessment Tool we developed should provide valid, reliable scores with little risk of error and be much easier for internal administration and staff to use in the future."
DCS continues to use the new assessment tool to evaluate program services regularly across the state and that is helping everyone find the best route forward.

"There was concern that many of the services DRCs provide in rural areas are heavily dependent on existing community resources in these areas, and the data

"Day Reporting Centers have the ability to reunite

families and restore hope in a participant's life. I am

grateful to professor Mowbray and the entire research

team. This evaluation tool will be a mechanism for

meaningful change."

Nicholas Powell

Director of Strategic Planning and Research

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Reentry

Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov

Community Coordination



Community Coordinators utilize data from assessments to identify the resources needed for returning citizens. This data is incorporated into comprehensive plans which guides the work executed daily by the Community Coordinators.

4,279
Contacts made in FY20
2,334
Community resources in FY20

Department of Community Supervion
Community Coordinators --
Two major functions of community coordination include: Capacity building and direct linkage. Capacity building refers to increasing identified service providers that are willing to work with our offender population.
Community Coordinators also lead local steering teams. Steering teams consist of providers representing a wide array of specialty areas. These teams meet regularly to discuss ways to overcome barriers and service gaps.
"Reuniting families, helping those we serve successfully complete supervision, engaging our communities, and simply just offering hope is truly a calling that we are proud to answer."
Michelle Stanley Director of Reentry Services Division

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Reentry Success Story --
Sometimes unexpected news can be a blessing. Mr. Avery, an individual under DCS supervision, was released early on parole and he was about to secure productive employment as a construction worker. As a returning citizen, and newly employed individual, Mr. Avery reached out seeking assistance with getting some tools for his new job. Mr. Avery's boss told him that he had to find his own tools and stop sharing with the other crew members. Tonya White, Lead Community Coordinator for the Northeastern Circuit, reached out to her Steering Team and asked if anyone could get some used construction tools.
The response was overwhelming and shows the power in supportive community collaboration. The Northeastern Steering Team and community rallied together to purchase Mr. Avery new tools for his job. Mr. Avery now continues to excel in his employment and remains compliant with the terms of his supervision. When asked about the show of support, Mr. Avery simply stated: "I truly am grateful for this village of supporters. I will always be grateful for this helping hand to help restart my journey."

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Housing
Cardinal Transitional Home
Provides structured temporary housing for residents in need of a healthy and safe environment to live, and they believe that every individual can become a productive citizen.
Recovery and Restoration Ministries
A recovery-focused housing program located in Carrollton, GA and is within walking distance of many employment opportunities.
Gateway Behavioral Health Services
Provides an array of Behavioral Health outpatient, day, residential, permanent supportive housing and other supportive housing services

Department of Community Supervion

Re-entry Partnership Housing --
The goal of the Reentry Partnership Housing Program is to provide short term housing assistance to help stabilize an offender's reentry process to enhance his or her ability to successfully complete supervision. As of FY 2020, DCS has 55 compliant RPH housing providers.
DCS Reentry Services enhanced housing efforts this year by shifting its focus to attracting providers who best-fit the reentry needs of our population. For example, Serenity House of Atlanta and Northeast Georgia Veterans Homeless Shelters are both very communicative with their local DCS offices and the CSOs who supervise their clients. The holistic approach of offering wraparound services to their clients while working in tandem with DCS is what allows their residents, and their programs, to succeed.

Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) --
THOR is a public directory of community-based housing for persons releasing from prison or on probation or parole. To locate and view the directory, go to dcs.ga.gov, click on "Reentry Services" then "Housing Resources".
71
THOR Facilities
With select housing providors that are able to serve those who are classified as Sex Offenders.

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Recidivism Reduction
Day Reporting Centers --
DCS operates 36 Day Reporting centers. In FY20, 1094 participants successfully completed a Day Reporting Center Program, with a 38% completion rate. 29 DRC Graduations were held prior to the COVID outbreak.
Substance Abuse Aftercare Services --
In FY20, there were an average of 332 SAAS groups held each month. SAAS services provide continuous support for DRC and RSAT graduates as they complete primary treatment.

Department of Community Supervion

1,094
DRC graduates in FY20

Trauma-Informed Responses Training Initiative --
The Recidivism Reduction Unit, in conjunction with the DCS Training Academy, trained 1,253 DCS staff on "How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses" in FY20. This training is designed to increase awareness on the impact of trauma, develop trauma-informed responses, and provide strategies for developing and implementing trauma-informed policies for criminal justice professionals to raise awareness about trauma and its effects.

"Trauma-informed care is an approach used to engage people with histories of trauma. It recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma can play in people's lives. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA), "Trauma-informed criminal justice responses can help to avoid re-traumatizing individuals, this increases safety for all, decreases the chance of an individual returning to criminal behavior, and supports the recovery of justice-involved women and men with serious mental illness."

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Annual Report 2020 || External.Affairs@dcs.ga.gov.com || www.dcs.ga.gov
Mental Health and Trauma
In order to address substance use surrounding trauma with our Mental Health population, DCS implemented the Seeking Safety curriculum in our Day Reporting Centers. Seeking Safety is a present-focused, evidenced-based, cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD and/or substance abuse. A trauma screening tool was also introduced to assist with appropriately identifying trauma needs in our DRCs
Virtual Counseling Initiative
Due to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19, virtual counseling became the method of service delivery. Implementing Virtual Counseling was a seamless transition for Recidivism Reduction staff and participants, and has proven to be extremely valuable. DRCs and field office counselors created local schedules to ensure participants can overcome any connectivity issues and remain engaged

Department of Community Supervion
"Going Virtual has broken barries for participants who struggle with transportation, which has led to increased attendance, participation, and motivation."
Nakeycha Hooks Macon DRC Administrator

Counselor Certification Prep Program

The Certification Preparation Program (CCP) provides the needed requirements to obtain certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia and it also provides support to each of our Counselors to ensure they maintain credentialing.
In FY20, four (4) counselors became certified addiction counselors, while our Clinical supervisors provided 2,159 hours of group and individual clinical supervision to counselors working towards certification. Research has demonstrated that evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders can lead to significant reductions in drinking and drug use as well as major improvements in physical, mental health and social functioning. However, the provision of culturally relevant evidence-based practices and the demonstration of significant treatment outcomes depend on an effectively trained and supported workforce.

According the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia:
"The Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor credential is the foundation for working in diverse professional settings where addiction services are provided. A thorough understanding of addiction and the latest evidence-based practices for treatment is the hallmark of a qualified professional. The Alcohol & Drug Counselor credential requires professionals to demonstrate competency through experience, education, supervision, and the passing of a rigorous examination."

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MPOU

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"MPOU has been able to streamline the regulation of misdemeanor probation systems. We continue to see a decrease in audit findings and this is proof that we accomplish more by working together."
Barbara Neville Director of Misdemeanor Probation Oversight

Department of Community Supervion
Misdemeanor Probation Oversight Unit

The Misdemeanor Probation Oversight Unit (MPOU) is authorized to register misdemeanor probation entities and individuals, conduct audits to determine compliance, and investigate potential violations of laws and/or rules. This past year, MPOU conducted 100% of assigned audits for 75 providers throughout the state and 789 courts serviced by both Governmental and Private providers.
MPOU coordinates training events, opportunities, monitors training related activities, and audits training records of the public and private misdemeanor probation providers. Embedded within DCS, MPOU strives to educate providers on our mission during each training session. Additionally, MPOU approves training resources/ curriculum and trainer qualifications utilized

by providers and performs training related compliance reviews per Georgia state law and DCS policies. Through dedicated service delivery, MPOU conducted 85 statewide training events and have had a total of 2896 staff members attend the statewide training events.
MPOU witnessed operational enhancements this year with the updates made to the "What We Look For" manual which is a 75 page document that provides guidance on how to succeed in compliance. Aside from operational enhancements, MPOU adjusted with the public health emergency and initiated virtual training sessions. These sessions, coupled with hard work by the MPOU team, led to the approval of all 859 Misdemeanor staff members to provide service since January of 2020.

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In The Community

Annual Report 2019 || external.affairs@dcs.ga.gov || dcs.ga.gov
Uplifting Communities We Serve
"Selfless service is not only a value for our Department; instead, it is the manner in which we connect the most with the communities we serve."
Patrick Holsey Deputy Director of Field Operations
Community Service --
The DCS Team wholeheartedly believes that the benefits of community service are worth the sacrifices and effort. From the people you meet to the places you see, serving our community keeps us mindful and motivated to make a difference. Each office fully immerses our mission into each local community and we work alongside other state agencies to bolster our impact. For example, our Clayton Office has adopted families that receive services through the DFCS Office. This is just one example of many of just how important serving the community is to DCS!

Department of Community Supervision

Winter Service Day
--
DCS made the holiday season more enjoyable for children in need. Throughout December 2019, DCS employees donated over 100 toys to support the partnership with the Georgia Division of Family and Children's Services' (DFCS) Secret Santa Program. The toys collected were provided to 25 children across the state. Additionally, DCS employees made financial donations supporting an additional nine foster children for a total contribution to 34 deserving children.

Summer Service Day
--
DCS provided school supplies and care packages to those in need within their local communities during a statewide "Day of Service." Selfless employees from across the State collected school supplies and assembled care packages to multiple locations within their local communities. To make the day even brighter, our team visited local schools, shelters, non-profit organizations and persons in need to deliver the school supplies and care packages with a personal touch.
$11,196 Amount donated by DCS to the State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP)

2 Martin Luther King, Jr Drive SE Suite 458, East Tower Atlanta, GA 30334

678. 783. 4337

dcs.georgia.gov external.affairs@dcs.ga.gov