Report 2005-111 Recommendation 3 Responses
Report 2005-111: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: The Intermediate Sanction Programs Lacked Performance Benchmarks and Were Plagued With Implementation Problems (Release Date: November 2005)
Recommendation #3 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of
The parole division should consider analyzing the effect programs have had on parolee behavior and should use the knowledge it gains from the analyses to make future intermediate sanction programs more effective. The analysis should include the benefits of adding features to make these programs more effective.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From January 2008
The Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) currently has a contract with the San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF) to evaluate four programs, which ends 12-31-08:
- Day Reporting Centers/Community Cased Coalitions
- In-Custody Drug Treatment Program
- Parolee Service Centers
- Restitution Centers
As mentioned in the response to Recommendation 1, DAPO currently has two in-house project analysts paid for by contract dollars that assist in development of data collection requirements, collect and analyze data on our programs. They work with new contractors to develop databases for data collection and are setting up a data warehouse for DAPO. DAPO has a database that creates a consolidated data file for each program. They are currently able to produce a variety of data reports on DAPO programs, which are used to monitor and evaluate program effectiveness on an ongoing basis. DAPO has used data to make changes in programs to make them more effective. Utilizing this data, DAPO will collaborate with the Office of Research to have a report done for 2006 on DAPO parolee programs.
Both the 2003, "An Evaluation of the California Preventing Parolee Crime Program" and the 2006 CDCR Response to the BSA Audit showed the longer parolees stayed in programs/or-completed programs the less likely they were to return to custody. DAPO is focusing on incentives and disincentives to encourage parolee retention in/completion of programs.
The Parole Service Center (PSC) program has made several modifications to program contracts as a result of the recommendations of the BSA and as a result of a DAPO workgroup that cited and produced several noteworthy recommendations. The PSC Program Data Collection Form (PDCF) allows staff to collect critical data required for, both, program monitoring and future evaluation purposes. The PDCF is a comprehensive form that collects static, dynamic and subjective information on each parolee who enters the program. This form has been approved by the San Diego State University (SDSU) evaluation team, led by Dr. Sheldon Zhang and is the key data source for the future evaluation of the PSC Program. Second, the PSC now uses the Register of Program Participation (RPP) form and is mandated for use by each PSC contractor. This form captures benchmark data, such as program referrals, enrollments, occupancy and house of program instruction each parolee receives on a monthly basis. This form complies with a previous BSA finding which suggested that contractor accountability was difficult to assess. Additional program modifications now include the use of Sign In/Sign Out sheets for all programming performed at or off grounds of a PSC. The program also implemented a 52-week, certified Batterer's Program for those parolees required to complete this program as a condition of parole.
The In Custody Drug Treatment Program (ICDTP) is a redesign of the Substance Abuse Treatment Control Units (SATCU) designed to allow for the use of evidence-based research to reduce recidivism. The components include Phase I, which provides a 60-day in-custody, educationally based drug treatment education phase (increased from previous 30 day program). Phase II is a 30-day residential aftercare treatment program component provided by community based organizations, and transitions into Phase III which is a 60-day community based nonresidential treatment phase. One of the issues raised in the BSA audit related to the SATCU program was low utilization level. Monthly meetings are held to review statistics, including bed capacity levels. In addition, DAPO staffs assigned to the ICDTP program maintain daily capacity records. Reports are sent out weekly and monthly so that participation can be constantly monitored.
An informal evaluation is being conducted by SDSU researchers on DAPO's employment programs to identify which program components are more effective so future contracts better address the employment needs of parolees and is expected to be completed by December of 2008. One employment program that consistently failed to meet the benchmarks is being redesigned to be more effective.
The 2007 Expert Panel on Adult Offender and Recidivism Reduction Programming Report to the California Legislature assessed five DAPO programs using the California Program Assessment Process (CPAP). Based on this evaluation, DAPO is reviewing the programs to make improvements. (2007-041, p. 51-52).
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
All Recommendations in 2005-111
Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.