Report 2010-124 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2010-124: Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: The Benefits of Its Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions Program Are Uncertain (Release Date: September 2011)

Recommendation #3 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

Once Corrections resumes its use of COMPAS core and reentry assessments, it should provide ongoing training to classification staff representatives, parole agents, and others that may administer or interpret COMPAS assessment results to ensure that COMPAS is a valuable inmate assessment and planning tool.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

CDCR has stressed to users that COMPAS assessment results are intended to drive programming decisions. During training sessions, all COMPAS users were trained in the correlation of COMPAS scales to rehabilitative programs and was included in the 6/26/13 memo titled "Reentry Hub Inmate Assignment Process", which provides direction and a matrix to assist with programming decisions.

The Division of Adult Parole Operations completed training for field staff and parole agents in 2013. Follow-up training was provided to Unit Supervisors and District Administrators in 2014-2015, reinforcing best practices including the use of COMPAS within the CPSRM. All new parole agents receive COMPAS training in the CPSRM curriculum while attending the Parole Agent Academy. On-going training occurs in unit meetings held on a regular basis to discuss relevant issues and reinforce training at the unit level. The field Unit Supervisors have the responsibility of identifying the need for remedial training if a field agent does not understand or does not follow the proper procedures for the use of the COMPAS assessments and case plans.

Due to character limitations, please see CDCR's submitted proof of practice for additional information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014

CDCR's Division of Rehabilitative Programs implemented statewide T4T training in April 2013 that included the California Logic Model which illustrates the rehabilitative process used by CDCR, including the assessment and placement into programs appropriate to an offender's criminogenic needs. The training provided designated staff the required knowledge to administer additional training to new classification staff, and to serve as a local subject matter expert.

This training also included a review of the Reentry Hub and October 4, 2012 memos regarding the Classification Committee Chairpersons review of an inmate's needs identified on the COMPAS assessment when making program placement determinations.

CDCR's Division of Adult Parole Operations completed deployment of the California Parole Supervision Reintegration Model (CPSRM) statewide; founded on the premise of successful reintegration by addressing each offender's specific criminogenic needs. A core component of the CPSRM is the automated assessment tool (COMPAS Reentry Assessment) with the results in the form of the COMPAS Case Plan, providing recommended programs available that address the criminogenic needs identified by the tool. The COMPAS Case Plan is used to further develop a comprehensive plan including incremental goals that lead to the offender's success on parole.

Six-hours of the CPSRM training included understanding criminogenic needs, treatment dosages, and using available assessment tools to identify the offender's criminogenic needs. Additionally, six-hours of training was provided on the use of the COMPAS Reentry Assessment Tool, interpreting the results, and using the COMPAS Case Plan. (See Sign-In sheets for the COMPAS Training.) Refresher training will be provided upon request.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Although Corrections indicated in its response that it has trained staff on the use of COMPAS, it did not provide evidence that this training includes information regarding how COMPAS-generated reports should be interpreted or used to make decisions about inmates and their rehabilitative needs. Additionally, although it did provide evidence that training had been provided to parole agents, it did not provide evidence that it had been provided to others who may use COMPAS results.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013

In April 2013, statewide T4T training was provided to designated institutional staff who provide periodic training at the institutional/unit level.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Although Corrections provided evidence that it has trained certain staff on the use of COMPAS, this training simply focused on how to navigate the software as opposed to discussing how COMPAS-generated reports should be interpreted or used to make decisions about inmates and their rehabilitative needs.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2012

CDCR is certainly in the process of developing a program placement model outlined in the “The Future of California Corrections, CDCR Blueprint,” that will include enhanced training and messaging to Classification Staff Representatives and staff within the institutions on the value and importance of the COMPAS assessment.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2010-124

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.