Goal 3: Dialogue
Promote Dialogue between DCS and Supervisees
STRATEGIES
Strategy 5: Pilot a specialized joint supervision caseload for gang members.
A recent study found that gang-involved individuals are faring significantly worse than those without a gang affiliation in Georgia. The revocation rate for gang-involved persons is twice that of their non-gang-involved counterparts( 22 % vs 11 %), and almost half( 46 %) of these revocations result in a return to prison. Furthermore, interviews and observations identified service gaps for gang-involved adults under supervision that offer insights into their higherthan-average revocation rates. These gaps appear in addressing needs related to peer associations, family functioning, and leisure activities.
To address the service gaps, we are piloting the joint supervision strategy to give CSOs the support needed to assist gang-involved supervisees and connect them to pro-social services. Specifically, we will tailor supervision by creating specialized gang caseloads. Additionally, we will integrate lived experiences into our supervision model by assigning a peer mentor from the Offender Alumni Association to each caseload. Georgia State University will provide evaluation and implementation assistance.
Strategy 6:
Facilitate a consumer panel of people with lived experiences to upgrade the My Supervision Portal.
The third element of PCS focuses on dialogue, which calls for taking the time and effort to listen and understand supervisees’ experiences. Recognizing individuals’ situations and acknowledging their feelings helps promote positive change in community supervision. As a result, there is growing interest among practitioners and scholars in applying procedural justice( PJ) concepts to probation and parole.
The PJ framework suggests that people who view decisions and actions by CSOs as fair will be more likely to cooperate and, in turn, be more likely to complete their supervision terms without revocation. To this end, we are facilitating a consumer panel composed of individuals serving probation and parole terms as an opportunity for them to provide input and feedback on improving DCS products and services.
FY24- FY27 STRATEGIC PLAN PAGE 9