Initiatives

Transitional Parole Officers

DJJ Vision: Successful youth, Strong families, and Safe communities.

Mission: Protect the public through a balanced approach of comprehensive services that prevent and reduce delinquency through partnerships with families, schools, communities, law enforcement and other agencies, while providing the opportunity for delinquent youth to develop into responsible and productive citizens.

The transition plan is an integral part of a juvenile's success and can only be implemented through collaboration with DCE personnel, JCC counselors, referring PO, re-enrollment coordinators, service providers, parents/family members, DSS, and community resources. The following plan is intended to protect the public by providing parolees a combination of community supervision, accountability, and treatment.

Goal: Assist parole in reducing re-arrest rate for juveniles released from direct care a total of 5% in three fiscal years.

120-90 days before discharge from Beaumont or Bon-Air JCC each parolee will be identified and assigned to TPO. TPO will:

• Discuss case with referring PO
• Review file for relevant information
• Become familiar with educational, cultural, vocational, economic, medical, psychological, criminal history, previously attempted and/or completed community programs/treatment, and family dynamics of juvenile

TPO should attend treatment team meetings when possible and communicate with JCC counselor bi-weekly. Within 10 days of case assignment, TPO will:

• Notify JCC counselor of PO change
• Notify parent of PO change, inform parent of TPO role, and provide parent with contact information
• Conduct a home visit
• Meet with youth at JCC and explain role of TPO and begin building rapport

During home visits and discussions with parent or guardian TPO will:

• Assess familial support system
• Identify safety nets
• Begin preparing parent/guardian for youths return home (Possibly utilize Phoenix Parent Curriculum)
• Identify community resources
• Incorporate extended family members into transition plan (when possible and appropriate)
• Emphasize importance of maintaining communication with child while at JCC (Possibly transport parent to JCC if/when possible)
• Gauge parental strength's, weaknesses, and desire/aptitude for involvement in transition plan

Utilizing the Phoenix Curriculum one hour per week:

• Increase youth's knowledge of self and others and inform of appropriate modes of interaction and communication within the facility, home, and community
• Have youth develop an understanding of their educational needs related to their abilities, interests, talents, values, and career goals
• Help youth identify safety nets and barriers for his/her anticipated return to the community
• Attempt to identify and break youth's entrenched criminal thinking patterns

After completing a Youth Assessment & Screening Instrument (YASI) with each identified juvenile, TPO will author a tailored comprehensive individual parole supervision and family involvement plan addressing competency development, community safety, and accountability (20-40 days prior to discharge). Plan will encompass input from JCC counselor, parent/guardian, and most importantly involve what youth feels are his/her transition needs. Parole supervision and family involvement plan will:

• Target factors predictive of reoffending behavior (family and living arrangement, substance abuse, education, mental health, vocational training, employability, peer groups, recreational interests, and leisure time).
• Address criminogenic factors associated with recidivism
• Identify appropriate treatment services and supervision needs
• Address transitioning of school, housing, treatment, and employment

Prior to discharge (10-30 days), TPO will coordinate reenrollment with DCE and public school reenrollment coordinator. TPO will attend scheduled reenrollment meeting and advocate for youth.

Upon discharge, juvenile will reenter community with identified services and supervision in place. After youth is reintegrated into the community, TPO can/will continue utilizing components of Phoenix Curriculum with youth and parent. TPO will continue to meet with treatment and/or service providers, parolee, and family according to the supervision matrix and document pertinent information into the JTS. TPO will continue to identify any juvenile and family needs and request an extension of services when appropriate and cessation of services when deemed ineffective. TPO will request that service providers utilize mentors of the same sex and similar ethnicity. In addition, TPO will encourage service providers to taper rather than end services abruptly.

Prior to reassigning case to traditional parole officer after 60-90 days of community supervision, TPO will connect youth to appropriate community resources:

• Community Services Board
• YMCA
• Boy's & Girls club
• Park's and Recreation
• Faith based group
• Military Recruiter
• Employment Contacts
• AA/NA meeting places
• Informative/educational CD's, video's, websites, DVD's, or books
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program
• Family Life Center
• Social Services
• Teen Parent Program