APPD has a state of the art risk assessment tool but it lacks a criminogenic needs assessment. Additionally, APPD is uncertain about which treatment providers in Philadelphia can best serve its supervision population. This request will address both of these issues. Please see the cover letter for additional details.
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a:28:{s:32:"field_what_event_has_occurred_th";s:319:"A review of the literature made APPD aware several years ago of the necessity for the needs piece of the RNR model. More recently, an evaluation by the National Center for State Courts identified the absence of a needs tool and will recommend the implementation of one in their report which should be released in April.";s:32:"field_what_do_you_want_to_achiev";s:188:"APPD strives to implement a valid needs assessment for our offender population and to identify agencies/treatment centers that will best address those criminogenic needs of our offenders. ";s:32:"field_what_will_happen_if_this_n";s:221:"If this need is not addressed, our offenders will continue to be supervised without fully addressing their needs. Without this, we are unable to assist them in becoming more law-abiding and productive members of society. ";s:32:"field_what_is_the_gap_between_wh";s:363:"The gap that currently exists is that APPD has a validated risk tool to predict the likelihood of an offender committing a new crime and the seriousness of that crime, but has no funding or expertise to provide a way of systematically and consistently identifying and addressing the unique issues each offender struggles with to reduce the chance of reoffending. ";s:32:"field_do_you_have_any_data_to_su";s:331:"Our Research Department found that two years after the risk tool predication date, moderate and high risk offenders had a 51% and 56% new arrest rate, and an 11% and 21% serious arrest rate, respectively. The needs tool and subsequent referral to relevant treatment and service programs will hopefully reduce this recidivism rate. ";s:32:"field_have_there_been_previous_a";s:161:"APPD previously applied for a SMART Probation grant with Dr. Taxman and ACE! and has extensively researched various freely available needs tools without success.";s:32:"field_have_you_sought_tta_before";s:63:"No, we have not sought TTA before for this or any other issue. ";s:32:"field_who_will_assume_leadership";s:475:"Dr. Ellen Kurtz, Director of Research at APPD will assume leadership for this TTA. She will provide coordination between the TA provider (George Mason University) and the agency. She will also work with the TA provider in developing a timeline and milestones to ensure the project remains on track. She will work closely with the Director of Training, Kathy Intenzo, since a large portion of this project will focus on training probation officers in the use of a new tool.";s:32:"field_how_did_you_learn_about_nt";s:165:"I have been working on criminal justice issues for the past 20 years. As a result, I am very familiar with the role the BJA plays in providing technical assistance.";s:32:"field_what_are_your_organization";s:367:"We are highly motivated to implement a needs assessment piece to improve the supervision of our population. We have successfully implemented other large shifts in our organization so we are familiar with what it takes to make planned changes. Motivation, leadership, and a demonstrated track record in improving organizational functioning are our biggest strengths.";s:32:"field_what_are_organization_s_we";s:234:"Our computer equipment is very old (10 years+). This makes it difficult to run computer applications as quickly as they ought to. We have tested the RNR simulation tool that will be used for this project and it did successfully run.";s:32:"field_what_opportunities_does_th";s:425:"Although we have made significant strides in the past 5 years towards evidence-based supervision, we understand that we have much room for improvement. In 2009 we reorganized the department around the risk principle (targeting resources on those offenders who pose the greatest risk in order to maximize impact on public safety), and now we must improve our ability to identify and address offender’s criminogenic needs. ";s:32:"field_what_are_the_challenges_th";s:301:"The agency faces considerable budgetary constraints. We also lack expertise on how to best identify/address offenders’ criminogenic needs. Without resources, we cannot purchase an existing needs tool (which usually charge a fee for each use) nor can we hire an expert to assist us with this issue.";s:32:"field_how_will_this_technical_as";s:591:"An important concept in community supervision is the risk-needs-responsivity model (RNR). Addressing both the risk and needs of offenders through programming that is responsive to both offers the greatest chance of reducing recidivism. If we are able to train our officers in the use of the RNR Simulation Tool as well as identify services in Philadelphia that best adhere to evidence-based practices, we will maximize our ability to reduce recidivism. Fewer crimes committed by our population is an obvious benefit to the residents of Philadelphia as well as the criminal justice system.";s:32:"field_what_is_your_overarching_g";s:604:"Our overarching goal is to improve probation officers’ ability to supervise moderate and high risk offenders leading to a reduction in recidivism. This TTA is to facilitate the use of the RNR Simulation Tool, developed by the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence (ACE) at George Mason University. The goal is to use this tool to advance case planning efforts for moderate to high risk offenders. We view this tool as an important step to advance the use of targeted programming to reduce recidivism, and to work with our provider community to improve the adoption of evidence-based treatments.";s:32:"field_please_list_at_least_two_o";s:258:"1. Train probation officers in the use of the Risk Needs Responsivity Simulation Tool (Assess the Individual component) developed by the ACE! Center at George Mason University.
2. Identify the best services in Philadelphia to address criminogenic needs.
";s:32:"field_as_a_result_of_this_tta_wh";s:282:"This project will take longer than 6 months to fully implement. We estimate a timeline of 15 months. Within 6 months, the survey of programs within Philadelphia will be completed. We will also begin training officers in the use of the RNR simulation tool within that timeframe. ";s:32:"field_who_will_be_participating_";s:274:"APPD – Ellen Kurtz (Director of Research), Kathy Intenzo (Director of Training), Judy Plonski (Training Supervisor), Amanda Tudor (Research Associate), probation supervisors and probation officers
George Mason University (GMU) – Dr. Faye Taxman and her team at ACE!
";s:32:"field_what_do_participants_need_";s:179:"We have strong leadership at both APPD and GMU. Both organizations have good track records at implementing change. We need funds in order to bring the expertise of ACE! to APPD.";s:32:"field_what_activities_experience";s:606:"The ACE! Center at GMU will provide access and training on their RNR Simulation Tool which was created with funds from BJA. This tool is web-based. ACE! staff will travel to Philadelphia to train our officers in the use of this program. It will then be piloted on 300 offenders. From this, APPD will examine different case planning and management practices with the assistance of ACE!
APPD will also distribute the RNR Assess the Program Tool (web-based survey) to approximately 100 programs and services in Philadelphia; ACE! will score the surveys and develop a picture of the provider community.
";s:32:"field_who_supports_you_in_this_e";s:198:"Court Administration of the First Judicial District of Philadelphia, who oversees APPD, has given approval and support for this endeavor. The Chief and Deputy Chief at APPD are also in full support.";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_i";s:162:"The Chief, Deputy Chief, directors and supervisors are key stakeholders at the administrative level, all of whom are in support and will be involved as necessary.";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_p";s:104:"The probation officers and supervisors are the key stakeholders that are involved at the program level. ";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_o";s:602:"The treatment centers and agencies are key stakeholders outside of our organization that could be partners in this TTA. As mentioned above and in the proposal, various agencies will be surveyed to identify the best to address the individual needs of our offenders. This will streamline the needs process and allow the agencies to assist the offenders most relevant to the treatment or service they provide.
The Philadelphia community is another key stakeholder outside of our organization who would benefit from the improved supervised population and possible reduced recidivism throughout the city.
";s:32:"field_how_open_are_the_key_stake";s:3:"N/A";s:32:"field_are_there_any_local_govern";s:3:"N/A";s:32:"field_how_will_your_organization";s:485:"APPD has been partnered with the University of Pennsylvania since 2005. Through that partnership, APPD developed a validated risk tool, physically, electronically and systematically reorganized an entire department around that risk tool, conducted two randomized-controlled trials and used the results of those trials to make policy decisions. APPD is capable of sustaining this professional development after the TTA is completed, as demonstrated by our track record described above. ";s:32:"field_what_other_resources_do_yo";s:380:"The resources APPD has to support this TTA is a fully functioning research department to continue to evaluate the needs tool’s impact on our recidivism, a training unit to continuously provide the necessary training on the needs tool, training how to proceed once the needs have been identified and a case management system to track the referrals and progress of each offender. ";}