Incarcerated Individuals

During this reporting period, the Vermont Department of Corrections (VT DOC) met with the coaches regularly to identify their priorities under this project. One of the site's outlined goals is to increase sexual abuse investigative capacity by hiring more investigators who can conduct investigations at the agency level. As part of this goal, the agency successfully hired a statewide agency chief investigator during this reporting period who will help to support with the tasks under this goal.

During this reporting period JDI coaches met with the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (PRDCR). The agency lost their federal grant consultant who was one of the coaches main contacts for this project. Nonetheless, the PREA Coordinator has made some progress on the project goals, including the purchasing of cameras, grievance boxes and educational materials. They are also working with a training company to finalize a contract for staff training modules on various subjects including sexual victimization, communication and boundaries, culture and conflict.

During this reporting period, officials from the Richmond City Sheriff's Office met with JDI coaches at least once a month to discuss how to continue to allocate their grant funds. Some plans included adding more cameras, scheduling more recruitment campaigns and advertisements, and potentially holding at least two more trainings. Richmond has completed all their intended goals and is currently working to close out their federal grant.

During the reporting period, under their FY'22 grant, the Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) continued to work towards their goals. The settlement agreement with Disability Rights Washington was agreed upon during this reporting period, helping guide WADOC on priorities to address and their next steps. WADOC began a development of a quick sheet and flow chart around housing and property for transgender people to help break down relevant policies.

During this reporting period, the Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) continued to work on their FY'21 grant objectives. WADOC has continued to roll out updates on their transgender fluency training and has added information in collaboration with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico on how the information presented connects with the job duties of staff. The Moss Group did a site visit to WADOC and met with appointing authorities to talk about the gap analysis they completed and helped identify areas of improvement for investigations.

During this reporting period, the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) had several issues at the county level as well as staffing issues. The coaches were told in late October that the budget for HCSO was temporally frozen, causing delays on hiring and programs across the agency. The role of PREA Coordinator continues to be vacant, with Katrina Camacho trying to complete the duties of multiple jobs until the spot is filled. In addition, HCSO still has been unable to hire a LGBTI Navigator, the main position funded under this grant.

During this reporting period the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC) continued work on PREA implementation at their facilities. NHDOC PREA staff were focused on a PREA audit of several of their facilities that occurred in early June for which they were given a corrective action plan. During this reporting period NHDOC implemented their PREA staff training as well as their staff refresher training.

The grant for Los Angeles County Probation Department was closed during this reporting period in September 2023. In this reporting period, the Los Angeles County Probation Department (LACPD) has continued to wrap up the final pieces of their grant. During this reporting period LACPD printed several materials, including brochures and PREA education signs, to ensure they have enough stock to carry them through after the grant period ends.

The NRCP provides restorative justice practitioners with individualized support in restorative skills, frameworks, and programmatic implementation. One-on-one coaching is delivered by restorative justice leaders who have a depth of experience from a wide range of restorative justice contexts. Coaching aims to deepen the innate capabilities and confidence of practitioners nationwide.

NCORJ hosted a webinar intended for system actors and community members interested in learning about key principles and philosophy of restorative practices. An introductory presentation offered a brief overview, including the history/origins of restorative practices, approaches to address crime/harm with meaningful accountability, and key recommendations and challenges during the implementation process. This webinar was also provided in Spanish.