National Program or Policy Advancement

CSG Justice Center staff met with project partners to debrief on the site visit and discuss areas for improvements, strengths, and TA needs. It was decided that we would follow-up with PA DOC on their focused deterrence model to learn more about what behaviors they want to stop and to get more clarity around the different services for those in the Call-in program and those are regular parole. 

CSG Justice Center staff met with Dallas County to discuss agenda items for the site visit.

CSG Justice Center staff met with Dallas County project staff to discuss changes to their budget. They wanted to know if they could use money from the project to pay for electric monitoring for individuals in the Felony Domestic Violence Court and are being placed on the High Risk Domestic Violence caseload. 
Staff followed up with BJA policy advisor.

CSG Justice Center staff conducted their monthly peer call with the sites and project partners. Staff facilitated a discussion around procedural justice and legitimacy and also provided an update on the possibility of no-cost extension approvals.

CSG Justice Center staff conducted a virtual site visit with Dallas County and met with their project staff and partners. Dallas walked CSG staff through an overview of the program; how their partnerships developed; and an overview of each of their partners' programs. 

CSG Justice Center staff met with project partners to debrief about the Dallas' site visit. Each partner was really impressed with the breadth of the program and how involved the partners are in the overall implementation of the project. 
TA Needs to follow-up: suggest training modules for how law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, and probation department approach the arrest, prosecution, and management of domestic violence offenders.

CSG Justice Center staff met with GMU to discuss the sites' approach to data-informed decision making and identified follow-up questions for each site that will provide more insight into how they make programmatic decisions and get them thinking more critically about these things. 

CSG Justice Center staff and project partners conducted a monthly TA call with MI DOC. They are in the process of including women in their recovery court. They have been conducting their sessions to twice a week. 
Challenges: Two participants have committed new crimes and have been ejected from the program. One staff person contracted COVID-19 which caused a suspension of programming until January 30th. There have not been any qualified referrals to Fresh Coast Alliance.
TA Requests: How to facilitate mixed groups for mentorship.

CSG Justice Center staff spoke with PA DOC about their efforts to secure a venue for the Call-in. Unfortunately, the venues they contacted are not allowing any events until Spring of 2021 at the earliest. We discussed more virtual options and the possibility of doing a hybrid model at their own facility. 
Also provided an update on the NCE.

CSG Justice Center staff and project partners conducted a monthly TA call with Dallas County. They have hired a second officer for the high risk BIPP (battering intervention prevention program) caseload; caseload is 22. They have conducted several high-risk meetings with their partners and are scheduling a policy meeting with Judge Kemp to discuss program challenges and improvements. 
Current challenges: Due to COVID-19, they are outsourcing urine collection and are currently discussing an approach to work with female DV offenders. 
Next Steps: train new officer.