Inmate Assistance Programs

Correctional officers play a key role in the administration and operations of RSAT programming. However, they are often times are not made aware of the essential role they play in establishing the therapeutic milieu for successful treatment programming in prisons and jails. This requires them to adopt different roles than the average correctional officer in working with general prison and jail populations. This webinar will present a panel discussion with three experienced correctional officers working with RSAT programs.

Throughout this quarter, CJI staff continued to follow up on the New Mexico Unification Task Force established through SM6/HB11 and work toward readying the state for a full JRI engagement.

In April, members of the CJI team traveled to Albuquerque for meetings to advance our ripening efforts. On April 19, we attended a day-long event with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils from around the state.

For six months, CJI repeatedly met with the Governor’s office to discuss the status of the JRI effort. During June, CJI discussed drafting an additional op-ed to outline the problem statement our effort is addressing. Towards the end of June, the governor’s office drafted the executive order establishing the task force and agreed on a timeline for the general task force and task force subgroup meetings as well as presentations to the task force.

For six months, CJI repeatedly met with the Governor’s office to discuss the status of the JRI effort. After discussing roundtable planning with the Governor’s office, CJI began identifying stakeholder roundtable groups as well as potential hosts and facilitators for roundtables. CJI agreed that stakeholder engagement with county commissioners, jail administrators, sheriffs, victims, as well as criminal justice-impacted persons was most important.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that fosters change by using person-centered communication. This webinar will provide both an introduction for RSAT staff new to the practice of MI and as a refresher for those already familiar with the technique. Motivational Interviewing trainer Roberta Churchill will provide a brief overview of the Spirit of MI specifically for the correctional setting.

Grantee was not notified of grant award until December 2022, so there was not a lot of engagement with the grantee during this quarter.

Assisted with general PREA implementation, including an onsite visit.
Assisted with general PREA implementation, including an onsite visit.

This quarter the coach had no contact with the facility directly, despite emails that were sent. There was one email exchange between the BJA Policy Advisor and the site’s grant administrator on which the coach was copied. This exchange was to follow-up on the de minimums indirect cost rate letter and to see if the site planned to submit for a second extension. The site submitted the letter, but did not submit for a second NCE. Attempts were made to reach the site to no avail. The coach confirmed with the policy advisor that they did not apply for an extension.

During this reporting period, King County was fully engaged with the coaches. The coaches have continued to assist King County with their development of youth education and sustainability plan.

Site leads met with JDI coaches to review their implementation guide, time task plan, as well as budgetary allocations for the project.
Site leads met with JDI coaches to review their
implementation guide, time task plan, as well as
budgetary allocations for the project.