Title
Probation Department recommending the Board adopt Resolution 079-2018 authorizing the implementation of the Probation Department's Adult and Juvenile Incentives Program.
FUNDING: 100% General Fund.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Adoption of Resolution 079-2018 to authorize the Probation Department to implement the Adult and Juvenile Incentives Program, expend funds from the approved budget and allow the Probation Department to modify the program as necessary to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In 2014, the Board of Supervisors approved the Community Corrections Center Incentive Program Resolution 204-2014. The Probation Department is looking to expand the program to all Adult and Juvenile Programs. The Community Corrections Center Incentive Program has proven successful through incentivizing appropriate behavior and reinforcing positive change for the adult offenders participating in the programs offered. This resolution would expand the ability of the Probation Department to incentivize other programs offered outside of the Community Corrections Center and provide the opportunity to reach both Juvenile and Adult clients to reinforce appropriate behavior and enable positive change. The department has identified $6,000 in the current fiscal year budget for this purpose, but does not anticipate spending that entire amount.
Evidence shows that incentives are an effective means of motivating individuals to change their behavior. Using a balance of rewards and sanctions in a consistent manner will motivate both adult and youthful offenders to change behavior, thus reducing recidivism and further victimization, thereby increasing public safety. Incentives include rewards, positive reinforcement, compliments, affirmations and reducing ongoing punishment or restriction, and are proportionate with the behavior of the offender. Incentives encourage pro-social behavior and are used to hold offenders accountable to promote intrinsic responses to the situation(s) they face.
Programs offered through the Probation Department are built around an evidence-based practices framework, which has been proven through scientific study of operant conditioning and social learning as an effective tool to influence behavior change. Research has shown that programs that utilize the use of rewards to reinforce pro-social behavior and sanctions to respond to non-prosocial behavior have a greater and more lasting impact on changing behavior than treatment programs that utilize punishment alone. To have the greatest influence on behavior change, rewards and sanctions must target specific behaviors and implemented at a ratio of four (4) rewards to every one (1) sanction whenever possible. Both rewards and sanctions should range from low, moderate, and high and should be implemented in a manner that is swift, real, and certain for offenders. Monetary incentives are purchased on a case-by-case basis, as approved by the Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Supervising Deputy Probation Officer (SDPO), and the Division Manager.
The Probation Foster Youth Program is one example of the different programs the Probation Department offers. A probation foster youth is a delinquent ward of the court, who cannot live with his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). This youth may be ordered by the court to be placed in a suitable Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) or a Resource Family. According to Foster Care To Success, youth who experience out of home placements are nearly 15% less likely to complete high school when compared to their peers, with only 50% receiving a high school diploma. As such, it is extremely important to encourage foster youth to attend school, participate to the best of their academic ability, and graduate from high school. To celebrate this achievement, when a foster youth has met high school graduation requirements, an incentive will be given. This incentive will be in the form of a gift card as deemed appropriate by the youth’s Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) and the Juvenile Court Services Unit Supervising Deputy Probation Officer (SDPO), and the Division Manager.
The department's procedure for administering the program is attached.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact or change to net county cost, as sufficient appropriations are included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget, with cost not expected to exceed $6,000.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Return one certified copy to the Probation Department.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
CONTACT
Brian Richart, Chief Probation Officer 530-621-5625