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Hiring Offenders-What Works-National Institute of Corrections-DC Public Safety Television

April 6, 2012 by

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The topic for the twenty-first television show produced by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency is “Hiring Offenders-What Works” and is a combined effort of the National Institute of Corrections (USDOJ) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.

The front page of the CSOSA website (http://www.csosa.gov) contains a section on hiring offenders including radio and television programs and information on tax credits and bonding programs. This is an attempt to engage the employment community in a discussion (crowd-sourcing). The offerings were the subject of a variety of media coverage including local and national television, radio, blog and newspaper reports.

Current Television Program:

The current television program focuses on “what works” regarding offender employment from a national and local perspective. The first half contains interviews with two experts from the National Institute of Corrections. The second half includes interviews with a CSOSA employment specialists and an employer who hires former offenders. All guests were asked to articulate specifics that are evidence based and proven successful.

Participants-first segment:

P. Elizabeth Taylor, Correctional Program Specialist, National Institute of Corrections

Constance Parker, Administrator of the Maryland Re-Entry Initiative with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation

Participants-second segment:

Tony Lewis, Employment Specialist, CSOSA

Furard Tate, Owner, Inspire Food Management

DC Public Safety:

Subscribe to “DC Public Safety” through iTunes at

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc-public-safety-video/id211867321?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 for video and http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc-public-safety-audio/id211598412?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 for audio.

See http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows, blog and transcripts.

The host is Leonard Sipes. The CSOSA producer is Timothy Barnes. The National Institute of Corrections producer is Donna Ledbetter.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/.

We welcome your comments or suggestions at

leonard.sipes@csosa.gov or at Twitter at http://twitter.com/lensipes.

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Filed Under: Education and Vocational Assistance, Employment, Interviews with Policy Makers, Interviews with Staff, Reentry, What Works Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Supervision of High-Risk Offenders-DC Public Safety Television

February 16, 2012 by

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The topic for the twentieth television show produced by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency is “Supervision of High Risk Offenders”.

There is extensive research that parole and probation agencies should focus their efforts on offenders who pose an obvious risk to public safety. CSOSA embarked on two reorganizations in 2011, one focusing on women offenders (TV show filmed on February 16, 2011) and the other on high risk offenders; the focus of this production.

Multiple national research centers, such as The Urban Institute, Pew, and the US Department of Justice, suggest that parole and probation agencies focus their supervision and treatment resources on high risk offenders, as identified through objective, validated risk and needs instruments, while placing less emphasis on lower risk offenders through alternative methods of supervision.

The program intends to provide an overview of CSOSA high risk offender supervision and treatment efforts based on national best practice standards. The program will:

  • Discuss the findings of national best practices research.
  • Discuss how CSOSA chooses high-risk offenders with a focus on violence, weapons, sex offenses, drug use and previous violations while under community supervision.
  • Another focus will be on younger offenders in the 18-25 age bracket. CSOSA makes its judgments  on the totality of an offender’s violent criminal history, and not just on the offender’s current conviction. It is estimated that approximately one-third of CSOSA offenders will fall into the high risk category.
  • Discuss CSOSA efforts and programs created to focus on the treatment of high risk offenders.
  • Discuss CSOSA efforts and programs created to focus on the supervision of high risk offenders. These include identifying the right offenders to participate in existing efforts such as Accountability Tours, intelligence exchanges with law enforcement, GPS and curfews, services provided to offenders at our day reporting centers, and the reallocation of staff. Part of the reallocation of staff includes a new seven person warrant unit.
  • Discuss alternative methods of supervising lower risk offenders to include kiosks.

The first segment will be an overview of the national research findings pertaining to the high risk offender.

The second segment will focus on CSOSA practices as they pertain to the implementation of the high risk offender reorganization.

Participants-first segment:

  • Jesse Jannetta, Research Associate, The Urban Institute
  • William Burrell, Independent Community Corrections Consultant.

Participants-second segment:

  • Valerie Collins, Branch Chief, Domestic Violence, CSOSA
  • Gregory Harrison, Branch Chief, General Supervision, CSOSA

DC Public Safety:

Subscribe to “DC Public Safety” through iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc-public-safety-video/id211867321?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 for video and http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dc-public-safety-audio/id211598412?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 for audio.

See http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows, blog and transcripts.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/.

We welcome your comments or suggestions at leonard.sipes@csosa.gov or at Twitter at http://twitter.com/lensipes.

The host is Leonard Sipes. The CSOSA producer is Timothy Barnes.

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Filed Under: Drug Treatment, Education and Vocational Assistance, GPS, High Risk Drug Offenders, Interagency Cooperation, Interviews with Policy Makers, Parole and Probation, Reentry, What Works Tagged With: , , , , , ,

DC Safe Surrender 2011-DC Public Safety Television

July 15, 2011 by

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Welcome to DC Public Safety–radio and television shows on crime, criminal offenders and the criminal justice system.

The topic for the nineteenth television show produced by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency is DC Safe Surrender.

The combined federal and District criminal justice system came together in November of 2007 and created “Fugitive Safe Surrender.” 530 offenders with warrants voluntarily surrendered.  Safe Surrender was a national effort lead by the US Marshal’s Service.

The website for the current “DC Safe Surrender” is http://www.dcsafesurrender.org.

“DC Safe Surrender” in 2011 seeks offenders wanted on non-violent felony and misdemeanor warrants. Domestic violence cases are not included.

Offenders willingly participated in the last Safe Surrender in 2007. The overwhelming majority went home that day with a new court date or had the charges resolved while they were there. They were looking for a way to safely resolve their warrants.

“DC Safe Surrender” is a public safety initiative. It gets offenders with warrants off the streets and back into legitimate society. It allows law enforcement to focus on other concerns.

“DC Safe Surrender” protects the family members of those wanted on warrants. They lose the fear of police coming to their door. They lose the fear of a family member being arrested in front of children.

“DC Safe Surrender” protects our police officers. They do not have to risk injury in serving these warrants.

A list of those wanted for warrants will be available on the website.

When: “DC Safe Surrender” will take place on three Saturdays on August 13, 20 and 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: The DC Superior Court building at 500 Indiana Ave NW

Television Show:

Participants-first segment:

  • ­­­Adrienne Poteat, Director, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
  • Willie Jones, participant, first DC Safe Surrender participant.

 Participants-second segment:

  • Lee Satterfield, Chief Judge, DC Superior Court
  • Assistant Chief Alfred Durham, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C.

 The show is packed with video footage to enhance the viewing experience.

See http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows, blog and transcripts.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/.

We welcome your comments or suggestions at leonard.sipes@csosa.gov or at Twitter at http://twitter.com/lensipes.

The host is Cedric Hendricks. The producer is Timothy Barnes.

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Filed Under: Fugitive Safe Surrender, Interviews with Policy Makers, What Works Tagged With:

Women Offenders – DC Public Safety Television 2011

May 11, 2011 by

Women Offenders – “DC Public Safety”

Welcome to DC Public Safety – radio and television shows on crime, criminal offenders and the criminal justice system.

This program celebrates five years of “DC Public Safety” television.

“Women Offenders” features discussions with a policy maker within the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and the Director of Our Place D.C. (one of the most comprehensive programs for women offenders in the country). The second half features a CSOSA employee who runs groups for women offenders and a participant currently under CSOSA supervision.

Between 2007 and 2010, the number of women on CSOSA’S daily caseload increased eight percent. Participants have higher rates of involvement in substance abuse, mental health issues and histories of sexual victimization. Approximately 50 percent of female offenders report having been evaluated, diagnosed or treated for mental health issues.

CSOSA is currently reorganizing operations to better supervise and provide programs for female offenders. Teams of Community Supervision Officers (know elsewhere as parole and probation agents) have received gender specific training. Treatment groups for women offenders are expanding. A new day reporting center has been created. Partnerships with groups such as Our Place D.C. have been expanded.

The production attempts to describe the increase of females under CSOSA supervision (and throughout the nation) and the steps employed to address the issue.

CSOSA is also reorganizing agency operations to better supervise high-risk offenders.

Guests for this program:

Participants-first segment:

  • Dr. Debra Kafami, Executive Assistant, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
  • Ashley McSwain, MSW, MSOD, Executive Director, Our Place DC

Participants-second segment:

  • Dr. Willa Butler, Group Facilitator, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
  • Talynthia Jones, an offender on Dr. Butler’s caseload.

The show is packed with video footage to enhance the viewing experience.

See http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows, blog and transcripts.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/

We welcome your comments or suggestions at leonard.sipes@csosa.gov or at Twitter at http://twitter.com/lensipes.

The host is Leonard Sipes. The producer is Timothy Barnes.

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Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Day Reporting, Interviews with Offenders, Interviews with Staff, Parole and Probation, What Works, Women Offenders Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Successful Offenders – “DC Public Safety” Television

January 13, 2011 by

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“Successful Offenders”  is part of the” DC Public Safety” television series.

Please see http://media.csosa.gov for our radio shows. See www.twitter.com/lensipes.

This is the  fifteenth edition of “DC Public Safety” television. The program, entitled “Successful Offenders” features discussions with four offenders currently under the supervision of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.

Fifty percent of offenders (per national data) return to prison after three years but 50 percent do not. The production attempts to discover the reasons as to why people under supervision do not return.

Guests for the enclosed program include:

First Segment: Tracy Marlow and India Frazier

Second Segment: Cortez McDaniel and Donald Zimmerman

We welcome your comments and suggestions at leonard.sipes@csosa.gov.

The program is offered by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, a federal executive branch entity in Washington, D.C.

The show is hosted by Leonard Sipes. Timothy Barnes is the Producer.

Transcript available at http://media.csosa.gov/podcast/transcripts/2011/01/successful-offenders-dc-public-safety/

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Filed Under: Drug Treatment, Education and Vocational Assistance, Employment, Interviews with Offenders, Reentry, What Works, Women Offenders Tagged With: , , ,
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