Inside DCJ November, 2007

OK, it might not be as exciting as the Oscars, but for people like me who love data as much as they love movies, this time of year brings a special thrill – reporting our results.

Each year, as part of the county budget process, we compile the outcomes our programs and services produced last year. As someone new to Multnomah County, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

After reading these results, I’m pleased. Electronic monitoring? Over 88% did not violate their restrictions. Pre-trial supervision? Less than 1% of felony defendants were re-arrested while under supervision. Juvenile detention alternatives? More than 97% reported to court. And these programs aren’t the only ones that performed well.

Results from 2007 indicate that our juvenile court counselors, mental health consultants and juvenile custody specialists are making a positive difference in the lives of the youth we supervise and detain:

89% of juvenile probationers remained free of new arrest in the year after their probation supervision. Among high-risk gang offenders, only 19% re-offended.
74% of high and medium-risk juveniles who received culturally competent case management, mentoring and other services from the Communities of Color Partnerships did not commit a new offense in the year after their probation supervision.
0% of juvenile sex offenders were convicted of a new sex offense a year after completing probation supervision
On average, 97% of the youth served by a detention alternative program (staff secure shelter, electronic monitoring, etc) appeared for their next court hearing.

Our adult parole and probation officers, corrections counselors and technicians produced equally positive results:

Despite supervising a significantly larger share of high-risk offenders than other Oregon counties, the re-offense rate for parolees in Multnomah County (28%) continues to be 3% lower than statewide average (31%). The re-offense rate for probationers is 5% lower than statewide average.
DCJ has placed a high priority on reducing the risk that violent offenders pose. According to last year’s results, only 12% of probationers on supervision for domestic violence and 21% of domestic violence parolees committed a new crime within three years of release.
Less than 1% of parolees who return to Multnomah County fail to report for supervision as a result of the re-entry planning and preparation performed by the Transition Services Unit.
Adult offenders who completed community service improved livability in Multnomah County by providing over $880,000 in free labor to the community.

I’m proud of all our employees who contributed to these impressive results, as well as our highly-skilled research and evaluation team that measures them.

But we can always do better. As I have met with employees from across our department, they have all expressed the same goal: to produce even stronger results.

Through their work – and their desire to take research-tested practices “to the next level” – we can achieve this ambitious and important goal. If we do, we will deliver a better future for the youth and adults we supervise (and a better future for their families) and an even safer community for all of us.

Secure Treatment for Offenders:
Does it Work?

County officials continue to work together to develop plans to open the Wapato facility. This week county commissioners listened to new ideas that would enable the county to open treatment and jail beds at the same time at Wapato.

If implemented, operating 150 treatment beds at Wapato will not be the first time DCJ has run secure treatment for community corrections offenders. But how many parolees and probationers need treatment? More than we can now treat – at least 150 in jail and more than 500 in the community are on treatment program wait lists each day.

Has secure treatment worked in our county? Yes – prior DCJ programs have produced dramatic reductions in re-arrests. Check out the evidence.

Blazers Make it Better for African-American Young Men

It was a night organized to celebrate Black History Month – but it could have been described as a Black Future event, because of the promise displayed by six young men. On February 20th the six
African-American men – ranging from student leaders to teens who have been on juvenile probation – participated in a Town Hall discussion at the Rose Garden, moderated by Blazers broadcaster Antonio Harvey.

The discussion featured honest and direct exchange between the six young men and six community leaders: Blazers coach Nate MacMillan, Blazers President Larry Miller, County Chair Ted Wheeler, Portland Schools Superintendent Carole Smith, Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) Director Tony Hopson and Oregonian columnist Renee Mitchell. The topic? Making a better future for African-American teens.

The event began with a dinner prepared by Rose Garden Executive Chef Mike Pulscak and staff, along with students of Multnomah County’s culinary and hospitality career training program for teens in the juvenile justice system. The program is designed to give teens that have been in trouble the opportunity to learn skills that can help them succeed and contribute to our community.

The town hall forum, moderated by Trail Blazers broadcaster Antonio Harvey, was inspired by recent statistics showing an increase the rates that African-American teens are held in juvenile detention and declining academic performance among African-American students.

The audience included community leaders, elected officials, school board members, school principals, parents and teens.

Each youth on the panel directed a question to an adult panelist, who answered and then asked a question in return.

County Chair Ted Wheeler encouraged the teenagers to get involved in government, through voting, working for a public agency or running for office. Blazers coach Nate MacMillan talked about staying focused on your goals and being careful about your choices – keys to successfully “crossing over” into adulthood. Portland Schools Superintendent Carole Smith talked about her goal to strengthen high school programs across the district and asked teens what they wanted in their schools.

The evening concluded with an appeal to adults in the audience to help African-American teens achieve their goals through mentoring, providing teens with internships and entry-level jobs or supporting programs that reduce school drop-out rates.

Blazers broadcaster Antonio Harvey pledged to mentor a group of teens in the juvenile justice system.

For more information on the Trail Blazers partnership with Multnomah County and Oregon Mentors, and the Blazers’ “Make It Better” programs visit: www.trailblazers.com/makeitbetter.

The Envelope, Please

Secure Treatment for Offenders: Does it Work?

Blazers Make it Better for African-American Young Men

Secure Treatment for Offenders:
Does it Work?