Community Corrections

Community Corrections strives to protect the community by monitoring offenders in the community at the most appropriate level of supervision.  Community protection strategies employed by the department include conditional release supervision, intensive supervision, electronic home monitoring, and drug and alcohol testing.  The department also protects the community by petitioning the Court to send certain offenders to jail or prison because they violated the terms of their probation.

In addition, the department believes its effectiveness in protecting the community is enhanced when community members are involved in the work of the department.

Protecting the community means the following:
• Responding to safety threats posed by offenders under supervision
• Preventing recidivism by focusing on offender accountability
• Supervising offenders at the level of risk they pose to the community

Washington County Community Corrections believes that involving offenders, victims, and community members in responding to crime helps to restore trust and reduce fear. Offenders are held accountable by completing community work service, and/or paying financial restitution.  Victims and community members are given the opportunity to be repaid and to share the impact of the offender’s actions.  By the close of a departmentally-supervised case, a victim should be financially restored and have had the opportunity for emotional healing, and an offender should have a greater understanding of the harm caused by their crime.

Repairing the harm means the following:
• Ensuring that victims with restitution orders receive restitution in full
• Providing victims with information, input, and opportunities for direct participation in crime resolution
• Restoring communities through the community work service of offenders
• Educating and informing community members about the criminal justice system and the work of the Department

Reducing the risk involves assessing offenders, utilizing research-based criteria.  Assessment results are used to develop individual case plans for offenders that address their identified risk and need areas.  Further assessment of specific problems areas, such as chemical dependency or mental health, may also be necessary and result in participation in an appropriate educational or treatment program.

Longer-term risk reduction strategies place a greater emphasis on changing offender behavior and strengthening their ability to be responsible members of the community.  Behavior change is encouraged during continued case management and supervision and through the acquisition of new skills.  Departmental staff assist offenders in developing problem solving, anger management, effective communication, victim empathy, employment, and social skills. 

Reducing the risk means the following:
• Managing offenders' behaviors through effective supervision strategies
• Assisting offenders with employment and education goals
• Developing offenders' skills and competencies