Traditional Probation & Intensive Supervision ... - Ottawa County

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Program CostThe major expense of operating a probation program is in the fixed costs which typically include thesalary and fringe benefits of judges, probation officers, program managers, probation support staff,prosecuting attorneys, and defense attorneys. Also included in the overall cost of the programs arevariable costs such as jail and other miscellaneous expenses. Reimbursements from State funds,probationer fees, grants and other revenue sources help to alleviate some of the cost of the Traditionaland ISP programs. Detailed cost data for the Traditional and ISP programs is provided inAttachments AA, BB, and CC.The total annual operating cost of Traditional Probation in 2005 was $4,738,364. The total annualfixed cost was $939,725 (19.8%), and the total annual variable cost was $3,798,639 (80.2%).Based on the total annual reimbursement of $797,252 from State funds and probationer fees, thetotal cost to the County for Traditional Probation was $3,941,112 (Table 24).Table 24Probation Cost (Annual)Total CostTotal Costto CountyTotal FixedCostTotal FixedCost toCountyTraditional program $4,738,364 $3,941,112 $939,725 $899,211ISP program $1,031,851 $666,355 $396,568 $385,914Source: Department of Probation and Community Corrections and Fiscal ServicesThe total annual cost of the ISP program in 2005 was $1,031,851. The total annual fixed cost was$396,568 (38.4%), and the total annual variable cost was $635,283 (61.6%). Based on the total annualreimbursement of $365,496 from State funds, grants, and probationer fees, the total cost to the Countyfor the ISP program was $666,355.The total cost (per person) for Traditional Probation was $1,480 (Table 25). The total cost persuccessful participant was $1,905. The cost per successful participant is higher due to the fact that ittakes an average of 8.5 months to complete Traditional Probation. The total cost (per person) to theCounty was $1,231, and the cost per successful participant was $1,585.The total cost (per person) for ISP was $2,826, and the total cost per successful participant was$5,320. This figure is based on an average of 11.3 months to complete probation (i.e. 6 monthsISP and 5.3 months of Traditional). The total cost (per person) to the County was $1,997 andthe cost per successful participant was $3,758.Table 25Probation Cost (Per Person)Cost PerParticipantCost PerSuccessfulParticipantCost PerParticipant(County)Cost PerSuccessfulParticipant(County)Traditional Program $1,480 $1,905 $1,231 $1,585ISP Program $2,826 $5,320 $1,997 $3,758Source: Department of Probation and Community Corrections and Fiscal ServicesEvaluation: Traditional and ISP Probation Page 31 Prepared by: Ottawa County Planning Department (08/03/07)
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONSNearly 80% of offenders sentenced to the Traditional Probation program completed their required probationsentence, while 53% of offenders sentenced to the ISP program completed their required sentence. The overallpost-program recidivism rate for offenders involved in the Traditional Probation program was 14.9%, and therecidivism rate for those in the ISP program was 14.6%. When compared to other programs evaluated by thePlanning and Grants Department, these completion rates are higher, and the recidivism rates are lower than othercriminal justice programs.Despite the assortment of quantitative data obtained for this report, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusionsrelated to program performance. This is primarily due to the fact that, at this point in time, there is not anothersimilar program with which to compare performance and cost. As previously stated, the evaluation of theDistrict Sobriety Court, scheduled to be completed in 2008, will serve as a basis for future comparison. In spiteof the need for comparative analysis, the following administrative recommendations have been made. These arebased on the assessment of programmatic data contained within this report, as well as from interviews with theparticipants and discussions with probation and law enforcement staff.1. As previously reported in this evaluation, 41 (8%) probationers with a drunk-driving conviction did notreceive an assessment through the Department of Probation and Community Corrections. It is possiblehowever, that some of these offenders may have received an assessment from a counseling agency.Recommendation:Ensure that the state-mandated substance abuse assessmentsare conducted for all probationers convicted of a drunkdrivingoffense. In addition, ensure that the substance abuseassessment results, regardless of where they are conducted,are utilized by Probation Officers in determining a level ofsubstance abuse treatment for a probationer.2. Although it is difficult to confirm without developing a random assignment study, accountability isone of the primary factors which can have an impact on eliminating an offender’s propensity torecidivate. In the Traditional and ISP programs, accountability is achieved primarily through theenforcement of court orders and through drug and alcohol testing. In spite of random testing, manyprobationers have either admitted to cheating on the tests and/or are aware that cheating is occurring.This finding is consistent with data which verified that cheating was occurring among the participantsof District Sobriety and Circuit Drug Courts. However, after Sobriety and Drug Courts changed theirdrug and alcohol testing protocols in response to the cheating, participants have indicated that lesscheating is occurring.Recommendation:Consider changing protocols used to conduct drug andalcohol testing to ensure testing is random. Since therevised 58 th District Sobriety Court protocols for drug andalcohol testing appear to deter cheating, determine ifsimilar procedures can be implemented to deter cheating inthe Traditional and ISP programs.3. Many substance abuse professionals believe that offenders who are trying to recover from an alcoholand/or drug addiction may relapse. Subsequently, committing program violations (e.g. failingdrug/alcohol tests) is to be expected as part of the road to recovery. Some offenders committed up totwo new offenses while in the program but still successfully completed their probation sentence. Byway of contrast, if a Sobriety Court participant commits a serious new offense while in the program,he or she is automatically discharged. The reason for this policy is to send a message to participantsthat committing new crimes will not be tolerated.Evaluation: Traditional and ISP Probation Page 32 Prepared by: Ottawa County Planning Department (08/03/07)
Page 2 and 3: 2007 County Board of CommissionersD
Page 4 and 5: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Traditional Pr
Page 6 and 7: EVALUATION METHODOLOGIESThe Plannin
Page 8 and 9: Table 3AgeTraditional ISP Total17-2
Page 10 and 11: Operational PerformanceAn assessmen
Page 12 and 13: 3. Probation ConditionsOffenders wh
Page 14 and 15: Of those probationers who received
Page 16 and 17: Average Number of Visits8765432106.
Page 18 and 19: Average Number of Tests1.41.21.00.8
Page 20 and 21: If an offender commits a probation
Page 22 and 23: F. Completion RatesThe program comp
Page 24 and 25: 1. Overall Recidivism RateEach prob
Page 26 and 27: 3. Recidivism by Type of Criminal B
Page 28 and 29: 5. Recidivism by Level of Participa
Page 30 and 31: 7. Number of Recidivism OffensesThe
Page 32 and 33: Probationer InterviewsThe primary r
Page 36 and 37: Recommendation:In order to improve
Page 38 and 39: Recommendation:Continue to collect
Page 40 and 41: Attachment AORGANIZATION & WORK FLO
Page 42 and 43: Attachment CSTRATEGIC OUTLINEProbat
Page 44 and 45: Attachment EDATABASE DESIGNProbatio
Page 46 and 47: Home OfficeDate Visit Visit PBT DT
Page 48 and 49: Attachment HSampling ProceduresInte
Page 50 and 51: Attachment IOverall DemographicsTot
Page 52 and 53: Attachment KAssessment ScoresTradit
Page 54 and 55: Attachment MAgency Survey1. Clients
Page 56 and 57: Attachment ODrug and Alcohol Tests
Page 58 and 59: Attachment QType of New Offenses Wh
Page 60 and 61: Attachment SDescription of Convicti
Page 62 and 63: Attachment TRecidivism by ADE Asses
Page 64 and 65: Attachment U58th District Court - P
Page 66 and 67: Attachment VParticipant Interview R
Page 76 and 77: Did Not Complete ProbationAttachmen
Page 84 and 85:
Attachment VParticipant Interview R
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Completed ProbationAttachment VPart
Page 102 and 103:
Attachment XProbationer Responses P
Page 104 and 105:
Attachment ZProbationer Responses P
Page 106 and 107:
Attachment BBTotal Program Cost (IS
Page 108:
Ottawa County Planning and Grants D
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