Innovations to Transform Probation Supervision: An Examination of Experiences Across Eleven Agencies

• In Event: Innovations and New Direction in Community Corrections Research

Abstract

As the use of probation supervision has dramatically increased in the United States - there are approximately 4.7 million adults on probation (BJS, 2016)- state and local probation agencies have engaged in the development of innovative approaches and the implementation of evidence-based strategies in order to improve community supervision, increase public safety and reduce both probation and prison population. This paper presents findings from an examination of BJA funded smart supervision strategies and grant programs for community corrections agencies. In-depth structured phone interviews were conducted, and additional documents provided by the interviewees were reviewed. Specifically, the following innovation features were examined: (i) characteristics of the innovation, (ii) internal and external partners involved in the implementation of the project, (iii) major accomplishments of the project to date, (iv) facilitators and barriers faced during the implementation, (v) measures used to assess project outcomes, and (vi) overall lessons learned.

Authors

• Lina Maria Marmolejo, George Mason University

• James Michael Byrne, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

• Faye Taxman, George Mason University