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Community Corrections

The Community Corrections Program was established in January 2010 by the Administrative Office of the Courts to manage court-related initiatives designed to promote public safety by reducing recidivism among adult felony probationers and parolees.

The program focuses on new projects (see below) in which the California judicial branch collaborates with other branches of government and justice partners to improve public safety. Central to the program's mission is the promotion of the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) in community corrections. To learn more, please see the Community Corrections Factsheet.

Evidence-Based Practice
One of the most important reforms in state sentencing and corrections practice taking place today is the incorporation of principles of evidence-based practice (EBP). A 2006 survey of state chief justices conducted by the National Center for State Courts Getting Smarter About Sentencing found that promoting public safety and reducing recidivism through expanded use of EBP and offender risk/needs assessment tools was one of the court leaders' most important objectives in sentencing reform. On August 1, 2007 the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators adopted a Resolution in Support of Sentencing Practices that Promote Public Safety and Reduce Recidivism .

Conventional wisdom during the past 30 years has been that "nothing works" to reduce offender recidivism. Consequently, offender recidivism rates have risen today to unprecedented levels. The resulting growth in the number of individuals returning to prison for multiple stays has driven increases in corrections populations and spending. State corrections expenditures have been the fastest growing item in state budgets over the past twenty years.

Over the past decade, however, research has proven that certain approaches to corrections can effectively change the behavior of offenders and significantly reduce recidivism rates. Positive results have been achieved through implementation of "principles of effective intervention" or EBP to state sentencing practice and probation supervision. A fundamental component of Evidence-Based Practice in corrections is the use of a risk/needs assessment.

Learn more about the Community Corrections Program court-related initiatives:

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Evidence-Based Practice

This initiative provides a $45 million appropriation of federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds to be distributed over three years to all 58 California county probation departments for the purpose of providing evidence-based supervision of adult felony offenders. This is the seed money for SB 678, which establishes performance-based funding for county probation departments to support evidence-based practice for adult felon probation supervision. The act includes a provision for counties to receive a portion of state General Fund savings based on their success in reducing the number of felony probationers going to state prison because of violating their terms of probation or committing new crimes.

Probation Supervision

California Risk Assessment Pilot Project (CalRAPP)

A small group of pilot counties will participate in this project to take a more detailed look at the use of risk/needs assessments by the courts and the implementation of EBP. Funded jointly by the State Justice Institute and National Institute of Corrections, CalRAPP will focus on 18-25 year old felony offenders and explore how local justice systems make the transition to EBP and the impact of individual characteristics-such as prior criminal history or type of offense-affect the success of EBP.

Parolee Reentry Court Pilot Project

Funded as part of the corrections reform package of 2009, $9.5 million of federal Edward Byrne JAG stimulus funds are available to seven pilot courts for the purpose of establishing and operating reentry court programs for parolees with a history of substance abuse or mental illness who violate a condition of parole.

News

Using Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Information at Sentencing, Guidance for Courts from a National Woking Group
Pamela M. Casey, Roger K. Warren, and Jennifer K. Elek, National Center for State Courts, 2011.
This new publication provides guidance to help judges and others involved in the sentencing decision understand when and how to incorporate risk and needs assessment information into their decision making process.

"Probation Reform in California: Senate Bill 678"
Federal Sentencing Reporter, February 2010, Hon. Roger K. Warren.

Criminal Justice Trends: Key Legislative Changes in Sentencing Policy 2001-2010
Vera Institute of Justice, September 2010

Reforming Corrections: We've only just begun
Capitol Weekly, Nov. 19, 2009
The Legislature finally broke through nearly impassable political barriers and in September enacted a set of evidence-based reforms to California's correctional system (more).

"Recidivism and Community Corrections", California Courts Review, Fall 2008/Page 10, Michael Machado and Hon. Roger K. Warren.

Contact Info

Administrative Office of the Courts
Community Corrections Program
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688

E-mail: communitycorrections@jud.ca.gov

Phone: 415-865-7850

Fax: 415-865-8795

Criminal Justice Realignment Act Resource Center

Visit the Criminal Justice Realignment Resource Center for information and FAQs about how the Criminal Realignment Act of 2011 will impact felony sentencing and require the California state courts to take responsibility for postrelease revocation hearings.