Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Scholarships Available to National Parole Resource Center Workshop




ANNOUNCEMENT:  TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Strategic Planning to Address the Challenges of Continuity Facing Paroling Authorities, May 20-21, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio
(Immediately Following the APAI Annual Training Conference)
                                                                                                                                                                                                               
The National Parole Resource Center (NPRC) a partnership of the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP), the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI), and the Urban Institute, supported by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is pleased to announce a workshop entitled Strategic Planning to Address the Challenges of Continuity Facing Paroling Authorities.[1]  This session will be conducted on May 20-21, 2015 immediately following the Association of Paroling Authorities International Annual Training Conference at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.  Faculty will be drawn from the National Parole Resource Center and the Urban Institute.
NPRC Background
The NPRC was established to address the documented and significant need that exists for resources and an accessible knowledge base available for a critical group of justice system practitioners – paroling authorities. The NPRC was established to provide state paroling authorities with the kind of information, guidance, and support on best practices or evidence emerging from the research needed to strengthen and make the work of state paroling authorities more effective within the larger context of the criminal justice system.
Workshop Description
This workshop will support participating paroling authority members to begin the development of a strategic approach to continuity planning.  The specific goals of the session are to:

·         Share information on the ten “Practice Targets” articulated for paroling authorities by the National Parole Resource Center—and how those targets offer specific assets to allow paroling authorities to anticipate and assure continuity through the inevitable turnover experienced by boards;
·         Assist participating paroling authority members to inventory their own jurisdiction’s progress on these targets—and how that progress can continue and be strengthened;
·         Anticipate the challenges they will be facing regarding continuity; and
·         Assist participating members to develop a set of “next steps” to enhance progress toward the Ten Practice Targets, with special attention to the ways in which that progress can support continuity in their own jurisdiction’s paroling authority operations.

NPRC to Sponsor Scholarships for a Limited Number of Parole Board Members and Potentially Other Staff 

The NPRC is pleased to announce that the project will support the participation of at least one Parole Board member from up to 30 different U.S. non-federal/military paroling authorities. The intent of the NPRC is to ensure broad- based, nationwide participation in this event. However, if applications are not received from 30 individual parole boards, the project will fill remaining slots with an additional board member, a hearing officer, or a senior staff member, from boards with one member already participating. These decisions will be made on a first come, first serve basis. Support for these 30 participants will be in the form of “scholarships” available to pay the costs of transportation, lodging, and per diem for this event. Because this event will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 and conclude at noon on Thursday, May 21, one night of lodging will be provided (Wednesday, May 20.) Please note that the room rate at the training hotel exceeds the federal per diem rate, and as such participants or their sponsoring agencies will be required to pay $26 toward their lodging expenses. While the provision of food and lodging will cover this workshop only, transportation can be arranged so as to allow for attendance at the entire APAI Annual Training Conference. (Conference registration fees and additional food and lodging costs for the remainder of the APAI conference are not covered by the NPRC scholarship.) 

        Scholarship Eligibility 

In order to be eligible for a scholarship to this event, a nominated candidate must be a member or staff of a state parole board or releasing authority within the United States; and must commit to attend the workshop in its entirety. 
In the event that not all scholarship opportunities are sought, remaining slots will be assigned to a second participant from applying paroling authorities, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Application Process

Boards may make up to two nominations:

·         First, for the available scholarship opportunity—they should nominate one Board member;
·       A second nomination may also be made (for an additional board member, a hearing officer, or a senior staff 
member), to take advantage of the opportunity in the event another scholarship becomes available. 
The deadline for receipt of the letters of application is Wednesday, March 4, 2015, however, applications will be accepted earlier than March 4 (as soon as this notice is posted), and considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Final selection decisions will be made by March 6, 2015. Potential participants should not make any travel arrangements to travel to the workshop without notification of final selection from the NPRC.

How to Apply 


In order to apply, applicants need only submit the names, titles, and email addresses of interested nominee(s) to: Leilah Gilligan, NPRC Project Manager, at lgilligan@cepp.com with the subject line “Strategic Planning Workshop at APAI” by March 4, 2015. Successful applicants will be asked to register for the workshop on line after being notified. Please contact Leilah Gilligan with questions via email or by phone at 301-589-9383.


[1] PLEASE NOTE:  This event will be convened pending final approval from BJA, which is anticipated, but has not yet been confirmed.  Until final approval is received, scholarship recipients may not make their travel arrangements.  Successful scholarship recipients will be notified of their selection and when travel arrangements can be made.  

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Victim Offender Dialogue

Thank you for everyone's participation on the APAI Webinar on January 21, 2015,  I am attaching the Victim Offender Dialogue Power Point. Click here

Friday, July 18, 2014

Parole hearings 'to treble' after 'fairness' ruling

The Parole Board says it will have to hold about 11,500 more hearings every year for prisoners who want to be released - even though there is no prospect of them being let out.

It comes after the Supreme Court said there must be more emphasis in England and Wales on "fairness" to inmates.

The Parole Board says October's ruling will treble the number of hearings, raising its costs by at least £10m.  Read more...

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Human Trafficking

Distinguishing between a willing perpretrator of criminal activity and a victim of Human Trafficing has become a hot topic for law enforcement and corrections officials. To read about some tips for making this distinction click Here

Monday, February 17, 2014

Nominations for APAI Office Open

On behalf of Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) Nominating Committee, I am hereby soliciting nominations for the office of President and the office of Treasurer of the Association. Pursuant to the APAI Constitution and By-laws these offices are up for election at the Annual Business Meeting to be conducted in conjunction with the 2014 Annual Training Conference in Denver, CO May 18 – 21 2014.

Pursuant to Section 3.4 of the APAI Constitution candidates for elected office must be individual or organizational members in good standing who are willing and able to fulfill the duties of said office, as defined in the Bylaws. Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the APAI Constitution elected officers shall serve two-year terms and may not serve for more than two elected consecutive terms in the same office.

President
  • The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, speak on the behalf of the Association, and preside over all meeting of the Association.
  • The President shall appoint Regional or Sectional Vice Presidents, and serve on the Executive and Finance Committees.
  • The President shall oversee the activities of all officers, supervise the Chief Administrative Officer and function as the liaison between the Chief Administrative Officer and the Executive Committee and be responsible for the coordination of communications between the Association membership and other criminal justice professionals and organizations.

Treasurer
  • The Treasurer shall oversee all financial affairs of the Association and provide information and support to the Finance Committee.
  • The Treasurer and Chief Administrative Officer shall submit an annual budget containing personnel, operating and related fiscal information to the Executive Committee for approval a minimum of sixty days prior to consideration.
  • The Treasurer shall present the Executive Committee approved Association budget to the membership at the Annual Business Meeting.

The Treasurer shall perform such other tasks as the President may assign. The holder of either office should be prepared to:
  • Attend in-person Executive Committee meeting(s) generally held in conjunction with the annual chairs training and/or the annual training conference.
  • Participate in monthly meetings of the Executive Committee conducted by teleconference.
  • Attend other meetings and functions as necessary to carry out the business of the association.

Interested candidates or those seeking to nominate others for either of these offices should submit a nomination including the following information:
Name of nominee:
Officer for which nomination is being made:
Name of person making nomination:
Contact Information for nominee:
Contact information for person making nominations:
Statement of nominee’s qualifications (biography):

In order to insure timely processing, nominations must be received by 5:00 PM Eastern Time, March 14, 2014. Nominations should be sent to the Chief Administrative Officer e-mail at keith@apaintl.org

Members of the Nominating Committee:
  • Trayce Thalheimer Ohio Parole Board
  • Gerald Patterson, Army Clemency and Parole Board
  • Tony Corda of the Nevada Parole Board
  • George Carson, Kentucky Parole Board
  • Lloyd Chilundika, National Parole Board of Zambia

Thursday, December 19, 2013

MInnesota Reducing Recidivism

Minnesota is experiencing promising success in reducuing recidivism through a program based upon the state's TPC model. An article from the Minnesota Depertment of Corrections TPC News Updates is reprinted below:

Issue #16,
December 18, 2013
TPC as a Foundation 
By Lee Buckley, Community Transition Coordinator

 TPC is the foundation for all reentry programming. Take, for example, the Second Chance Act (SCA) High Risk Adult Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Grant funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grant uses the Minnesota TPC model to reduce recidivism for release violators transitioning from the MCF-Lino Lakes to communities in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The project began in 2011, and is one of seven programs in the U.S. selected by the National Institute of Justice as part of a cross-site evaluation of BJA SCA Adult Reentry Demonstration projects. The project is funded and will operate through Sept. 30, 2015, and an assessment of the initial outcomes indicates a promising ability to change offender behavior and reduce new offense re-incarceration, and significant potential to reduce release revocations. A description and protocols document (posted to the TPC iShare site) details the framework of the project. Its structure includes all four components of the Minnesota TPC Linear Model with a key focus on engaging and collaborating with external stakeholders, case planning and management, and implementation of effective interventions. A “one-stop shop” community-based hub located in North Minneapolis, where offenders receive post-release case management, resources, referrals and more, serves as the core of the engagement and collaboration activity. The success of this demonstration project is a result of a dynamic team that includes staff from DOC Transitions Services, DOC Research, Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey County Community Corrections, the contracted community-based hub and four service providers, and the non-contracted providers who work collaboratively to serve this high-risk and high-need population. The success shows how effective the TPC model can be, and how it can make a difference for offendrs.

Sex Offender Training Available

The National Parole Resource Center (NPRC) a partnership of the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP), the Association of Paroling Authorities International(APAI)and the Urban Institute, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), has just announced a new scholarship opportunity for training on sex offemders. The one day workshop will be conducted on May 17, 2014, immediatelty preceeding the APAI Annual Training Conference near Denver, Colorado. This is a great opportunity for parole board and releasing authority members and staff to receive excellent training. Partiicpants may schedule their air travel in such a way so as to stay for the entire APAI Annual Training Conference. They will however be responsible for conference fees and food and lodging during the days of the confenerce To read the announcement in its entirety, including application criteria and instructions, click HERE