Presentation on the Phase 1 Report on theHome Confinement Program

Orange County, Florida

August 6, 2013

Phase 1 Scope of Work Evaluate relevant home confinement statutes and judicial

administrative orders.

Evaluate the risk and liability elements of the program.

Review of the organizational structure and supervisory oversight of the home confinement program.

Analyze and assess home confinement staffing levels and caseloads.

Assess and analyze the program’s use of technology.

Evaluate the feasibility of privatization.

Analysis of the potential of discontinuing home confinement.

Project Methodologies

Interviewed Community Corrections, home confinement and justice system stakeholders to understand the use and issues with the program.

Collected program trend data for assignments and completions.

Developed a detailed database of assignments to home confinement in 2012.

Conducted a survey of similar programs in Florida and elsewhere to compare features which could be utilized in Orange County.

Analyzed the program and opportunities for improvement.

Throughout the study process met with the County and Community Corrections to discuss facts, issues and alternatives.

Home Confinement Program Trends While the program is currently suspended, its use had declined

over the past 5 years – by 32%.

The length of time assignments participated in the program increased by 9% over the period (from 74 days to 81 days).

The number of “successful” completions are up over the period and judicial revocations down.

The Types of Alleged Offenders in the Program Last Year Almost 70% of assignments were charged with felonies.

Most assignments were in the program as a condition of bail: 60% had bails under $5,000 (78% under $10,000); even the

majority of felony assignments had bail under $10,000.

Only 2% had significant bails over $50,000.

About 16% of assignments had two or more violent felony convictions (but 68% of felons had at least one prior conviction for any charge); over 21% had a prior failure to appear.

The average assignment had a field visit every 9 days and more serious offenders had about the same frequency of visits.

Lessons from Other Home Confinement Programs

The project team successfully contacted five (5) counties in Florida and three (3) out of state.

All of the surveyed counties had electronic monitoring programs in use, most for as long as Orange County.

Most counties had more restrictive criteria for the types of alleged offenders who could be in the program.

Staffing levels and caseloads varied – with Orange County in the upper range of caseloads compared to other jurisdictions.

Most counties utilized a more ‘active’ approach to monitoring program assignments.

All other counties had transitioned to GPS technologies.

Major Conclusions in thePhase 1 Final Report The home confinement program as it operated prior to its

suspension had a number of issues which increased its risks: It had a large number of serious offenders in the program; moreover,

bails were very low even for serious offenders.

Caseloads were relatively high.

Assignments were not always actively monitored.

Home confinement is a useful tool in the ‘spectrum of supervision’ available to the County.

A renewed program should address these issues by: Assigning fewer and less serious offenders.

Address management, supervision and policy issues.

Use more credible technology and actively monitor cases.

How the Home Confinement Program Should Be Structured Continue to utilize electronic surveillance as a tool to monitor alleged

offenders and sentenced individuals.

The County’s Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) should be formally constituted and charged with developing criteria which meets the needs of the program.

Offense characteristics should be for less serious offenses and for people who have performed satisfactorily in prior justice contacts.

The PSCC should also develop performance standards and receive reports from CCD about program performance.

The judiciary needs to be better briefed on the range of pre-trial release options available as well as program results.

The Home Confinement Program should be merged with the Pre-Trial Release Program.

How the Home Confinement Program Should Be Staffed and Operate Hire or transfer 9 Senior Community Corrections Officers to handle

cases and 3 Correctional Aids for 24 hour GPS monitoring.

With reduced caseloads the number of field visits should be increased.

Alter shift schedules and assignments; cross train staff.

Rely on the private sector to provide and maintain the most up to date technology; active monitoring should remain a County responsibility.

Make changes to intake risk assessment approaches and better tie to individual supervision plans.

Eliminate the use of RF technology and switch entirely to GPS.

Enhance technologies – anti-tampering and movement monitoring.

Staff need to better initially trained and receive continuing training.

Strengthen guidelines for using OCSO to assist with field visits.