Probation & Parole Probation & Parole

Group Members:Group Members: Laura Wynn Meloni CarterLaura Wynn Meloni Carter Whit Sheppard Juan MartinezWhit Sheppard Juan Martinez Stacy Rudd Stacy Rudd

EAST Project EAST Project PresentationPresentation

Laura

EAST ProjectEAST ProjectWhat is EAST Project and how are weWhat is EAST Project and how are weinvolved? involved? EEnvironmental nvironmental AAnd nd SSpatialpatial TTechnologiesechnologies EAST Project is commonly used by EAST Project is commonly used by

high school students, but was high school students, but was recently introduced to college recently introduced to college students.students.

Laura

EAST Project EAST Project

We were given 1 semester (11 weeks) We were given 1 semester (11 weeks) to complete our project. to complete our project.

For several weeks, we had the For several weeks, we had the opportunity to spend 1 class period opportunity to spend 1 class period dedicated to our project. dedicated to our project.

Total hours spent on the project Total hours spent on the project between all group members = 100+ between all group members = 100+ hours hours

Laura

EAST Project EAST Project

The criteria for our project selection: The criteria for our project selection: It must be relevant to the field of It must be relevant to the field of

probation & parole. probation & parole. It must serve a need in the It must serve a need in the

community and be able to community and be able to successfully meet that purpose.successfully meet that purpose.

We had a general idea for our project, We had a general idea for our project, and once we talked with Mr. Russell, a and once we talked with Mr. Russell, a more organized plan began to form. more organized plan began to form.

Laura

EAST Project – Relevant to EAST Project – Relevant to Probation & ParoleProbation & Parole

Our project is an extension of Our project is an extension of EmploymentEmployment

Resources group training program Resources group training program piloted bypiloted by

Steven Russell from the Washington Steven Russell from the Washington CountyCounty

Probation/Parole Office. Probation/Parole Office.

Laura

EAST Project – Relevant to EAST Project – Relevant to Probation & ParoleProbation & Parole

Current program contains 8 modules that Current program contains 8 modules that assists selected P & P candidates in assists selected P & P candidates in learning about:learning about: Career planningCareer planning Interests and skillsInterests and skills Incorporating those interests and skills Incorporating those interests and skills

into a careerinto a career Learning decision making skillsLearning decision making skills Researching the needed education and Researching the needed education and

trainingtraining

Laura

EAST Project – Relevant to EAST Project – Relevant to Probation & ParoleProbation & Parole

Our group project was a “Testing Our group project was a “Testing Module 9” in which we assisted in Module 9” in which we assisted in jumpstarting their careers by:jumpstarting their careers by: Utilizing the information and skills Utilizing the information and skills

they learned in the previous modules they learned in the previous modules and incorporating into a actual and incorporating into a actual interview. interview.

Helping them “Dress for Success”Helping them “Dress for Success” Increasing employment opportunities Increasing employment opportunities Teaching them to make a good first Teaching them to make a good first

impression impression

Juan

EAST Project – Community EAST Project – Community AspectAspect

We are assisting the community in We are assisting the community in many ways by:many ways by: Helping recently released felons Helping recently released felons

become an independent, productive become an independent, productive member of society.member of society.

Teaching them not to rely on public Teaching them not to rely on public assistance, but rather provide them assistance, but rather provide them with job opportunities.with job opportunities.

Giving them the opportunity to use Giving them the opportunity to use the skills they learned in order to the skills they learned in order to avoid becoming repeat offenders. avoid becoming repeat offenders.

Juan

EAST Project – Why we chose EAST Project – Why we chose this projectthis project

There are many repeat offenders, and There are many repeat offenders, and we chose a program to assist in finding a we chose a program to assist in finding a solution to this problem.solution to this problem. This project provides a positive This project provides a positive

reinforcement reinforcement It serves as a need within the communityIt serves as a need within the community Assists probation and parole officers to Assists probation and parole officers to

reduce their workload reduce their workload Assists offenders that may not know how to Assists offenders that may not know how to

go through this process go through this process We are testing a key part of the We are testing a key part of the

Employment Resources Group Training Employment Resources Group Training program program

Whit

EAST Project - ResultsEAST Project - Results Our first initiative was to work with Mr. Our first initiative was to work with Mr.

Steven Russell to develop possible Steven Russell to develop possible candidates for our program. candidates for our program.

We decided to call our program: P&P We decided to call our program: P&P Staffing Services. Staffing Services.

Once we had viable candidates for the Once we had viable candidates for the program, we gathered 8 basic interview program, we gathered 8 basic interview questions that would be used during all questions that would be used during all telephone interviews. telephone interviews.

The candidates answers would then be The candidates answers would then be entered into a “Newsletter” that would be entered into a “Newsletter” that would be sent to local organizations for recruiting sent to local organizations for recruiting use. use.

Whit

EAST Project – Results Cont.EAST Project – Results Cont. We interviewed a total of 9 candidates. We interviewed a total of 9 candidates. Our goal was to help those that were on Our goal was to help those that were on

probation, understand their qualifications probation, understand their qualifications and really think about what careers or and really think about what careers or jobs they would like to look into. jobs they would like to look into.

Everyone was interviewed individually, Everyone was interviewed individually, via speaker phone. via speaker phone.

This process helped us understand that This process helped us understand that several people, although they may have several people, although they may have been felons, were qualified for many jobs been felons, were qualified for many jobs available in today’s workforce. available in today’s workforce.

Meloni

EAST Project – Results EAST Project – Results The technology used was different The technology used was different

than what we originally had planned. than what we originally had planned. We did not use a video camera for the We did not use a video camera for the

interviews. We used a speaker phone interviews. We used a speaker phone and on two separate days interviewed a and on two separate days interviewed a total of 9 individuals. total of 9 individuals.

We had limited camera use for pictures. We had limited camera use for pictures. Mr. Russell took the pictures of the Mr. Russell took the pictures of the candidates that we interviewed and e-candidates that we interviewed and e-mailed them to us. These pictures were mailed them to us. These pictures were used in the newsletter. used in the newsletter.

Meloni

EAST Project - Results EAST Project - Results Continued….Continued….

Through our initiative, Mr. Russell Through our initiative, Mr. Russell has partnered with Juan to create a has partnered with Juan to create a web page. Although the web page web page. Although the web page is still in the infancy stage of is still in the infancy stage of development, the result with a development, the result with a valuable tool in which potential valuable tool in which potential employers can access. employers can access.

Meloni

EAST Project – Bottom LineEAST Project – Bottom Line As a group, we learned how to delegate

projects and the “to-do’s” for deadlines that had to be done.

We learned the importance of communication with each other and in keeping the line of communication open among the group members.

We learned the importance of being respectful and giving everyone another chance regardless of what mistakes they may have made.

Meloni

EAST Project – Bottom LineEAST Project – Bottom Line

We learned how we can make a difference in peoples’ lives.

We learned how working as a group can accomplish so much more than working individually.

We learned how an idea can become a project and in turn can have the opportunity to change lives.

Meloni

Community Contacts Community Contacts Steven Russell, Staff Development Steven Russell, Staff Development

Specialist with Washington County Specialist with Washington County Probation and Parole, Fayetteville, AR Probation and Parole, Fayetteville, AR

Jerry Rose, Program Coordinator for Jerry Rose, Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice, Northwest Arkansas Criminal Justice, Northwest Arkansas Community CollegeCommunity College

Dianne Phillips, EAST Project Dianne Phillips, EAST Project Facilitator, Northwest Arkansas Facilitator, Northwest Arkansas Community CollegeCommunity College

Mr. Steven RussellMr. Steven Russell

Staff Development Specialist with Staff Development Specialist with Washington County Probation and Washington County Probation and

Parole, Fayetteville, ARParole, Fayetteville, AR

What I learned from the EAST What I learned from the EAST Project – Laura WynnProject – Laura Wynn

I learned that school projects can really I learned that school projects can really make a difference in the communities. make a difference in the communities.

I learned that for those people that do I learned that for those people that do try, they just need to have a few doors try, they just need to have a few doors opened for them.opened for them.

I learned that there are many people out I learned that there are many people out there, such as Mr. Russell, that took time there, such as Mr. Russell, that took time out of his busy schedule to listen to us out of his busy schedule to listen to us and to hear our idea. and to hear our idea.

This project helped me to open my mind This project helped me to open my mind about various opportunities within the about various opportunities within the probation and parole system. probation and parole system.

What I learned from the EAST What I learned from the EAST Project – Juan Martinez Project – Juan Martinez

What I have learned about the project is What I have learned about the project is that it makes me feel good to help others, that it makes me feel good to help others, especially those in need of a second especially those in need of a second chance. It also helps me to develop my skill chance. It also helps me to develop my skill in communications with others not only in in communications with others not only in our group but also in society. I learned that our group but also in society. I learned that communication is the key to success, and communication is the key to success, and that is what we did during this project, I am that is what we did during this project, I am glad to be part of this EAST Project.glad to be part of this EAST Project.

What I learned from the EAST What I learned from the EAST Project – Whit SheppardProject – Whit Sheppard

I feel that this EAST project has opened I feel that this EAST project has opened my eyes to what other people go my eyes to what other people go through when they make a serious through when they make a serious mistake. For us to help these people mistake. For us to help these people be able to get a job back is great. be able to get a job back is great. They have already proved to society They have already proved to society that they are willing to change their old that they are willing to change their old behaviors, so I feel that society owes it behaviors, so I feel that society owes it to them to give them a second chance.to them to give them a second chance.

What I learned from the EAST What I learned from the EAST Project – Meloni CarterProject – Meloni Carter

The EAST project led me to understand the plight The EAST project led me to understand the plight of those who are on probation and parole. I of those who are on probation and parole. I never really placed myself in their shoes in order never really placed myself in their shoes in order to see how hard it was to get back on your feet. to see how hard it was to get back on your feet. Everything you need to do begins with getting a Everything you need to do begins with getting a job. So many have self-esteem issues and are job. So many have self-esteem issues and are ashamed of the crime they committed whether ashamed of the crime they committed whether it is from addiction or a bad choice in their life. it is from addiction or a bad choice in their life. The project itself has allowed me to delve into The project itself has allowed me to delve into this issues and hopefully create an easier way this issues and hopefully create an easier way for these people to gain employment and for these people to gain employment and become an active member in their community become an active member in their community and the lives of their families. and the lives of their families.

This is so important to our community as it grows This is so important to our community as it grows bigger, to lower the crime rate by hopefully bigger, to lower the crime rate by hopefully lowering the amount of repeat offenders that we lowering the amount of repeat offenders that we have involved in themhave involved in them. .