State of Wisconsin Probation and Parole

CHELSEA PLACE – CORRECTIONS FIELD SUPERVISOR

About Us

• Chelsea Place
• Corrections Field Supervisor – Unit 417

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Client Population

• Total Probation/Parole Populations (as of 6/9/23)
• 63,017

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• Total Inmate Population (Division of Adult Institutions) (as of 6/9/23)
• 21,197

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Probation Supervision

• Probation means your supervision is community-based. Usually, as part of probation, the court orders you to do certain things or prohibit you from doing certain things that relate to the history of your crime, including but not limited to spending time in jail, paying restitution, attending treatment or education groups, or doing community service. Your agent has a copy of the court order, which subjects you to department supervision under conditions set by the court and rules and regulations established by the DOC. If you violate the conditions of your supervision and your probation is revoked, you may have to be returned to court for sentencing.

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Probation Supervision

• Sentencing Types
• Withheld
• Imposed & Stayed

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• Conditional Jail Time

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• Conditions of Probation

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• Court Costs/Surcharges/Restitution

Parole vs. Extended Supervision

• Parole means that the Wisconsin Parole Commission has released you from prison and set your conditions of parole or you have been released from prison after reaching your mandatory release date.
• Parole consideration exists only for offenders that have committed a felony before 12/31/99, prior to the effective date of the state’s Truth-in-Sentencing law
• The Parole Commissioner is an appointee of the Governor, who determines parole eligibility
• Extended Supervision means that you have completed your prison sentence under the Truth in Sentencing law and now have a period of community supervision to complete. The judge determined the length of the extended supervision at the time of sentencing.
• Truth in Sentencing I (On or after December 31^st, 1999 – January 31^st, 2003)
• Truth in Sentencing II (On or after February 1^st, 2003 – Current)

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How Does Someone Get on Probation or Parole/Extended Supervision (ES)

• - Crime is committed
• Domestic Violence, Disorderly Conduct, Aggravated Assault, Sex Offenses, Theft, OWI, Criminal Damage to Property, Drug Possession, Drug Manufacturing/ Delivering, Battery, False Imprisonment
• - Client goes to court
• - Judge could order Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI)
• Essentially a biography of the offender and their life
• - Agent writes potential PSI
• - Offender goes back to court for sentencing
• - Judge places offender on probation or orders prison time and includes court conditions

• Probation
• Withheld
• Imposed and Stayed

- Extended Supervision (ES) or Parole

Rules of Supervision

• - Every client signs the same 18 standard Rules of Supervision
• - Failure to comply with any of these 18 rules will be considered a violation of supervision
• - Agents can add “Special Rules” where they see fit
• - Sex Offenders have standard rules and additional rules
• - Examples of special rules
• No social media
• No contact orders with people or places
• Curfews
• Treatment completion
• No alcohol/bars/taverns/liquor stores

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Victim Services/Involvement

• Victim Notification at Intake/Prison Release
• Agent sends notification to victim about services that are available through the Office of Victim’s Services.

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• Working with victims during violation investigations/proceedings
• Collecting statements and referring to proper authorities/services
• Subpoenaing and preparing for testimony in revocation proceedings

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• Provide information/guidance
• Source of information for general items related to supervision/offender
• Provide information about local services available to them

Agent Role and Responsibilities �

Helping people succeed and holding people accountable

Case Management Using:

-Evidence Based Practices; Using research based principals to help clients build skills to succeed in the community and life

-Community Based Programing and Resources; providing information and guiding clients to local resources

-Connecting with Stakeholders: such as law enforcement, victim & witness services, non-profit and other government entities in the criminal justice system

-Investigating violations and preparing reports

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Skills of an Agent�

• Communication
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Team Work
• Problem Solving
• Effective Writing
• Investigation
• Professionalism
• Adaptable to change

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

What Does a Probation and Parole Agent Do?

• Wear many different hats
• Student at Agent Basic Training (ABT)- Agents attend a 8 week academy/training to learn how to be an effective Probation and Parole Agent. This includes Principles of Subject Control (POSC) training
• Social Worker- assist clients in finding resources they need to be successful on supervision
• Investigator- Investigate supervision violations, complete residence assessments and other investigative tasks
• Police Officer- Hold client accountable for their actions when violating the terms of their supervision. Take clients into custody and transport to jail when appropriate
• Lawyer/Attorney- While attending revocation and court hearings
• Writer/Author- While writing Pre-Sentence Investigations (PSI) for court and other reports
• Counselor- While actively listening to understand clients needs while using Evidence Based Practices and Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Case Management� Probation and Parole

• Mission Statement:
• Protect the public, our staff and those in our charge.                                               
• Provide opportunities for positive change and success.
• Promote, inform and educate others about our programs and successes.
• Partner and collaborate with community service providers and other criminal justice entities.

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• Vision Statement: Every Person  -  Every Family  -  Every Community Matters

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• Role of an Agent
• Help individuals succeed
• Hold individuals accountable

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Specialty Caseloads

• Domestic Violence
• Sex Offender
• Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGI)
• Opening Avenues for Re-Entry Success (OARS)
• OWI (2/3)
• High Risk Offenders
• Vivitrol Program
• Interstate Compact Program
• Security Threat Group (STG)
• Treatment Courts
• Drug Court
• Mental Health Court
• Heroin Court
• Veterans’ Court
• OWI Court
• Bilingual Agents

COMPAS

Criminogenic Needs

Case Management� Risk/Need Assessments

• COMPAS CORE Assessment

Supervision Levels

Case Management� Case Planning

• 10-Steps Program

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Teach Skills to Reduce Risk

Write Step 4

a SMART Case Plan

Practice Skills to Reduce Risk

Reward Positive Behavior

Case Management� Case Planning continued

• SMART Goal Criteria

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Skill Practicing

• Six Steps to Skill Building
1. Introduce the Skill
2. Obtain client buy-in
3. Teach the skill following concrete steps
4. Model the skill
5. Client practices the skill
6. Provide feedback to the client

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Skill practice is expected at every office visit

Case Management� Case Planning continued

Supervision Tools� Treatment Programs

• Community-Based Programs
• AODA Treatment (Intensive Outpatient Program(IOP), Relapse Prevention, Aftercare)
• Anger Management
• Domestic Violence
• Pro-Social Companions
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Sex Offender Treatment
• Institution-Based Programs
• AODA Treatment
• Mental Health
• Domestic Violence
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Sex Offender Treatment

Supervision Tools�

• Location
• GPS Device
• Home Monitoring Device

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Alcohol Use

• Soberlink
• TAD
• IID requirement for OWI clients

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Polygraphs

• Registered Sex Offenders

Violations of Rules of Supervision

• - Client violates Rules of Supervision, Agent investigates violation, Agent completes EBRV, Agent staffs violation with their Supervisor, execute the response. Goal: public safety and accountability
• - Use a tool called an Evidence Based Response to Violation (EBRV) tool to assess violations of supervision and generates responses on how to resolve violations
• Introduced to provide consistency throughout the state
• Individualized
• Based on behavior, not new criminal charges
• - Components of Responses to Violations
• Accountability (Taking into consideration responsivity needs and barriers)
• Agent Intervention (to address criminogenic needs)
• External Interventions (Programming, treatment, specialty Court etc..)
• - Aggravating Factors vs. Mitigating Factors
• - Violation levels
• Low
• Medium
• High
• Very High

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Violations Examples

• Failure to go to Treatment
• Failure to Report to Agent less than 30 days
• Absconding
• Drug or Alcohol Use
• Violation of a No Contact
• Disorderly Conduct
• Personal Possession of Drugs
• Distribution of Drugs
• OWI
• Battery

Low

Low

Medium

Medium

Medium/High

Medium

Medium

Very High

High

High

Violations Response Examples

Low Level Responses

Medium Level Responses

High Level Responses

Very High Level Responses

• Loss of privileges
• Verbal Warning
• Additional rules added
• No contacts

• Court review
• Electronic Monitoring
• Extension of Probation
• Community Treatment
• 1-4 days in jail

• Up to 60 days in jail
• Residential based treatment
• Partial revocation
• Increase in supervision level

• Institution based programming
• Alternatives to Revocation
• Revocation

Responding to Violations� Revocations

• Plotkins Analysis
• Protect the public
• Provide treatment in a confined setting
• To not depreciate the seriousness of the violation/s
• Served with Revocation
• Can choose to waive Final Revocation Hearing/Reconfinement Hearing
• If not – Division of Hearings and Appeals will schedule a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge(ALJ)

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• Client represented by Defense Attorney
• Agent represents the State

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• ALJ renders a decision, based on evidence presented, if revocation is warranted.

Pre-Sentence Investigations

• Ordered prior to sentencing in Felony cases
• Discretion of District Attorney/Defense Attorney’s/Judge

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• Compilation of information about the offender’s life, victim’s statements and other items

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• Agent Impressions and Sentencing Recommendations

Court Appearances

• - Sentencing Hearings
• - Probation Review Hearings
• - Revocation Hearings
• - Drug Court, OWI Court, Veterans Court, Etc.

Home Visits and Home Searches

• Home Visits
• - Once every six months or as needed
• - Looking for items that SHOULD be in the home
• - Can use assistance from law enforcement if needed
• - Scheduled or unscheduled

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• Home Searches
• - Reasonable suspicion required
• - Unscheduled
• - Must have law enforcement present
• - Corrections Field Supervisor (CFS) or Regional Chief must approve
• - Meeting with law enforcement ahead of time for proper planning
• - Client will be detained while agents are searching home
• - Law Enforcement does not complete search
• - Looking for items that SHOULD NOT be in the home
• - Documentation with photos and notes on everything found
• - Can also complete car search

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Principles of Subject Control (POSC)

• - Agents complete POSC during ABT
• - Agents can take clients into custody from their office
• Client goes into the “custody room”
• 3 agents present for custody
• Two on standby
• One to search and cuff
• Escorted to custody van
• Transported to local jail
• - Restraining clients if appropriate
• - Use of OC Spray
• - Trying to use de-escalation language
• - If agent has to use force, complete Use of Force Report afterwards

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a requirement that participants report their employment and keep their address updated?

Does the Agent take steps to verify the information that is being reported?

Is there a requirement to seek/maintain employment while on supervision?

If a client reports an employer, does DOC issue a wage assignment to collect fees?

If the Child Support Agency needs to serve someone for an upcoming court action, is it possible to arrange services with the Agent?

Is there a difference between being under “community supervision” versus being on Probation?

What are some of the techniques DOC uses to build relationships with clients, while holding them accountable? How do you obtain buy-in with the clients you work with?

Is there a way for Child Support or the public see what level of supervision someone is on?

What is the process for Child Support to get addresses, employment information and contact information of clients on supervision?

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Questions?

Contact Information

• Chelsea Place
• Chelsea.Place@Wisconsin.gov
• 920-632-8609

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