Risk Reduction Oversight
Part of good probation field supervision is ensuring that offenders have the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. Rehabilitation is a long-term strategy of enhancing public safety by preventing future crimes. Because the offenders must eventually function on their own in the community, there is an emphasis on helping them find appropriate treatment services in the local area. During FY03, there were 32,194 referrals made in areas of substance abuse, educational needs, sex offender issues, employment needs, family violence issues, and others.
Recent legislation requires all probationers to submit to evaluations and testing relating to rehabilitation and participate in and successfully complete rehabilitative programming as directed by the department. This gives probation officers another tool for changing probationers’ behavior.
To address the special needs of substance abusers, Probation operates several units which provide intense programming for both addiction and life skills issues.
The Atlanta Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU)
provides individual and group counseling, drug and alcohol testing, and aftercare support for those offenders who have returned from residential substance abuse treatment. SSU serves the Atlanta Circuit.
The Griffin Risk Intervention Program for Probation and Parole (GRIPP)
offers classes, group and individual counseling or other services up to 12 hours a day. Originally GRIPP was designed for probationers with alcohol or drug problems, including offenders with problems with prescription drugs. Through collaborative agreement with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the program also serves parolees in the Griffin Circuit.
The Savannah Impact Program (SIP)
is a joint project involving the Georgia Department of Corrections, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Savannah Police Department, the Georgia Department of Labor, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and others. Staff from each of these agencies work closely together to ensure close supervision of high-risk offenders. The program provides surveillance and intense rehabilitative programming such as substance abuse counseling and treatment, individual and family counseling, Reasoning and Rehabilitation classes and Moral Reconation Therapy to change cognitive behavior, GED and other academic education, anger management, and employment training.
Day Reporting Centers
he Atlanta Day Reporting Center (ADRC) was developed as a partnership between the Georgia Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The center provides intensive substance abuse treatment for up to 125 male and female offenders who have not responded to more traditional supervision and treatment efforts. Four other Day Reporting Centers will be opening during the summer of 2004. See further materials here.
Other rehabilitative services in the probation offices are offered through Risk Reduction Services.
