Becoming an Evidence Based Organization: Building Capacity and Sustainability

2013 PAPPC Training Institute Workshop Descriptions

Becoming an Evidence Based Organization: Building Capacity and Sustainability

Presenter(s):Dr. David Myers, Ph. D, Dr. Daniel Lee, Ph. D, Dr. Dennis Giever, Ph. D, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Description:Within a climate of accountability, tough economic times, and declining resources, evidence-based policies, program, and practices have emerged as recommended and even required approaches for processing, treating, and supervising criminal juvenile offenders. Although many organizations have adopted various evidence-based strategies, most agencies have not developed the overall culture and methods necessary to be considered an Evidence-Based Organization (EBO) and to thrive in an evidence-based environment.

Overall, EBO’s consistently demonstrate the ability to achieve desired outcomes through effective problem-solving and informed decision-making. In doing so, they use research evidence and data to drive decisions and to develop innovative approaches to delivering services. Their overall goal is to increase the likelihood of law-abiding and health behavior, thereby improving community safety and security.

Despite the promise and popularity of the evidence-based movement, research indicates that the benefits of implanting evidences-based approaches vary based on organizational characteristics and the capacity of organizations to implement and sustain planned change. With this in mind, this presentation will cover the key elements of becoming an EBO, including knowledge of evidence-based “nuts and bolts;” demonstrating effective leadership; understanding organizational culture and assessment; engaging in strategic planning and performance measurement; and using results for organizational growth and sustainability.

The Key to Unlocking the Mystery of Human Behavior; What Color Are You?

Presenter(s):Richard P. Podgurksi, Director, Bureau of Reentry Coordination, PA Board of Probation and Parole

Description: At one time or another, everyone has reached a point where they can only shake their head and wonder, “Why do people do the things they do?” The answer may surprise you!

Fact is everyone has distinct temperament spectrum comprised of four colors: Blue, Gold, Orange and Green. Learn to identify a person’s Real Colors® and you’ll gain insight into the things that are most important to them, discover the secret of what motivates them, and much more.

Real Colors® is easy to use at work, at home, anywhere you meet people!

Learn How to Put Real Colors® to Work for You

NCTI’s exclusive Real Colors® Personality Instruments is presented in a fast, fun, interactive format where participants can learn how to quickly identify their own temperament or “color” and that of others. Using this powerful knowledge, they can develop more effective communication skills and build better relationships, in and out of the workplace.

In the Real Colors® fundamentals workshop, participants will:

-Discover their personal strengths.

-Learn to recognize the strengths of others.

-Learn how to build instant rapport with people.

-Learn the most effective methods of speaking to different people.

-Learn to hear what people are really saying.

-Discover the different ways individual’s process information.

-Learn to appreciate and value the viewpoints of others.

-Lean how to apply Real Colors® principles in all areas of their lives.

Reducing Justice Involvement for People of Mental Illness

Presenter(s): Carol A. Schubert, MPH, Senior Consultant and Dr. Amanda B. Cross, Ph. D., Research Associate, PA Mental Health and Justice Excellence Center

Description: The Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence is a collaborative effort of Drexel University and the University of Pittsburg funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency of the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services. The Center works to reduce the involvement of people with severe mental illness and often co-occurring substance use disorders by serving as a resource for technical assistance and training to the Commonwealth and counties to improve their continuum of criminal justice/behavior health services. The center uses a Sequential Intercept Model (Munetz & Griffin, 2006) to provide a conceptual framework for communities to organize targeted strategies for diversion, reentry, linkages to community services, and alternative to incarceration. The presenters will describe the types of projects the Center conducts including the Cross-Systems Mapping and Action Planning workshops offered to the counties (at no cost) an overview of the web-based resources center and on overview of potential areas the Center may offer support to probation, parole and corrections.

Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registry- Making Compliance Work

Presenter(s): Lt. Todd Harman, Pennsylvania State Police and Leo Dunn, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole

Description:An update on the implementation of the Federal Adam Walsh Act in Pennsylvania. PBPP’s Leo Dunn and PSP’s Lt. Todd Harman will discuss how the system works, what difficulties have been overcome, and what challenges are still being worked on. The session will include an explanation of the statutory mandates. Mr. Dunn is the point person for Adam Walsh issues for the PBPP and Lt. Harman is PSP’s Megan’s Law Unit Commander.

Autism and the Criminal Justice System:
Addressing Needs Sooner Rather Than Later

Presenter(s): Dr. Lawrence R. Sutton, Ph. D., Psychologist, Wesley Spectrum Services

Description:Due to unique social and communication challenges, individuals with Autism might also be at risk of committing socially inappropriate actions that reach the level of illegal, offending behaviors.

Often, the social deficits and associated with autism may impact psychosexual development to a degree where inappropriate pursuits, interests or touching may result in an act that is considered unlawful. Further, communication deficits may also impact expressed anger to a degree where violent and aggressive behaviors rather than more appropriate verbal exchanges result. Relatedly, emotional dysregulation, executive function deficits as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms may also be related to the probability of individuals with Autism committing acts which may lead them into the criminal justice community (Newman and Ghaziuddin, 2008). Indeed, researchers have found, the number of individuals with ASD who are classified as offenders in the criminal system is more than expected (Haskins & Silva, 2006). A pilot study we recently conducted found that in a Commonwealth Adolescent Development Center for sexual offense found 60% met the diagnostic criteria for an ASD and most required a non-traditional treatment intervention to (successfully) address recidivism concerns (Sutton, et.al., 2012).

This presentation will outline the objectives of the current study, which are:

1. To demonstrate how to identify developmentally delayed adolescents and young adults early in the criminal justice process to intervene before they are formally “in the system”, that is at the initial Police Officer-District Justice encounter- before entering Juvenile Court.
2. To demonstrate a screening tool that coupled with MAYSI-2 could identify individuals who likely have a developmental disorder. And how to train pre-criminal justice center staff, probation staff, as well as potentially, court staff on the use of such tools.
3. To demonstrate an efficient tool capable of defining a developmental disorder as well as other developmental, intellectual and/or emotional-psychological needs to assist judges in the juvenile system in Disposition planning on juvenile’s brought before them, particularly on first offense.
4. Finally identify the elements of an efficient/emerging best practice treatment program currently in practice to better meet learning styles and developmental deficit needs of youth and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have entered or are at risk of entering the criminal justice arena.

Reading Body Language for Probation, Parole and Corrections Officers

Presenter(s): Jerry Balistreri, Independent Certified Trainer and Consultant

Description:Reading body language is a powerful training seminar that gives you practical techniques, tools, and strategies for understanding and using non-verbal communication for the highest impact and effectiveness. Becoming a highly respected, highly influential, and highly successful communicator! Whether you are a teacher, counselor, manager, sales rep, attorney, or HR professional, the degree of career success you enjoy is virtually dictated by your skills in communicating with others on the job.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop skills in reading non-verbal “tells” both in the workplace and with friends and family members.
• Recognize the limbic system and its role in non-verbal communication.
• Dispel the myth of “fight or flight”.
• Detect deception in any situation.
• Increase positive communication that hits the mark every time.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Juvenile Justice System

Presenter(s): Kristine Demnovich, MS. PTSD Coordinator, Westmoreland County Juvenile Probation

Description:This workshop will provide an:

• Introduction of the Pennsylvania PTSD Project
• Review of the current statistics of PTSD Prevalence in the juvenile justice system
• Identification of the signs and symptoms of trauma and PTSD
• Examine vicarious trauma
• Application of self-care to prevent burn out

Overview of CLEAN PortalXL

Presenter(s): Daniel Hazlett, Director, Operation Center of the PA Board of Probation & Parole

Description: This ninety minute seminar will acquaint students with the use of PSP CLEAN PortalXL application. The PortalXL application has replaced the Qterm application as the criminal history user’s access to CLEAN, NCIC and NLETS. Participants will receive an overview of the new portal and instructions on navigating the portal. Participants will also learn some of the new queries made available in the PortalXL that were not available in the previous application such as Firearms Record of Sells, Photo Queries and the Sex Offenders Registry Tool (SORT). Participants will not receive certification and should already be a criminal history user familiar with either JNET CLEAN or the previous version of CLEAN.

JNET Updates and Highlights

Presenter(s):Eric Webb, JNET Communications Manager and David Naisby, JNET Executive Director

Description:The Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) serves as the primary criminal justice and public safety information broker within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. JNET provides users access to over 35 applications that leverage hundreds of data sources. This presentation will assist attendees in understanding what information is available and how to best access the information securely and efficiently. We will also discuss new JNET applications that are still in development as well as the impact of JNET’s availability on the internet. As users are encouraged to ask questions during the session, we will have time allotted at the end for discussion, questions and feedback.

Learning Objectives

• Attendees will have an understanding of JNET data sources and how they are accessed; including data provided by their own agencies.
• Attendees will understand what data is available on JNET and what user roles are required to access that information.
• Attendees will understand the impact of JNET’s internet migration and what policies and standards they will need to follow.

The Pennsylvania Restitution Task Force Report and the Implications

Presenter(s): Susan Blackburn, Balanced and Restorative Justice Specialist, Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research

Description: The Restitution in Pennsylvania Task Force released its report within 47 recommendations to significantly improve state laws and procedures related to the quality of restitution ordering, collecting and disbursement to crime victims. Task force members represented all through branches of state government, counties, the criminal and juvenile justice systems, advocacy groups and crimes victims. The recommendations cover a wide variety of topic areas affecting both Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. The presenter will provide an overview of the work of the Task Force, will review the recommendations and provide updates on any pertinent legislation.

Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice Recidivism Project

Presenter(s): Justine Fowler, Program Analyst, Juvenile Court Judges Commission

Description: This presentation will examine recidivism rates among youth with cases closed from Pennsylvania juvenile probation departments in 2007. Recidivism is defined as: within two years of case closure, a subsequent delinquency adjudication or criminal conviction for a felony or misdemeanor offense. In addition, recidivism outcomes related to demographic, offense and Disposition, geographic location, and program and out-of-home services variable swill be detailed. Finally, implications for future research will be discussed.

Gang Awareness and Assessment in Rival Communities: Implications for Community Connections

Presenter(s):Adam Matz, Research Associate and Mary Ann Mowatt, Research Associate, American Probation and Parole Associate

Description:There has been growing concern that gangs may have increased their presence in rural communities and small towns. The National Gang Intelligence Center reports gang members are migrating from urban areas to rural and small towns for a variety of reasons, including expansion of lucrative drug markets, member recruitment, and avoidance of the law. However, findings from the National Gang Center’s National Youth Gang Survey raise doubts as to the prevalence of gangs in rural communities, suggesting overall decreases over recent years. Nonetheless, gangs in rural areas have been found to differ from their urban counterparts in several fundamental ways. For example, they are often less stable. An arrest of a prominent gang member has the potential to cause greater disruption in rural area gangs than in urban areas. In addition, street gangs may form briefly and then dissipate without formal responses. On the other hand, formal responses may escalate the gang problem by reinforcing a gang identity. This presentation will provide participants with information on identifying substantive gang problems, the distinction between urban and rural/small town gangs, and strategies that can assist community correction agencies in the development of a response to rural gang problems.

• Identify the early signs of a substantive gang problem in rural jurisdictions
• Distinguish characteristics of gang problems in rural jurisdiction from urban jurisdiction
• Demonstrate the need to include gang membership in risk assessment
• Identify strategies and tools that can be used to assist community correction agencies in developing a response to gang problems

Understanding Schizophrenia

Presenter(s): Dr. Martin Bright, Ed. D., Associate Professor and Chairperson, Psychology Department, Thiel College

Description: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the population. Gaining an appreciation for the disorder and its symptoms will enable you to work more effectively with those that have the disorder, as well as those whose lives are impacted by a loved one with the disorder. The etiology of schizophrenia will be examined along with demographics associated features of those most commonly diagnosed. This presentation will help you understand, be able to differentiate between, and become aware of how to react to various types of delusions and hallucinations that are hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia. Other symptoms and common features of schizophrenia will be discussed. Following a review of common medications and side effects, the importance of medication compliance will be discussed along with a rationale for such. Related disorders and information necessary to make a differential diagnosis will be presented briefly. Interactions between schizophrenia and the criminal justice system will be a central focus of the presentation.

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