American Probation and Parole Association c/o The Council of State Governments  P.O. Box 11910                        Lexington, KY 40578-1910    FAX (859) 244-8231 http://www.appa-net.org Contact: Karen Fuller (859) 244-8196 kfuller@csg.org Released 1-07-00

Wouldn’t you think a system created 62 years ago to track offenders across state lines needed changes? So does the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) and that’s why we endorse the newly titled Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision.

The existing Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Parolees and Probationers was created when only a few thousand offenders were being supervised in states other than where they were sentenced. Today that number exceeds a quarter of a million parolees and probationers.

The newly titled Interstate Compact’s for Adult Offender Supervision purpose is to provide an updated and enhanced framework, which does not exist in the current compact. The compact will promote public safety and protect victims rights through the controlled and regulated supervision of interstate movement of offenders. It will also provide for improved tracking and supervision of offenders by the sending and receiving states and territories.

The newly structured Interstate Compact creates a management structure which will better ensure public safety by establishing a State Councils, a National Commission, and an Executive Committee.

• Each State Council will appoint a commissioner who shall represent them on the Interstate Commission. Each state councils’ membership must include at least one representative from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, victims groups and a compact administrator.
• The National Commission will consist of voting members from all 50 states.
• The Executive Committee will oversee the day-to-day activities managed by the Executive Director and Interstate Commission and will act on behalf of the Interstate Commission when it is not in session, with the exception of rulemaking and/or amendments to the Compact.

To go into effect the compact must be adopted by a minimum of 35 states and each state must adopt identical language. If legislatively enacted by no less than 35 states, the compact would become operational and binding upon participating states on July 1, 2001, or upon enactment into law by the 35^th jurisdiction. No amendment to the Compact itself will become effective and binding unless it is enacted into law by the unanimous consent of the Compacting States.

The Commission and the revised compact will receive funding from an annual assessment to each state. The key components of funding include, but are not limited to a state’s population and the volume of interstate movement of offenders.

To receive more information or get a copy of the revised compact and a projected fiscal note, contact John Mountjoy at the Council of State Governments (CSG) at jmountjoy@csg.org or (606) 244-8256.