Trends in Probation and Parole in the States
by Bill Burrell (reproduced with permission from the Council of State Governments, Book of the States, 2005.)

Domestic Violence and the Role of Community Corrections
This interactive computer-based instructional program was originally developed for New York State probation officers. With the permission of the organizations that developed it, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has adapted the program for a broader audience through its project, Protecting Victims Through Community Supervision of Intimate Partner Abusers, funded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

The APPA project has developed a set of 41 guidelines for the community supervision of domestic violence offenders. This computer-based instructional program provides fundamental information about working with domestic violence cases upon which community corrections officers can build skills to implement the APPA guidelines.

The goal of this course is to assist community corrections officers in understanding the nature and dynamics of domestic violence. This training program was developed to focus on the serious nature of domestic violence. The information in the course focuses on the important role of community corrections officers in supporting the safety of victims of domestic violence while holding offenders accountable for the abuse of their intimate partners.

This course has been approved for three continuing education contact hours by the American Probation and Parole Association. Upon completing the course and passing the course examination with a score of 80% or higher, you may submit your Notice of Completion that will be generated by the software with a signature from your supervisor and receive a Continuing Education Certificate from APPA. Instructions will be furnished at the conclusion of the course and examination.

The course can be viewed and completed by inserting the CD in a personal computer and consists of six lessons and a comprehensive examination. To receive a free copy of this CD, complete a brief request form. The CD will be mailed to you within two weeks. (Limit one per person while supplies are available.)

Functional Standards Development for Automated Case Management Systems for Probation
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has developed a document defining functional standards for effective automated case management systems for probation. The standards were reviewed, edited, and enhanced by a Standards Development Team composed of probation practitioners, criminal justice information technology experts, and information system vendors, and they were disseminated for public comment. Thus, the final document represents input and feedback from a broad and varied audience. Download: PDF | WORD

The Three "R"s of Reentry
Currently there is a significant amount of attention focused on the large number of offenders who are being released from prison to communities across the country. Leadership and support from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs have created opportunities to discuss, plan and implement new strategies to more effectively deal with offenders who are going home.

This white paper is intended to be just that: an opportunity to create a dialogue about offender reentry from a victim-, family, and harm centered perspective.

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Offender Supervision with Electronic Technology: 
A User’s Guide
The document is designed to help readers understand and appreciate the process needed to incorporate and implement electronic supervision strategies within justice system programs. It was developed for agency staff that want either to introduce electronic supervision as a new program component or enhance the use of electronic supervision that has already been implemented. The document is divided into five sections, and by reading each of these sequentially, the steps for developing or enhancing electronic supervision strategies will be apparent. However, sections or chapters may be read independently if program staff needs additional information about a particular topic. Download: PDF

Promising Victim-Related Practices and Strategies in Probation and Parole
Identify the elements of exemplary victim-related probation and parole practices.  This book will provide your agency with specific direction of the development and implementation of promising victim-related services and programs.  This compendium is available to you at no cost from the Office for victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC) by calling 1-800-627-6872.  Reference publication number NCJ 166606.  Download: PDF

Successful Transition and Reentry for Safer Communities: A Call to Action for Parole
Authors: Peggy Burke, Michael Tonry
The release each year of hundreds of thousands of people from prison to communities all across America has established offender reentry as a high profile issue on national and state policy agendas. The urgency of this call to action stems from several critical factors. First, a major proportion of offenders failing upon reentry – and returning to prison – are doing so as a result of parole violations and revocations. Second, one of the most basic and compelling lessons emerging form the research about enhancing successful reentry is the importance of targeting resources to higher risk offenders according to needs relating to their criminality. Third, paroling authorities are well positioned to reduce the severe fragmentation that hampers criminal justice system efforts. Lastly, this is an urgent call to action because the window of opportunity will not remain open indefinitely. Download: PDF

National Youth Court Guidelines
Developed by the National Youth Court Center, the National Youth Court Guidelines are designed to give youth courts direction for developing and operating effective programs for the ultimate purpose of increasing program accountability and integrity of the “youth court field.” Each chapter begins with a brief overview of the guidelines that are recommended for that particular program area. Afterwards, each guideline is discussed in more detail. A rationale for each guideline, as well as tips for implementing each guideline is included. At the conclusion of each chapter there is a section that identifies some outcomes youth court programs might reasonably expect if they adhere to the recommendations made in the guidelines.

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