Reform: Positively Impacting Lives from the Inside Out

SESSION INFO

Monday, August 23, 2021
3:00PM - 4:30PM
Session Type: Workshop

This presentation will highlight the initiatives that have been introduced by Community Corrections to ensure offenders have the resources to be successful while on community supervision. Initiatives introduced include intensive in reach by community corrections into the corrections facilities before the offenders release, community supervision orientations before and after release lead by Community Corrections Officers and their community partners, Reentry Centers specializing in motivational enhancement and intensive substance abuse treatment programs. Reentry Centers works together with Community Corrections Officers, utilizing community partners, to ensure offenders placed on specialized caseloads and/or with substance abuse issues are connected with services to assist with the fundamental needs to reengage successfully with their communities. Select community partners to include Community Health Associates, Prodigy Moral Recognition Therapy, and Community Medical Services medical assisted treatment are all embedded at the reentry centers. The facilities staff, counseling team and community partners work together to foster a Therapeutic Community atmosphere. Outline how the reform within Community Corrections builds working relationships between community corrections officers, community partners and the population they mutual service. A cohesive partnership allows for all involved to meet prior to release, reducing stress for all involved.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Sandi L. Hoppough
Community Corrections Manager, AZ Department of Corrections


Sandi Hoppough graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Psychology. Her career in the criminal justice system spans 32 years with experience working in adult probation, parole, prison, community corrections, and jail/prison reentry with an emphasis on use of evidence-based practices—i.e. risk/needs assessment, effective case planning, and program fidelity. Career highlights include working in the capacity of Director of Residential Services for the Lehigh County Women’s Work Release Facility in Pennsylvania, Field Operations Manager for the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative, Chief Adult Probation Officer of Yuma County Adult Probation in Arizona, and currently as Community Corrections Manager for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry which includes overseeing two Reentry Centers.


Michele Palmer Spring
Community Corrections Unit Supervisor, AZ Department of Corrections


Michele Palmer-Spring’s completed her BS in Criminal Justice/Corrections and Case Management. Michele began her career with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry in 2013 and currently works as a Unit Supervisor at the Mesa Regional Parole Office. Michele developed the Community Corrections Orientation which provides justice-involved individuals with support, motivation and encouragement to successfully complete their community supervision.


Kathleen Reyes
Deputy Warden, AZ Department of Corrections


Kathleen began her career with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry in 1999. Her first assignment after graduation from the correctional academy was with female inmates and from that point she has promoted throughout the department and has worked all custody levels, to include working with juveniles sentenced as adults. Currently Kathleen serves as the Deputy Warden of the Pima Re-entry Center and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Forensic Psychology.