Community Supervision in a Post-Rational Environment

SESSION INFO

Monday, January 6, 2020
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Session Type: Workshop

Community Supervision in a Post-Rational Environment Cary Heck, Ph.D. and Leslie Schaefer Much has been written about the ineffectiveness of probation in deterring the long slog toward incarceration. Probation departments are being faced with increasingly difficult populations. Many of the clients sentenced to probation present with significant social maladies including homelessness, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Traditional probation approaches that rely heavily on rational choice models are proving to be largely ineffective with many of these high risk/high need clients. The principles of risk/need responsivity are important cornerstones for probation departments but for the responsivity model to work probationers need to access the services that are available to them. This presentation is about defining a model that helps to stabilize and engage clients with probation prior to putting significant demands on them.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Cary Heck
Chief Probation Officer, CO Division of Probation Services


Dr. Cary Heck is the Chief Probation Officer for Denver Adult Probation. He has worked as a practitioner, administrator, researcher, and tenured professor in the field of criminal justice for 30 years. As the Chief Executive of the Denver Adult Probation Department, Dr. Heck has worked to get his agency focused on the mission of helping to create long-term, pro-social behavioral change among clients. Additionally, he is working with the local criminal bench and other agencies to embrace and actively participate in evidence-based sentencing. Dr. Heck has served as the Director of Research for the National Drug Court Institute and been instrumental in developing and publishing materials related to drug court evaluation and performance measures. Dr. Heck also serves as a consultant for several states and localities on substance abuse and crime issues including policy formulation, program administration, and management information systems.


Leslie Schaefer
Chief Probation Officer, First Judicial District


Leslie Schaefer has served the First Judicial District (1st JD) Probation Department for over 31 years with the last five in the role of Chief. The 1st JD covers the western suburbs of the Denver metropolitan area and the probation department serves over 8, 000 clients with over 135 staff members. Under Leslie’s leadership the department has developed innovative responses to difficult populations including the development of several “Stabilization Teams” for high need clients and a standardized behavior modification response for drunk driving offenders that has reduced incidences of use while on probation. Leslie has served her community through various boards and organizations including the Community Corrections Board, Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, Child Youth Leadership Commission and the Court Services Advisory Board. In 2016 Leslie was elected Chair of the Colorado Chief Probation Officer’s Council. Prior to serving as Chief, Leslie had a remarkable 20 career as a probation officer followed by several years as a supervisor. She is an Expert Trainer for assessments including the LSI and has expertise in writing Pre-Sentence Investigations.