VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERIC AN PROBA TION AND P AROLE A SSOCIA TION EVOLVE AND ADAPT2 PERSPECTIVES VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3 EVOLVE AND ADAPT Artifacts, Rituals, and Language I am inspired daily by the great work that probation and parole officers, supervisors, and leaders are doing across the country. I have met so many probation and parole staff who are amazingly dedicated and are truly helping those on their caseloads—and their families—find their way to better days, all while navigating their own personal lives. As we reflect on the past year and look to the future, we are reminded that our own health and well-being are important components of delivering effective interventions to people on supervision. We cannot be maximally effective if we are not in a healthy space. It is incumbent on our organizations, our leaders, and each person in our profession to make such a space for staff to be their best selves. To do this is not easy. As administrators and supervisors, we are often focused on ensuring that the people on supervision are receiving the most effective interventions, seeing that policy and procedures are being followed, and responding to innumerable crises—and with all these responsibilities we may forget the needs of the staff members who are carrying out the work. During APPA’s Leadership Summit, leaders are challenged to think about their role differently. For leaders to be successful, we have to start thinking about creating spaces where our staff can do their best. When we are successful at that, staff will come through. If we lose sight of the staff members and don’t take care of them, they cannot effectively take care of the people on supervision. Aaron Montgomery’s presentation at the Annual Institute hit home on this point. He discussed how he was able to transform the experience of selling and purchasing a used car by examining the artifacts, rituals, and language that were maintaining the old sales environment. Using this analytic, sociological approach, he helped create a different and improved experience for staff and the customers during used car sales. A process such as that might be exactly what we need if we want to shift from our current top-down, authoritative, bureaucratic model of delivering practices to a center-out, adhocracy model that focuses on staff and the people we serve. In other words, we can work to develop new artifacts, rituals, and language that allow our dedicated staff to both thrive and excel in their work. This edition of Perspectives begins to unpack some of the artifacts, rituals and language that need to change if we are to move forward and truly adopt evidence- based practices. From Maureen Buell’s article on supporting the mental health of staff to Erin Epifanio’s on stigma and responsivity for our LGBTQIA youth population, this series of articles reminds us that our language, our well-being, our staff’s professionalism, and the services we provide must continue to evolve. Many need our help to improve their lives, and I am confident that as a profession we are up to the challenge. president’s message BRIAN LOVINS PRESIDENT3 AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION EVOLVE AND ADAPT We seek to create a system of community justice where: A full range of sanctions and services provides public safety by insuring humane, effective, and individualized sentences for offenders and support and protection for victims; Primary prevention initiatives are cultivated through our leadership and guidance; Our communities are empowered to own and participate in solutions; Results are measured and direct our service delivery; Dignity and respect describe how each person is treated; Staff are empowered and supported in an environment of honesty, inclusion and respect for differences; and Partnerships with stakeholders lead to shared ownership of our vision.4 PERSPECTIVES VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3 EVOLVE AND ADAPT from the executive director VERONICA CUNNINGHAM APPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO This quarter we greet another excellent issue of Perspectives. The editors have again assembled a set of interesting articles, and those selected for this issue will increase your understanding in diverse areas. As noted by the editors, each of these pieces in some respect touches on adaptation and change—be it new challenges, new technologies, or new knowledge—all coming together to show us how to do better on a variety of fronts. And we can always do better! If you are like me, the same thing happens again and again. I may think I have an adequate working knowledge in a subject area. Then, if I open myself up to the perspective of true experts and learn about new research, I’m amazed at the insights I’ve gained and at the shift in how I comprehend the big picture. It is gratifying to have the opportunity to learn. And I always appreciate reminders about the importance of thinking about and planning for moving forward. I once saw a poster that said, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Well, those in our profession didn’t get run over as we adapted to COVID-19 contingencies, and we will not get run over by future challenges if we remember that change is inevitable and see the need to adapt and evolve as an opportunity, not a burden. Truly, though, what caught me most as I read these articles was the human element. Nancy McCarthy’s article on Alcoholics Anonymous made me think about those who need and benefit from having this resource. Erin Epifanio’s overview on the intersection of LGBTQ youths and the criminal justice system made me reflect on the burdens carried by diverse individuals who are pushing for full acceptance and pride. I couldn’t read Anthony Tatman’s excellent piece on how to identify the best applicants without reflecting on personality and character and how having the right people on one’s team is crucial. The timely words of Maureen Buell on staff stress and wellness concerns made me think of friends and coworkers over the years who have faced such issues. Finally, the description of probation changes in Florida by Joe Winkler made me think about the thousands of individuals who “wrote” that story with their hard work. I thank each the authors who have submitted these valuable articles and the editorial board of Perspectives for their hard work. Good job!5 AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION EVOLVE AND ADAPT editor’s notes JASON STAUFFER ASSESSMENT AND CLASSIFICATION SERVICES SUPERVISOR, TREATMENT SERVICES DIVISION, BUREAU OF REENTRY COORDINATION, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS KIMBERLY R. KRAS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY Adapting and evolving is a highly valued survival skill regardless of setting. In nature, it is survival of the fittest. In the corporate world, companies unable to adapt to marketing trends and changing demographics go out of business. In our business of community corrections, an inability to be flexible in approach is a detriment to both the clients and communities we serve. While community corrections agencies may not “go out of business,” we become extremely ineffective when we rigidly adhere to outdated models as times change. In the private sector, a new business emerges to satisfy a market need. In the public sector, our ability to maintain public safety through improving individual lives and reducing recidivism suffers if we are unresponsive to the community’s needs. Unlike in the private sector, nothing follows to right the ship. It is therefore crucial to our mission that we have an intrinsic desire to adapt and evolve. Desire to adapt and evolve is merely a mindset. Having the mindset is meaningless if we do not have the ability to do so effectively. This issue of Perspectives is devoted to research, commentary, and example programs that have successfully adapted to changing circumstances or have been implemented as a result thereof. As the result of COVID-19, many programs and agencies began leveraging technology to become effective in a world where in-person meetings were either discouraged or not permitted. Nancy McCarthy provides the Perspectives audience with a look at how Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) persevered through the pandemic and how some new practices can support officers in helping AA continue to meet its objectives. In doing so, McCarthy highlights the importance of community corrections practitioners’ understanding of and collaboration with AA. Joe Winkler, Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections in the Florida Department of Corrections, submits an article entitled “Probation-Past, Present, and Future.” He describes the evolution of community corrections in Florida with examples of precipitating events across place and time that guided the way Florida “does business,” ultimately informing present day operations. We are confident that many 6 PERSPECTIVES VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3 EVOLVE AND ADAPT Perspectives readers will be interested in comparing the evolution of programs in their own states with those in Florida and seeing how Florida handled—and is still dealing with—challenges like those they have faced. Of particular interest is the insight Mr. Winkler provides into the future of community corrections regarding the use of technology, client communication enhancement, and reducing office “footprint.” It has been a long time coming, but the field is finally acknowledging and beginning to deal with issues related to employee wellness. In “What about Us? Correctional Staff Health and Wellness,” Maureen Buell, of the National Institute of Corrections, provides a thorough accounting of specific actions taken across the country by many associations and federal/state agencies to enhance the health and well-being of staff. Those working in our field can experience significant work-related trauma and encounter a myriad of stressors, and for agencies to adapt and evolve to help with these issues will be a significant step forward—one that can enhance and perhaps even save the lives of staff. Increased understanding is often the key to changing course, evolving, and growing, and this is especially true in our field, where we aspire to be driven by science to attain desired results. LGBTQ youth and their involvement in the criminal justice system are ripe for expanded research. Erin Epifanio enlightens the Perspectives audience with what is known and what needs to be known on this topic in “LGBTQ Youths’ Responsivity Needs Under the Risk-Needs-Responsivity Model.” Understanding and attending to the needs of clients related to their gender identity is of utmost importance in our quest to be responsive in the field. Finally, we are pleased to be jolted out of our previous hiring practices by learning from Anthony Tatman of Critical Hire, PLC, about new tools for corrections agencies to use in finding the best fit when filling staff vacancies. In “Three Assessments That Will Help Correctional Agencies Hire Top Performers,” Tatman describes how assessments can help identify candidates who have integrity and psychological health. Such an advance makes a great deal of sense—especially in agencies that strongly believe in the science of actuarial risk/need assessments for the populations that they serve. As we begin returning to normal, we should reflect on how much we have changed in community corrections in order to survive and thrive over the past year and a half. The need to adapt and evolve is not new to our field, but it certainly came to the forefront--and quite rapidly. From this experience we have learned that we can change course and adopt new practices very quickly and effectively when necessary. Change always comes, whether incremental or not, and it is good to have our eyes open, with a clear vision of our way forward and without anxiety. With that in mind, it is hoped that this issue of Perspectives helps you reflect on your own experiences as well as those of others and, in fact, serves to give you perspectives! Kim and Jason 8 PERSPECTIVES VOLUME 45, NUMBER 3 EVOLVE AND ADAPT instructions to authors Perspectives disseminates information to the American Probation and Parole Association’s members on relevant policy and program issues and provides updates on activities of the Association. The membership represents adult and juvenile probation, parole, and community corrections agencies throughout the United States and abroad. Articles submitted for publication are screened by an editorial committee and, on occasion, selected reviewers, to determine acceptability based on relevance to the field of criminal justice, clarity of presentation, or research methodology. Perspectives does not reflect unsupported personal opinions. Articles must be emailed to deadlines: Unless previously discussed with the editors, submissions should not exceed 12 typed pages, numbered consecutively, and double-spaced. All charts, graphs, tables, and photographs must be of reproduction quality. Optional titles may be submitted and selected after review with the editors. All submissions must be in English and in American Psychological Association (APA) Style. Authors should provide a one-paragraph biography, along with contact information. Notes should be used only for clarification or substantive comments, and should appear at the end of the text. References to source documents should appear in the body of the text with the author’s surname and the year of publication in parentheses, e.g., to (Mattson, 2015, p. 73). Alphabetize each reference at the end of the text using the following format: Mattson, B. (2015). Technology supports decision making in health and justice. Perspectives , 39 (4), 70- 79. Hanser, R. D. (2014). Community corrections (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. While the editors of Perspectives reserve the right to suggest modifications to any contribution, all authors will be responsible for, and given credit for, final versions of articles selected for publication. Submissions will not be returned to contributors. Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences American Correctional Association Association of Paroling Authorities International Association of Women Executives in Corrections AZ Chief Probation Officers Association AZ Probation Parole and Corrections Association Chief Probation Officers of CA Confederation of European Probation Correctional Leaders Association Crime Prevention Coalition of America / National Crime Prevention Council Dismas Charities, Inc. IJIS Institute IN Association of Community Correction Act Counties International Community Corrections Association Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision MN Association of Community Corrections Act Counties MN Association of County Probation Officers MN Corrections Association National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies National Association of Probation Executives New England Council on Crime and Delinquency New York State Probation Officers Association New Zealand Association of Probation Officers NY State Council of Probation Administrators OH Chief Probation Officers Association OR Juvenile Dept. Directors’ Assn. Probation and Community Corrections Officers Association Probation Association of New Jersey Probation Officers Association of Wielkopolska Probation Officers Professional Association of IN SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services VA Probation and Parole Association Westmoreland County Adult Probation WV Association of Probation Officers appa affiliate members9 AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION EVOLVE AND ADAPT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: A FRESH LOOK DURING COVID-19 BY NANCY MCCARTHY PROBATION- PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE JOE WINKLER, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WHAT ABOUT US? CORRECTIONAL STAFF HEALTH AND WELLNESS MAUREEN BUELL, CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS LGBTQ YOUTHS’ RESPONSIVITY NEEDS UNDER THE RISK- NEED-RESPONSIVITY MODEL BY ERIN (KATHERINE) EPIFANIO BY ERIN (KATHERINE) EPIFANIO THREE ASSESSMENTS THAT WILL HELP CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES HIRE TOP PERFORMERS ANTHONY TATMAN, PH.D. CRITICAL HIRE, PLC 13 23 35 47 55 departments 10 PRODUCTION STAFF 11 APPA CORPORATE MEMBERS featuresNext >