Seeding the Ground & Changing the Culture of Corrections Dudley Bush, M.S. Administrator, Cognitive & Reentry Se

1. Seeding the Ground & Changing the Culture of Corrections Dudley Bush, M.S. Administrator, Cognitive & Reentry Services Jean Mottley, Ph.D. Administrator, Programs & Case Management Services

2. Presentation Overview • In this presentation , we will • Describe the steps that preceded the creation of the Virginia Adult Re-entry Initiative (VARI) • Discuss the VARI Plan • Describe the challenges in implementing Virginia’s re-entry model • Describe the re-entry model in detail • Entertain Questions

3. VADOC Mission • The Department of Corrections enhances public safety by providing effective programs, re-entry services, and supervision of sentenced offenders in a humane, cost-efficient manner, consistent with sound correctional principles and constitutional standards.

4. Laying the Foundation • Key Components Underway Prior to 2010: • Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) Pilot Sites • Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) Risk/Needs Assessment • VirginiaCORIS –VADOC’s Offender Management System • Cognitive Community Model

5. Importance of Re-entry Efforts • "Effective re-entry policies can improve public safety, reduce victimization, improve outcomes for offenders returning to their communities, and favorably impact recidivism. A by-product of effective re-entry will be a reduction in cost to state and local governments." - Governor Robert F. McDonnell

6. Virginia Adult Re-entry Initiative (VARI) • On May 11, 2010, Governor McDonnell signed Executive Order Number Eleven establishing the Virginia Prisoner and Juvenile Offender Re-entry Council and tasked the members with developing collaborative re-entry strategies.

7. VARI Mission • The mission of the VARI is to promote public safety and reduce crime by preparing offenders for success through a continuum of services and supervision, in collaboration with state and local partners, from the time of the offender’s entry into prison through his or her transition and reintegration in the community. • It is a four year strategic plan: July 2010 – July 2014.

8. VARI Goals: Seeding the Ground & Changing the Culture of Corrections • VARI Goal #1:To enhance public safety by shifting the organizational culture from a primary focus on risk control to include risk and recidivism reduction through offender change • VARI Goal #2: To implement an integrated re-entry focused case management system from admission to prison through release from community supervision

9. VARI Goals (Continued): Seeding the Ground & Changing the Culture of Corrections • VARI Goal #3:To employ a system of research based practices and programs that reduce the criminal thinking and behaviors of offenders • VARI Goal #4: To teach offenders functional, educational, and vocational competencies based on employment market demand and public safety requirements

10. VARI Goals (Continued): Seeding the Ground & Changing the Culture of Corrections • VARI Goal #5: To develop a method of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the agency’s re-entry knowledge and processes • VARI Goal #6: To foster a communication process that ensures stakeholders have a full understanding of the re-entry initiative • VARI Goal #7: To identify barriers beyond the control of the VADOC and engage collaboration of key stakeholders and representatives in the implementation of the plan

11. National Institute of Corrections’ Model

13. Cognitive Community Model • Established a theoretical framework that employed evidence-based approaches Research conducted on Therapeutic Community (TC) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) approaches for offender populations demonstrated reductions in post-release recidivism in comparison with non-treated similar populations.

14. Origin of The Cognitive Community Model • In 1994, Mark Gornik, former Bureau Chief for Idaho DOC Offender Programs, with the support of NIC, invited a group to Idaho to see if the two approaches could be reconciled into one consistent approach. • Jack Bush and Brian Bilodeau representing CBT approaches and Dudley Bush and Martin LaBarbera representing TC approaches met to develop a blended model that they called the Cognitive Community Program.

15. Origin of The Cognitive Community Model (Continued) • The group presented their concept, the Cognitive Community, in an NIC White Paper. • They theorized that the full integration of cognitive programming within an intensive milieu setting similar to a Therapeutic Community (TC) model would more effectively reduce resistance to change, and, thereby, reduce the time require for treatment from 18 months to as little as 6 months.

16. The Cognitive Community: Primary Goal • In the Cognitive Community, the primary goal is to change the negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that predispose crime, drug use, and other antisocial behavior.

17. The Cognitive Community Approach • The core of the Cognitive Community modality is that the offender community itself is the agent of change and provides the laboratory for offenders to practice new cognitive behavioral patterns in a supportive environment. • In the Cognitive Community, offenders cannot hide in their behavior nor can they hide in their thinking. Both will be exposed and, therefore, be accessible to change with community support.

18. The Cognitive Community: Pilot Programs • The first Cognitive Community was created at the Southampton Women’s Pre-Release Center in 2004 and later moved to Brunswick CC. • Recommitment Rate: SH completers vs No Treatment. • Year 1: 4% vs 6%, Year 2:  9.3% vs 15.2%, Year 3: 12.6% vs 20.5% • In 2006, the model was introduced as a six- month intensive re-entry program at Powhatan Correctional Center.

19. The VARI Model • Based upon the success of the male and female model Cognitive Community Program outcomes, VADOC and the Governor’s Office elected to expand the re-entry model to all offenders releasing from medium security facilities who were within 12 months of release. • Eleven (11) sites were originally selected across Virginia as Intensive Re-entry Programs (IRPs). Offenders are moved to an IRP closest to their re-entry community in their last 12-14 mos.

20. Challenges to Implementation • Short timeframes drove the timeline for implementation – 11 sites in 12 months • Constant staff turnover (some due to promotions) • Fidelity Issues & Mutant Activities • Staff Burnout

21. Lessons Learned 1. Establish a theoretical framework that’s EBP 2. Go Slow to go Fast – Pilot Programs 3. Consolidate the multiple programming at different sites into a single streamlined approach 4. Anticipate aggressive timelines when developing implementation plans 5. Be inclusive, bring many voices to the table

22. Virginia Adult Reentry Initiative:The Cognitive Community • Details of the Model

23. Virginia Adult Re-entry Initiative:Re-entry at Different Security Levels • Highest Security Levels 5-6: security concerns prohibit milieu, but offer T4C and other curriculum. • High Medium Level 4: Limited milieu, modified cognitive community with intensive cognitive programming. • Medium Security Levels 2-3: Intensive Re-entry Cognitive Community model • Low Security Level 1: Road to Success programming

24. The Cognitive Communities: • In 2011, with the implementation of the VARI, Cognitive Re-entry Communities were established at the following Virginia DOC Sites: St. Brides CC Bland CC Deep Meadow CC Dillwyn CC Coffeewood CC Lunenburg CC Greensville CC Deerfield CC VCCW Haynesville CC Fluvanna *Total of 13 CC Programs including PCC and BWC *Two additional sites added within past two months: Pocahontas State Prison and Sussex II State Prison

25. The Cognitive Community: Essential Elements Re-entry Model • Prior to one year pre-release, offenders need to ensure academic and vocational training are complete • 12-6 months pre-release Phase I Re-entry Programming: T4C, Matrix, Resources for Successful Living, PREPS, CC Orientation Seminars, visits to AMD & PMD • 6-0 months pre-release Phase II Cognitive Community Program: Ready to Work, T4C Boosters, Process Groups, Community Structure, Commencements, Employment/Resource Fairs, Making It On Supervision Seminars, Sr. Re-entry PO visits

26. The Cognitive Community: Essential ElementsThinking for a Change • “Thinking for a Change (T4C)” is one of the most widely used Cognitive Behavioral Curriculum in Correctional Settings. • T4C was created for the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). • T4C incorporates Cognitive Restructuring and Cognitive Skills Building. • T4C is an evidence-based curriculum that has demonstrated reductions in recidivism with criminal justice populations.

27. The Cognitive Community: Essential ElementsMatrix Model Substance Abuse Treatment Curriculum • The Matrix Model substance abuse treatment curriculum is provided for offenders in the Intensive Re-entry sites whose background demonstrates significant substance abuse as measured in COMPAS. • Matrix is facilitated by 14 Substance Abuse Cognitive Counselors supported through a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. • Matrix is an evidence-based curriculum.

28. The Cognitive Community: Essential Elements Common ingredients in a Cognitive Community Program: • Morning Meeting (AMD)– a time for the community to come together, share information and motivate one another for the day ahead • Afternoon Meeting (PMD) – a time for the community to come together, summarize their day and bring closure for a peaceful night

29. The Cognitive Community: Essential Elements Common ingredients (continued): • Admissions Agreement Form and CC Handbook • Community Philosophy • Offender-Led Seminars • Awarenesses – written and verbal; positive and corrective feedback holding a community member accountable • Cognitive Confrontation Groups – address behavior and thinking; ensure that thinking matches the offender’s goal with desired outcome • Structure Board – jobs and responsibilities

30. The Cognitive Community: Essential Elements What to look for when visiting a CC Program: • Writing on the Wall • Welcoming of guests, sign-in • Cleanliness, Bed Compliance, Grooming • Order, structure, schedule • Postings (structure board, rules, philosophy) • Structure Board (jobs and responsibilities) • Creativity and community individuality

31. The Cognitive Community: Essential Elements Who is involved in the Cognitive Community: • Senior Re-entry Probation Officers • Wardens/Assistant Wardens /Administration • Security (Treatment Officers) • EBP Program Manager • Institutional Program Manager • Operations Managers • Cognitive Counselors • Substance Abuse Cognitive Counselors • Case Management Counselor • Workforce Development Specialist • Qualified Mental Health Practitioners • Teaching Staff –Vocational/Educational • Work Foreman, Medical, Food Service • Everyone at the institution is vital to the CC Program! Support is crucial to the development of the program.

32. The Cognitive Community: Essential ElementsSenior Re-entry Probation Officers: Bridging the Gap Between Prisons and Community Supervision SRPO

33. Senior Re-entry Probation Officers: Bridging the Gap Between Prisons and Community Supervision • The position was created to provide a continuum of services that support offender change and increase long term public safety • A hybrid position as each senior probation officer physically works at their assigned intensive re-entry program facility and district office • SRPOs serve on teams with both prison and district office staff ensuring that communication is effective between all units • SRPOs enhance effective re-entry by providing offenders, family members as well as state and local partners opportunities to learn about and address re-entry challenges prior to release

34. Senior Re-entry Probation Officers: Bridging the Gap Between Prisons and Community Supervision Key roles at the IRP Facility… • Make rounds interacting with offenders in the re-entry housing units; Ensure that re-entry preparedness issues are properly addressed prior to release • Participate in AMD/PMD Meetings; Discharge and Multi/Inter-disciplinary Meetings; Commencement Celebrations • Conduct “Making it on Supervision” (Supervision Success) and other re-entry seminars • Coordinate with Offender Work Development Specialist to identify post release job leads/services; Support resource fairs and mock interviewing seminars Key roles in the Community... • Supervise a transitional caseload • Serve as a contact for the district office on re-entry issues • Participate on Local Re-entry Councils assisting with program development and coordination of service delivery with community partners • Conduct Family Reunification/Orientation Seminars

35. Partnerships with the COMMUNITY

36. Petersburg P&P Family Reunification Event

37. Portsmouth P&P’s Re-entry Training Event for Faith-based Organizations

38. Contact information Dudley Bush: Dudley.Bush@vadoc.virginia.gov 804-887-8257 Jean Mottley: Jean.Mottley@vadoc.virginia.gov 804-887-8258