HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 45        FILED ON: 1/2/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2149

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Patricia A. Haddad

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act improving public safety through evidence-based community corrections supervision.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 45        FILED ON: 1/2/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2149

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

An Act improving public safety through evidence-based community corrections supervision.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 211F of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 7.  Massachusetts shall support the development of two demonstration projects, in a minimum of two counties, for the implementation of a community corrections program targeting moderate to high-risk offenders between the ages of 17 to 24 years.  The program shall combine evidence-based supervision practices and programs and services designed to interrupt criminogenic characteristics that research indicates leads to criminal behavior.

The program shall combine the techniques developed in the Roca Model, so called, in order to:

1)  use researched-based tools in order to determine an individual’s likelihood of re-offense and to identify factors that are amenable to treatment and risk reduction;

2)  structure treatment and supervision for offenders based upon their risk level, needs and personal characteristics; and

3)  connect offenders to pro-social family, friends, and activities in the community.

The program shall be funded annually through resources directed to the office of community corrections for the community corrections centers in the demonstration site geographic area and shall serve up to 50 individuals per site.

The probation department shall collaborate with the demonstration project to transfer probationers who meet the project criteria. The decision to transfer shall be guided by a validated risk-needs assessment, the criteria of which shall require offenders to be moderate to high-risk of re-offense, absent the kind of intervention available through this project.

The offender shall remain in the custody of the probation department through the duration of the program but shall be monitored and managed by the demonstration project administrator.

Each demonstration site shall collect data on the following: the number of participants, program participation; program outcomes; 1 year and subsequent year follow-up; and data on subsequent violative or criminal activity of program participants and the justice process result of that activity. 

The project administrator shall compile an annual report which includes data, findings, and recommendations for improvement or expansion plans, with the governor, the senate and house committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on the judiciary, on or before December 1.