Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to enter into contract with Alvis, Inc. for assessment specialist services. The Court was awarded a grant which provided incentive dollars based on Probation’s ability to meet certain pre determined goals. The Court was awarded $100,000 from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections in incentive which is to be used for expanding and supplementing community correction programs. The current balance of $65,344 in this grant will be used for this contract. The court was also awarded the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety for assessment specialist services in the amount of $33,262.80. All of these funds will be used for this contract. The balance of the contract will be funded by the probation services fund.
In 2015, the Department of Probation Services (DOPS) committed to becoming an evidence-based organization, and to employing the Risk, Needs, Responsivity (RNR) Principle through a differential, risk-based supervision structure. Two major hurdles were identified in the planning phase: how to manage the high volume of new cases that the DOPS receives (approx. 500/month) while keeping caseloads manageable; and how to allow placement, duration and programming decisions to be guided by the assessment without access to the information prior to sentencing. In a significant demonstration of commitment to this project, the judges agreed that they would allow these decisions to be made post-sentence, by the DOPS.
Defendants sentenced to a period of probation report to the DOPS for intake and screening by the DOPS Support Unit. If screened as moderate or high risk, or eligible for one of the specialized caseloads, defendants are assigned to the corresponding unit where she/he will receive a full assessment(s). Defendants may be transferred to another supervision level if the s...
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