EL PASO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SERVICES

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EL PASO COUNTYDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SERVICES

• Dr. Henry Sontheimer
• Department Director
• Criminal Justice Planner

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Department Structure

• Community Corrections
• State funded locally operated
• Provides alternative to state prison
  incarceration
• Court Services (Pre-Trial)
• Operate PR Bond program
• CJC unit (screening assessment)
• Court House unit (supervision)
• Criminal Justice Planning
• Research and policy analysis
• Liaison to Justice Advisory Council

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Community Corrections

• Provides an alternate residential placement for
  convicted felons who would otherwise be housed in
  a State prison
• Residential phase averages 7-9 months
• Non-residential phase averages 12 months
• Offenders are required to hold jobs and pay rent
  to halfway house operators
• EPC Community Corrections Board determines
• Which offenders can safely be placed in the
  community
• Who can operate a local community corrections
  program
• The Board also oversees contracts with local
  providers and monitors programs for compliance
  with State and local standards

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Community Corrections, contd.

• Board and providers screen 8,000 referrals/year
• About 40 of referrals are accepted
• About 55 of offenders successfully complete
  program
• Most common conviction offenses drugs, theft,
  burglary, assault
• 710 offenders completed residential placement in
  FY 2004-05
• 22 were females
• Over 5 million in state funds received annually
• Funds used to contract with local providers for
  services
• Funds also support activities of CC Board and
  County oversight
• In 2004-05, community corrections offenders paid
• 1,570,000 in rent (subsistence) to offset
  program costs
• 198,000 in restitution and court costs
• 263,000 in federal and state taxes

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Court Services

• Personal Recognizance bonds permit pre-trial
  release without posting cash
• 4th JD Court and EPC Commissioners oversee PR
  Bond program operation
• PR Bond staff interview defendants, assess risk,
  make recommendation to court, and supervise
  defendants granted PR bonds
• Staff are sworn officers of the court
• Have limited authority to grant bonds directly
• Most bonds must be authorized by judge
• Bonds may be revoked for non-compliance

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Court Services, contd.

• 2006 PR Bond program statistics
• Staff screened about 8,000 inmates
• About one third recommended for release
• 1,983 PR Bonds granted
• Failure to appear rate less than 2
• Average daily supervision caseload 421
• Helps free up jail space
• Minimizes negative impacts of incarceration
• Program partially supported by offender fees
• 56,746 collected in 2006

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Criminal Justice Planning

• Position created in 2000
• One of several recommendations resulting from
  National Institute of Corrections technical
  assistance team visits
• Primary liaison to Justice Advisory Council
• Cross-jurisdictional body
• Charged with coordinating activities of local
  criminal justice agencies
• Membership includes local law enforcement,
  governments, judiciary, DA, Public Defender,
  treatment providers, citizens

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Criminal Justice Planning, contd.

• Planner responsibilities
• Research and policy analysis
• Improved use of empirical data in planning and
  decision making
• Major projects
• Regional Integration Project
• Connect agency data systems
• Improve data sharing
• Jail Utilization Plan
• Principles and guidelines for use of limited jail
  capacity