The Adult Probation division is responsible to the Court for investigating and supervising adult offenders and alleged offenders. Written investigative reports are provided to the Court at the pretrial stage, sentencing stage, and during supervision. If an offender is sentenced to pretrial or probation supervision, the conditions imposed by the Court are monitored by probation officers and include office visits, home and work contacts, facilitation of treatment, urinalysis testing, public service work, and criminal record checks. More about the individual functions of the division may be found here.
2010
On March 15, 2010 Caseload Explorer was implemented at Adult Probation replacing our Prober Data System. Caseload Explorer is not only a data system but is Adult Probation’s case management system. A Caseload Explorer focus committee was developed to assist with providing consistent and timely training for officers. The focus group provides a systematic approach to case management and information sharing as well as developing consistency in data entry. Training in the implementation of Caseload Explorer has been an ongoing process throughout 2010.
In addition to Caseload Explorer our Pretrial Unit utilizes the ROVER Program (digital pen) to provided computerized bond reports for Courts and stores the reports electronically instead of having paper copies.
In April 2010, the 19th Judicial Circuit hosted the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association’s Spring Conference in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The conference provides workshops and training sessions on various topics for probation officers throughout the state of Illinois. Many of our officers conducted workshops for this conference which included Group Reporting, Smaart Performance Measures and Sex offender programming.
The Adult Probation Training Committee provided in service training to probation officers on the “Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs”. In addition, Adult Probation certified trainers in Motivational Interviewing provided booster training to adult probation staff. Each year updated training is conducted to improve evidence based practice techniques. An Officer attended Motivational Interviewing (MINT Training). MINT training is an international training organization and trainers come from all over the world to attend this training. This year training was in San Diego, California. This training provided the officer expertise to train other individuals as trainers of Motivational Interviewing.
In September 2010, the 19th Judicial Circuit’s Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Court, which consists of a Drug Court and Mental Health Court Program, was awarded a three year SAMHSA grant in order to enhance services for these problem-solving courts. The grant allows for expansion of services for recovery support services, which supports substance abuse treatment, screening, case management and coordination for individuals. Haymarket Center, located in Chicago, IL., is providing recovery coach services to many of our TIM Court individuals who are in need of dual-diagnosis services.
In October 2010 Probation Officers and the Lake County’s Cognitive Outreach Groups (COG) received Illinois Probation and Court Services Awards. Jeff Ross – Principal Probation Officer was the recipient of the Robert E. Burdine Award. Bob Geidner- Principal Probation Officer was the recipient of the William C. Albertson Award. Deborah Norman – Principal Probation Officer was the recipient of the S. William Ettinger Service Award. The Lake County Cognitive Outreach Program was the recipient of the Institute for Legal and Policy Studies Innovative Leadership Award. The award is presented annually to the program in probation or detention that exemplifies innovation and leadership in offender program development with demonstrated evidence of effective outcomes.
On December 13, 2010 a Probation Officer in the Pretrial Unit participated in a national focus group sponsored by American Probation and Parole Association and the Pretrial Justice Institute in Washington D.C. to review the role of Probation and Pretrial Services.
Currently in Adult Probation, three research studies are being conducted. Rosalind Franklin University is conducting a study regarding domestic violence offenders who have gone through the Lake County Probation system. The study seeks to identify levels of recidivism in different classifications of offenders based on their completion of treatment. Loyola University is conducting research regarding a comprehensive assessment of Mental Health Courts in Illinois as well as conduct a comparison of different types of Mental Health Court programming and operations. In addition, Adult Probation is also conducting an outcome study of our “Moving On” Program for Women. Moving On is a cognitive based program for high risk female offenders.