A National Problem
Addressing Hard to Serve Populations
Other Technical Assistance

For the past fifteen years, CJCJ has been a national leader in the development, implementation, management, and assessment of community-based correctional programs. CJCJ programs have reduced recidivism rates and promoted public safety in every case. With a professional staff from a range of backgrounds, CJCJ offers technical assistance to agencies around the country. Among other contracts, CJCJ has worked with the District of Columbia, the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Seattle, as well as the states of Hawaii, Arizona, California and Maryland.

A National Problem

Jails and correctional facilities in every state are struggling with the pressures and repercussions of overcrowding. Dealing with the overpopulation of correctional facilities is a matter of public health, safety, and in many cases, legal responsibility.

For these reasons, many counties and states have sought CJCJ's services to alleviate population pressures. CJCJ uses a correctional model that takes advantage of a full range of community-based options and reserves jail and prison space for only the most serious offenders.

Organizational Assessment and Evaluation
CJCJ works with correctional facilities to assess their current programs, and determine their individualized needs. Staff create population projections so jurisdictions can plan for future growth and prepare comprehensive implementation plans to help jurisdictions institute needed reforms. Special emphasis is placed on the development of integrated service delivery systems. CJCJ can also provide ongoing expertise and support services to client jurisdictions upon request.

[View a sample CJCJ Technical Assistance Report] (PDF), completed for the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Addressing Hard to Serve Populations

One way that CJCJ has succeeded in reducing jail and prison overcrowding is by expanding the range of community-based program options for hard to serve clients like mentally ill, homeless and / or drug-addicted offenders.

Services for Mentally Ill Offenders
Among the greatest challenges confronting correctional agencies is the absence of adequate community-based services for mentally ill offenders. Without specialized interventions, mentally ill offenders often cycle through the criminal justice system only to be returned to the community without proper services.

The lack of services is usually the result of poor coordination between criminal justice and non criminal justice agencies, and/or the reluctance of community providers to work with the forensic population. CJCJ helps alleviate this problem by facilitating interagency agreements and coordinating case management services.

Mentally ill offenders also have difficulty independently complying with supervision terms, accessing treatment, and addressing areas of their lives that are disrupted by incarceration. These problems can only compounded when the offender is also dealing with a co-occuring substance abuse problem. CJCJ has a long history of advocating for these special needs clients, and has developed successful strategies - like using peer advocates to accompany clients to all appointments and ensure that needed services are reasoned and then implemented.

CJCJ also promotes the use of benefits advocacy, including reinstating SSI funding, which is crucial to helping them access housing and health care, that is often blocked due to previous incarceration or outstanding warrants.

Services for Homeless Offenders
Many jurisdictions are currently struggling with a growing number of homeless inmates. Homeless offenders typically lack ties to community resources, which typically undermines their ability to comply with court demands. CJCJ has developed strategies around aggressive street outreach to make sure that homeless people find the appropriate treatment, access services, and attend all court dates.

Developing Drug Treatment Options
Many criminal justice jurisdictions also suffer from a lack of appropriate treatment options for drug-addicted offenders. To be effective with this population, agencies need to tailor services according to individual needs and addiction levels. Tailoring services requires a continuum of options that range from therapeutic communities to outpatient treatment. CJCJ works with jurisdictions to develop and implement screening, assessment, and client service strategies that ensure the most effective use of available resources.

CJCJ is currently assisting California jurisdictions and agencies in the implementation of [Proposition 36]. Passed by the voters in 2000, the initiative requires California courts to develop treatment options for certain categories of drug involved offenders. Up to $120 million a year over five years is available to assist counties in developing new drug treatment options. CJCJ provides unique expertise in assisting jurisdictions in implementing programs and policies that are consistent with the new law.

Other Technical Assistance

CJCJ has developed many programs that have been used as models around the country.

Model Reentry Programs
Along with the rapid growth in jail and prison populations over the past 20 years has been an unprecedented increase in the number of parolees returning to the community. Inmates now serve longer sentences in correctional facilities with fewer resources. As a result, parolees are too often ill equipped to confront the challenges of free society.

CJCJ assists jurisdictions in designing reentry services that meet the needs of this growing population, and can also provide individualized parole service plans in special cases.

Read about our [Supportive Living Program], helping drug addicted parolees reenter society.

Specialized Sentencing Plans
For the past 17 years, CJCJ has provided over 1000 sentencing reports upon special request from judges, defense counsel, probation staff, or prosecutors. Agencies seeking sentencing reports in special cases can contract with CJCJ on a case-by-case basis.

Obtaining CJCJ Technical Assistance Services
To inquire about CJCJ adult technical assistance services, please contact our national office in San Francisco:

[Daniel Macallair, Executive Director]
Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
54 Dore Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 621-5661
Fax: (415) 621-5466