Increase the number of training hours provided to community corrections, county corrections, and court personal to aid in professional development and continuing education requirements for the field.
KPI
Increase The Number Of Training Hours Provided By 5%
The CMIT Assistant Director maintains a spreadsheet of all trainings coordinated and hosted by the Institute. When a staff member completes hosting/facilitating a training, information regarding the training, such as number of participants and number of training hours provided, is submitted to the Assistant Director and is updated to the CMIT Training Spreadsheet. CMIT is striving to increase the number of training hours provided to the field of corrections by 5% from FY 2013 to 3,372 hours in FY 2014.
Result
CMIT Increased Training Hours Provided
The Institute increased the training hours provided to the field to 3,460.25, which is almost an 8% increase. During the year, CMIT staff worked diligently to market training and conferences. The Institute also reviewed training evaluations and developed and delivered more pertinent training to the criminal justice field.
Action
Continue To Develop And Deliver Trainings
CMIT will continue to work on marketing training events better through use of technology such as social networking website, list servs, and our website. We will confirm that marketing materials provide all the pertinent information needed to ensure participants know exactly what topics are being trained. We will also use other technology for trainings, such as more internet broadcasts and online training to aid those agencies that have budget constraints. The Institute will also work closely with advisory councils for the field to ensure we are provided training on needed topics.
Goal
Building The Research Capacity And Reputation Of The Correctional Management Institute Of Texas
Building the Research Capacity and Reputation of the Correctional Management Institute of Texas
Objective
Raise Awareness Of CMIT Research Activities
CMIT research activities will be featured and distributed through the CMIT “Up to the Minute” ,(email newsletter) distribution of Research in Practice Briefs, and White Papers.
KPI
Publish (i.e., Send Via Email) CMIT
The CMIT “Up to the Minute” email newsletter containing information regarding current as well as upcoming activities and research initiatvies will be published and distributed monthly or bimonthly depending on content.
Result
Up To The Minute Emails
Information regarding current as well as upcoming activities and research was not included in the CMIT Up to the Minute” newsletter. Many of the projects contain sensitive information, and much of that information is not allowed to be released until reviewed and approved by the agencies involved.
KPI
Disseminate Quarterly Research In Practice Briefs And Or Topical
“Research in Practice Briefs” will describe research conducted by CMIT staff/COCJ Affiliated Faculty researchers/CMIT funded graduate student research assistants. White Papers will discuss emerging correctional issues or innovative programs that would benefit CMIT constituencies. These written products will be distributed to various constituencies (e.g., TADCP, APAI), as relevant to the content of each paper, via email. CMIT will produce and distribute these written products via email at least quarterly.
Result
Completed Briefs
Three briefs were completed during this time. Each of these briefs has been submitted to the contracted agency for review and approval.
The “Silent Killer” of Correctional Officers: Examining Job Stress Among TDCJ Correctional Officers
Disseminated in July 2014, based on a contract with Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Stress among COs is widespread yet unnoticed and has thus been coined as the “silent killer” in the workplace. Officers face unique challenges, which leads to stress, burnout, and turnover among employees. Additionally, this compromises workplace security by encouraging negative behavior patterns as well as psychological and physical issues. 441 correctional officers from the State of Texas were studied to identify and examine the most stressful issues faced by correctional officers, including demands and tensions from work that impact their home life (and vice versa), as well as an overall incompatibility between the officer’s role at home and the workplace (i.e. role conflict).
Changing Women’s Lives at Harris County STAR Drug Court
Disseminated in July 2014, based on a contract with Harris County Drug Court
Drug courts have been on the rise in Texas and other states in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviors, particularly criminal involvement, and drug problems of non-violent offenders. Alternatives to incarceration have grown in popularity in an effort to decrease the prison population whilst rehabilitating drug-involved offenders. The research brief highlights findings from an evaluation report done at the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Court program in Harris County. Specifically, this focuses on the newest implementation for the Harris County Drug Court, a gender-specific component called “Changing Women’s Lives.”
Montgomery County’s Managed Assigned Counsel/Mental Health Court Programs
Disseminated in July 2014, based on a contract with Montgomery County’s Managed Assigned Counsel/Mental Health Court (MACMH) Program
Mental health courts have developed over the years under the umbrella of therapeutic justice. Similar to other problem-solving courts, mental health courts divert mentally ill offenders to community-based, treatment-focused alternatives when they would otherwise be prison-bound. Mental health courts focus on addressing the underlying behaviors contributing to criminal activity. In January 2012, Montgomery County began the mental health court and managed assigned counsel programs, otherwise known as the Continuity of Care (COC) program. The brief highlights findings from a process and outcome evaluation report that was done to evaluate the effectiveness of these newly-operating programs.
Action
Up To The Minutes And Research Briefs
As reports and projects are finalized, brief summaries of the research projects (not necessarily their results) will be supplied to the CMIT staff responsible for the Up to the Minute newsletter for distribution. Up to the Minute may also include announcements of recent research projects that are just beginning and this information will be included in Up to the Minute, as it occurs.
As ongoing research projects expand and increase in frequency, more briefs will be produce and disseminated. We will continue to produce briefs that highlight findings from COMPLETED research projects. The Research Institute only contains two people so these will be produced as new projects develop.
Objective
Expand External Research Funding Within CMIT
The Correctional Management Institute of Texas will enter into at least two research contracts that provide external funding for correctional research.
KPI
Completed Contracts With State Or Local Correctional Agencies For The Conduct Of Relevant Research By CMIT Staff And/or Affiliated Faculty Research
CMIT will enter into at least two research contracts for projects to be conducted by CMIT research staff and/or Faculty/CMIT funded students on behalf of local or state correctional agencies in the state, or nationwide.
Result
Research Contracts
The Institute entered into two new research contracts and one contract was renewed.
Research contracts:
Forecast of the Harris County Jail Population: 2014-2024 ($14,180)
Completed in July 2014, based on a contract with Harris County officials to improve upon their strategic planning
The forecast projects daily inmate populations, with the focus on bed utilization. The goal is to enhance the capacity of Harris County officials to plan and meet jail capacity requirements for the next ten years. The report covers: historical information relating to jail bookings and releases, as well as the differential between the two, average number of days spent in jail, and overall jail population trends (historical and projected).
Brazoria County Drug Court: Process and Outcome Evaluation ($76,119)
Project is still in the beginning stages, but the contract was entered into in May 2014 (total amount $5,429.58)
The project is to assist Brazoria County with evaluating the adult drug court program, using a process and outcome evaluation. The evaluation focuses mainly on the impact of participation in the drug court in regards to criminal recidivism (i.e. formal re-arrest). Study will utilize a treatment group consisting of individuals participating in drug court, compared to a matched sample “control group” with similar probationers who are not drug court participants. Interviews with stakeholders have also been conducted, with the goal of adequately describing the program’s design and operation.
RENEWAL: Biennial Evaluation of the Windham School District Correctional Education Programs ($76,119)
Project was renewed in November 2013, based on a pre-existing contract with Windham School Administration
As a result of recent legislation, Windham School District (WSD) is required to conduct a biennial evaluation and report regarding the effectiveness of its programs. With the help of SHSU researchers, information was compiled and analyzed for each of the individual programs, including performance-based information and data related to academic, vocational training, and life skills programs. WSD contracted with SHSU to conduct an evaluation and provide an analysis of the correlation between WSD programming and various outcome measures, including: disciplinary violations, subsequent arrests/confinements, cost of confinement, educational achievement, high school equivalency exam passage, training services that were provided, employment that was obtained (post release), whether employment was related to training, the difference between wages/earnings within the first year of post-release employment, and retention factors associated with employment.
Action
Continuing Pursuing Contracts
We will continue to pursue additional research opportunities by expanding on current projects with other agencies. CMIT will continue to pursue sources of funding other than external contracts.
Goal
Provide Women In Criminal Justice With Valuable And Effective Professional Development Training
Provide women in criminal justice with valuable and effective professional development training
Objective
Deliver Women In Criminal Justice Conference In April 2014
Develop and deliver the Women Criminal Justice Conference so that participants feel the speakers provide valuable information and the participants take away subject matter that is applicable to their career.
KPI
Speaker Evaluations
At the conclusion of each general and breakout session, participants will be asked to complete an evaluation for each speaker evaluating the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, if the content was logically organized and presented, and if there was enough time allotted for each presentation. Each of these areas is evaluated using “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Disagree”, and “Strongly Disagree”. The goal is that 85% of the responding participants will rate each measure at “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” for 85% of the speakers.
Result
Evaluation Results
There were 16 speaker evaluations and we are reviewing three of the five questions on each evaluation. While a large majority of the evaluations well exceeded the key performance indicator with 95% or above for Agree or Strongly Agree, two speakers did not meet the key performance indicator. One speaker received an 83% and one speaker received an 82%, both for the question “enough time was allotted to this presentation”. For one speaker, this was the first time Institute staff had welcomed her to speak and it was difficult to determine how much time she would need to present all the information she had. The other speaker was actually supposed to have a co-presenter that had to cancel at the last minute and so that speaker had to be resourceful and use a variety of information and was not sure how much she may actually need. You can find more details about the responses with the attached spreadsheet.
KPI
Overall Conference Evaluations
At the conclusion of the conference, participants will be asked to complete the Overall Conference Evaluation. The participant will be able to rate the overall conference as “Excellent”, “Above Average”, “Average”, “Below Average”, or “Poor”. The evaluation also rates if the conference provided valuable information using the options “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Disagree”, and “Strongly Disagree”. For the Overall Conference rating, the goal is that 85% of the respondents will rate the conference as “Excellent” or “Above Average”. The goal for the conference provided valuable information is that 85% of the responding participants will rate at “Strongly Agree” or “Agree”.
Result
Overall Conference Evaluation Results
For the question “Conference provided valuable information”, 100% of the participants rated at “Agree” or “Strongly Agree”. For the “Overall Conference Evaluation”, 92% of the participants responded with “Agree” or “Strongly Agree”.
Action
Changes To The 2015 Event
During the planning meeting for the next conference, it was determined that one of the presentations will be given a longer time slot and the other speaker provided the Institute with additional names of speakers to aide in the subject matter presentation.
The next event will be in a different location, which could attract more participants. The conference will also be adding a Women in Partnerships networking opportunity that is being sponsored by a law enforcement agency. Also, we will be expanding the exhibitor area to allow more exhibitors. There will also not be any sessions repeated; however, more breakout sessions will be offered that will allow for sessions for all different levels of participants, from line staff to executive leadership.
Objective
Conference Participants Take Away Knowledge
Conference participants will take away knowledge regarding subject matter taught at conference to include: Public Speaking and Media Relations Gender Issues in the Jail Workplace: The Latest Data and Issues and What's Next? Understanding the Basics of Investing Defensive Tactics Communicating in Today's Society
Indicator
Speaker Evaluations
At the conclusion of each general and breakout session, participants will be asked to complete an evaluation for each speaker evaluating if the participant’s knowledge increased as a result of the presentation and if the knowledge gained directly applies to my job. Each of these areas is evaluated using “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Disagree”, and “Strongly Disagree”.
Criterion
85% Should Be Strongly Agree Or Agree
The goal is that 85% of the responding participants will rate each measure at “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” for 85% of the speakers.
Finding
Evaluation Results
There were 16 speaker evaluations with two of the five questions each. All evaluations exceeded the indicator, with a large majority of the evaluations well exceeded the key performance indicator with 95% or above for Agree or Strongly Agree. You can find more details about the responses with the attached spreadsheet.
Action
Changes To The 2015 Event
During the planning meeting for the next conference, it was determined that one of the presentations will be given a longer time slot and the other speaker provided the Institute with additional names of speakers to aide in the subject matter presentation.
The next event will be in a different location, which could attract more participants. The conference will also be adding a Women in Partnerships networking opportunity that is being sponsored by a law enforcement agency. Also, we will be expanding the exhibitor area to allow more exhibitors. There will also not be any sessions repeated; however, more breakout sessions will be offered that will allow for sessions for all different levels of participants, from line staff to executive leadership.