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New Approach to Local Government Corrections

NCJ Number
133445
Journal
American Jails Volume: 5 Issue: 5 Dated: (November-December 1991) Pages: 46-48,50-54
Author(s)
W J Weiss
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The Cowlitz County (Washington) Corrections Department is a newly formed entity under the immediate control and supervision of the executive director, who in turn answers to the Board of County Commissioners. The County Board consolidated all of the county agencies that deal with offenders, including the jail, all intermediate sanction programs, and misdemeanor probation, in order to enhance coordination, reduce duplication of efforts, and develop programmatic efficiencies.
Abstract
The regional probation department is self-sufficient through the collection of clients' monthly supervision fees. It operates programs including deferred prosecution, the DWI impact panel, presentence investigations, and direct referral. The Director of Offender Services supervises intermediate sanction programs including mental health services, pretrial investigations, correctional staff training programs, work and school release, electronic monitoring, the in-custody of out-of-custody work crews, and Alternative Community Service. The jail houses drug and violent offenders as well as less serious offenders and provides appropriate services for this community: General Equivalency Diploma, anger management, medical services, video arraignment, inmate commissary, chaplain's program, staff training, and Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous.