Community corrections could keep people out of jail and save money
By James A. Kimble
jkimble@eagletribune.com
June 23, 2009 12:00 am
CONCORD — A new plan to manage parolees and probationers is being looked at as a way to save money as state lawmakers try to mend $650 million in revenue shortfalls.
A Division of Community Corrections may be established. Between 10 and 20 case managers would be assigned to New Hampshire’s population of parolees and probationers.
The hope is to reduce the recidivism rate, which at the state prison is about 41.3 percent, according to a recent Department of Corrections study. The study followed 949 offenders between 2002 and 2006. The new division is expected to cost between $1.4 million and $2 million.
“In a general sense, you have to spend money to save money,” said John Eckert, executive assistant to the state Parole Board. “That’s an important point to be made because every year, in almost every state in the country, the largest population coming into the prison system is parolees.”
Currently, New Hampshire has no follow-up services for those recently released from prison or county jails — with the exception of regular contact with their probation and parole officers.
The Rockingham County probation and parole office monitors 1,045 offenders who require supervision and oversees another 1,000 who don’t require supervision, but may owe restitution or require other follow-up, according to Christine McKenna, chief of probation and parole for Rockingham County.
“The people who walk through my office rarely walk through with one issue,” she said. “For the most part, they had a ninth-grade education. Some of them have mental health issues. The females may have issues with trauma. Eighty-five percent of the people who walk through this door have substance abuse problems. They have issues with housing, child care and education. We need a good infrastructure in place.”
The average caseload for the nine probation-parole officers in the field ranges from 120 to 170 offenders. Those officers work with offenders and victims of crime.
McKenna said she has one officer specially assigned to Salem because of the 300 cases alone in that town. She likewise has two officers who will work at the Derry Police Department so those who might struggle with getting to the main office in Exeter can stay in compliance.
A secondary benefit of caseworkers — who could network with local employers and help with life-skills training — is to work with people on probation so that they don’t ever wind up committing a more serious offense that would land them in state prison, McKenna said.
Rep. Gene Charron, R-Chester, a retired superintendent for the Rockingham County jail, said giving offenders guidance finding a job or even housing can be a major step toward them staying out of jail or prison.
“The problem is when they leave prison, they have no support,” Charron said.
Keeping inmates behind bars at the prison costs roughly $100 per day. Under the community-based approach, offenders would only be returned to prison or jail if they committed new crimes.
Prison spokesman Jeffrey Lyons said the department is seeking to use $800,000 already earmarked for the state’s academy program, an intensive drug rehabilitation program for first-time offenders.
Lyons said the department would like to see the new community program started as soon as possible. It’s also expected to happen in step with the closing of the department’s Lakes Region facility, which is being closed by the end of the month.
The state has laid off 32 people working at that prison and reassigned 81 others.
The plan is part of an $11.6 billion spending plan put together by House and Senate members for the 2010-2011 state budget. A vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
