Philanthropy Ohio

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION (ODRC) IS REQUESTING SUPPORT TO ENHANCE, UPGRADE AND SUPPORT A STATEWIDE BODY-WORN CAMERA PROJECT IN THE ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITY (APA) THROUGH THIS BJA GRANT CATEGORY 2. IN OHIO, THE APA SUPERVISES INDIVIDUALS RELEASED FROM OHIO PRISONS WITH SUPERVISION, COURTESY SUPERVISION FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF COUNTIES AND THEIR COMMON PLEAS COURTS, AND INTERSTATECOMPACT CASES. THIS AMOUNTS TO APPROXIMATELY 32,000 OFFENDERS BEING SUPERVISED BY 644 PAROLE OFFICER POSITIONS. THE PURPOSES INCLUDE ENHANCEMENT OF FIELD CONTACTS WHICH MAKE UP A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OURCOMMUNITY CORRECTION WORK. THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER NEW LAW VIOLATIONS. INCREASEDVISIBILITY INCREASES LEGITIMACY. WHILE IN THE FIELD, OFFICERS ARE ENGAGED WITH CRITICAL ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS GANG MEMBERSHIP AND FAMILY CONFLICT. THE BWC PROVIDES AN EXTRA ELEMENT OF SAFETY AND SUPPORT FOR THE STAFF CONDUCTING THESE CRITICAL JOB DUTIES AND LEGITIMACY INCOMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS AND INTERACTIONS. THIS CIVILIZING EFFECT MAY PREVENT CERTAIN SITUATIONS FROMESCALATING TO LEVELS REQUIRING THE USE OF FORCE AND IMPROVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN OFFICERS AND CITIZENS. THE APA UTILIZES THE EVIDENCE GAINED FROM THE BWCS TO PRESENT AT PAROLE VIOLATION HEARINGS WHENAVAILABLE AND APPLICABLE. THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS ALSO USED IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH OUTSIDE CRIMINALJUSTICE AGENCIES VIA A SUBPOENA PROCESS. THE BWC PROGRAM IS ALSO PRODUCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFFTRAINING AT THE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE LEVEL AS FOOTAGE IS EXAMINED AND POTENTIAL BEST PRACTICES OR AREAS FOR GROWTH ARE REALIZED. THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EXPANSION, ALLOWING THE APA TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS FOR NEW STAFF, UPDATING CAMERAS FOR EXISTING STAFF, UPGRADING CORRESPONDING EQUIPMENT, AND EXPANDING STORAGE. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE ENABLING THE APA TO CONTINUE DOCUMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE BWC POLICY DEVELOPMENT, REGULAR CALLS, MONTHLY AT MINIMUM, WITH THE TTA PROVIDER TO REPORT PROGRESS AND RECEIVE GUIDANCE, PROCURING/LEASING UPGRADED BWCS AND ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT, AND COMPLETION OF AN EXITCONFERENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TT A PROVIDER. THE INTENDED SERVICE AREA IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL PAROLE OFFICER AND UNIT SUPERVISOR POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE APA STAFF, SUPERVISEES, PUBLIC, COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. THE SUBRECIPIENT IS THE BWC VENDOR.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION (ODRC) AND CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (CSH) PROPOSE TO EXPAND THE SUCCESSFUL RHO PROGRAM INTO KNOX, MUSKINGUM, AND RICHLAND COUNTIES, WHILE INCORPORATING PERFORMANCE BASED STANDARDS AND OUTCOME MEASURES. ODRC PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (PSH) THROUGH CSH.  THE AIM OF THIS PARTNERSHIP IS TO MINIMIZE HOMELESSNESS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECIDIVISM AMONG INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO OHIO COMMUNITIES FROM INCARCERATION.  THE TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES MODERATE OR HIGHER RISK OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS OR WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS UPON RELEASE.  PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO OFFENDERS WHO HAVE A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE DIAGNOSIS, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. WE ARE PROPOSING TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR WAYS: 1) GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION; 2) TARGETING ENROLLMENT TO MODERATE AND HIGH RISK OFFENDERS; 3) TESTING THE IMPACT OF PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACTING; 4) EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH A RIGOROUS RESEARCH DESIGN AND EVALUATION.  THERE WERE 131 REFERRALS IN 2020 AND ONLY 3 COULD BE SERVED IN THESE COUNTIES.  SUPPORT FROM THIS GRANT WILL ENABLE THE PROGRAM TO ADD MULTIPLE UNITS SERVING THESE THREE COUNTIES.  A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CAPACITY AND AN IMPORTANT EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAMS GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAM IN THE STATE.  BY SPECIFICALLY TARGETING HIGHER RISK OFFENDERS WE MAY FURTHER DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM.  DURING THE PLANNING PHASE, ODRC, CSH, AND OUR RESEARCH PARTNER WILL STRUCTURE A PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACT THAT WILL INCENTIVE RECIDIVISM REDUCTION. THESE ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE RETURN TO PRISON RATE, ARREST, HOUSING STABILITY, CHANGES IN INCOME, AND PARTICIPATION IN SERVICES.  ALL OF THESE WILL BE COMPARED TO A CONTROL GROUP. ODRC EXPECTS TO MEET WITH PARTNERS MINIMALLY DURING THE PLANNING PHASE ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND ON A QUARTERLY BASIS DURING THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD, TO REVIEW OUTCOME DATA AND DETERMINE WHETHER MILESTONES ARE MET TO TRIGGER PERFORMANCE PAYMENTS.  ALL PARTNERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN TRAININGS ON PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACTING, HOUSING, AND EVIDENCE BASED SERVICES. ALL PARTNERS WILL EXECUTE A DATA SHARING AGREEMENTS AS WELL AS SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL TO THE APPLICABLE HUMAN SUBJECT RESEARCH REVIEW BOARD FOR APPROVAL. A PROCESS WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITH NOTRE DAME LAB FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, THE RESEARCH PARTNER TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE KEPT UP TO DATE ON PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS.  ULTIMATELY, THIS GRANT WOULD AID WITH THE CRITICAL EFFORT OF ASSISTING OHIO'S HIGHER RISK AND MULTI NEED HOMELESS POPULATION.