MISSION

The mission of the Bureau of Community Custody and Supervision is:

• to promote public safety through the effective supervision of offenders placed under community supervision, SENTAC Levels I-IV;

• to provide supervision, programs and treatment services that promotes long term self sufficient, law abiding behavior by offenders; and

• to support efforts to make victims whole in accordance with Delaware law.

SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

Provide management support to the Divisions of Community Services and Community Correction. Plan and direct the work of the Bureau. Manage budgets, treatment contacts and maintain fiscal control. Provide overall supervision to the Community Corrections and Community Services directors and the halfway centers wardens. Provide an array of services which cut across SENTAC Levels I-IV. Provide administrative coordination, and liaison with the Department's Personnel Office and Training Academy, and the Bureaus of Administrative Services, Operational Services, and Prisons. Provide community notification and information concerning mandatory publication of information on certain offenders. Provide coordination and support to the Regional Citizens Committee assigned to each District.

RATIONALE

Management support of the Bureau is necessary to provide overall direction and leadership. Essentially management's role is to interpret how the vision and mission of the Department is to be met and accomplished within the context of the Bureau. In doing so, it is management's responsibility to establish procedures designed to comply with Departmental policies, and to ensure that such procedures are defined and accomplished at all levels. To plan future directions and to provide feedback to the Commissioner, the Governor, the legislature and the public as to the Bureau's capability to provide necessary services to the offenders under its supervision, victims and their families and to the community at large.

In addition, programs operated out of the Bureau Chief's Office are conducted to provide the courts with pertinent information about offenders so that better sentencing decisions can be made; to ensure that offenders meet their court ordered mandates; to ensure that all persons placed in a community sanction are received by the Department; and to coordinate the process of case assignment, case classification, and initiate the Department's case recording of offender-specific data. Essentially, these programs cut across SENTAC Levels I-IV, and enhance the Bureau's ability to efficiently and effectively meet its mandate to the courts, and the community at large.

  
SENTAC LEVELS OF SUPERVISION AND SERVICES

 ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION - Level I

Offenders assigned to Level I are placed in the least restrictive form of supervision under the SENTAC sentencing system. These are generally first time offenders who pose little risk of re-offending. The majority of these offenders are required to pay either a fine, make restitution or attend a specific first offender program. Requirements are also to monitor offenders' participation in designated programs, and make progress reports on same to the court.

PROBATION and PAROLE - Level II

Level II is the standard Probation/Parole supervision program. Offenders on Level II supervision are to meet with their Probation Officer on a regular schedule to comply with contact requirements based on risks/needs assessments. Level II Probation/parole Officers serve in the Traditional roles of counseling.

INTENSIVE SUPERVISION - Level III

The Intensive Supervision Unit (ISU) represents Level III of the SENTAC alternatives to incarceration. The officer to client ratio is 1:25. The purpose of the ISU is to closely supervise adult offenders in the community to prevent further criminal behavior while sentences are being served. Supervision is frequent and intense while also assisting the offender in making a successful return to the community. The ISU makes recommendations to move cases up or down the sanctioning levels based on the SENTAC guidelines, and upon individual client progress as documented by the supervising officer. The addition of the supervised Custody Unit to the intensive Supervision Unit will augment Probation/Parole's capabilities to more closely supervise Level III probationers in the community.

HOUSE ARREST PROGRAM - Level IV

House Arrest is a community custody program which is for offenders who are to be restricted to an approved residence in which specific sanctions are to be imposed and enforced. The House Arrest Program is administered by Probation Officers, and includes continuous electronic and direct surveillance.

PRETRIAL SERVICES

Pretrial Services provides the courts with bail recommendations based on screening interviews with newly arrested and detained individuals. After the initial screening, follow-up interviews and recommendations are made at preset intervals. Community supervision is also provided for certain released individuals as ordered by the courts. Presentence reports are completed as requested to the Wilmington Municipal Court. All pretrial services occur prior to a SENTAC Level being established for an individual.

DAY REPORTING CENTER

The Day Reporting Center concept is designed to provide intensive supervision with treatment program participation to improve the transition of high risk offenders from incarceration to the community.

COMMUNITY WORK PROGRAM

Offenders placed in this program perform various types of labor at non profit organizations in order to satisfy special conditions of supervision and/or to be relieved of court ordered assessments.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Bureau of Community Correction
Department of Correction
Administration Building
245 McKee Road
Dover,    DE    19904
(302)  857-5250