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Specialized Supervision

Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU) 

The Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU) will utilize a consistent supervision model for individuals on parole who have been convicted of a sexual offense and will work collaboratively with the parolee, treatment provider, Sex Offender Treatment Management Program (SOTMP) staff, advocacy organizations, and victim advocates to reinforce positive behavior change and successful reintegration to ensure community safety.

Community Supervision Team

Community Supervision Team - A team of professionals including a minimum of the supervising officer, the treatment provider, the evaluator, victim representative, and polygraph examiner who collaborate to make decisions about the offender. The Community Supervision Team may also include pro-social support persons such as family members, spiritual leaders and employers. (Taken from Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) handbook)

Efforts are made to balance community safety with the ability of the parolee to be successful and support their individual needs.

What is offense specific treatment?

  • Usually referred to as offense specific treatment, it is treatment catered to those convicted of a Sexual Offense
  • Upon paroling, an offender will be referred to an intake at an approved treatment provider and will be evaluated to determine treatment needs.
  • If in need of treatment, the offender will begin treatment as soon as possible

How long is treatment?

  • This will be based on the offender and their treatment team at their assigned treatment agency
  • If an offender has participated in treatment inside a DOC facility or on prior supervision that information will be provided to the outside treatment provider

What is an approved support and approved supervisors?

  • A sponsor, family member, or approved support can attend treatment at the treatment agency to become a support person or an approved supervisor
  • An approved supervisor will be able to supervise an offender amongst minors once an offender has met 5.7 criteria

What is offense specific treatment?

  • Usually referred to as offense specific treatment, it is treatment catered to those convicted of a Sexual Offense
  • Upon paroling, an offender will be referred to an intake at a treatment provider and will be evaluated to see if they are in need of treatment
  • If in need of treatment, the offender will begin treatment as soon as possible

What is included in offense specific treatment (State Sex Offender Management Board manages treatment criteria)?

  • The offender will be placed into a group or on a track that is suitable
  • Treatment provider takes into account prior treatment
  • Polygraphs as well as group and individual therapy 
  • Offenders can work towards 5.7 criteria in order to have contact with certain minors
  • Payment of treatment
    • Denver Metro Area Parole currently pays for treatment and polygraphs
    • In circumstances in which an offender is not compliant with treatment, parole can chose to have the offender assist in payment

What are treatment Contracts?

  • Treatment contracts are used to identify and target behaviors and address individual needs that can have an effect on their progress in treatment. This is a tool that a treatment provider can use in lieu of an unsuccessful discharge.

Upon release from a facility with the Department of Corrections, a parolee’s movement will be very limited. A parolee may go to places for basic necessities, parole or probation, job searching, and to visit treatment providers. During the initial intake process, a parolee will be provided with an Interim Safety Plan for movement prior to being placed in treatment. This will be approved the first day the offender is released. A safety plan lists where an offender would like to go in the community, with whom, and how the offender will keep both themselves and the community safe. Frequently, offenders will be released with their safety plan already created. Once in treatment, all safety plans will be reviewed by the treatment provider. Once the plan is approved by their treatment provider, it will be sent to the Community Parole Officer for approval in a collaborative effort by the Community Supervision Team (CST).

  • An offender may be required to register their information with a police agency due to their sexual offense.
  • An offender will have to register their address, their contact information, and vehicle information.
  • Within 5 business days of moving, being released from a facility, or changing any information, an offender must contact their local jurisdiction.
  • An offender may have to de-register at a prior agency. To do this, they must contact either the county or city where they live; requirements may vary.
  • Counties/cities vary on how many offenders who have committed Sexual Offenses can live together.

Registration requirements/timelines:

  • The degree of felony (F1-6) and the nature of the offense can dictate how often offenders need to register.
  • Offenders who have been deemed a Sexually Violent Predator by a judge must register quarterly.

Public information:

  • The Sex Offender Registry can be accessed online and is public information.
  • For those who have been deemed a Sexually Violent Predator, the county to which they parole notifies the public of their presence in the community.

 Colorado Notice to Register as a Sex Offender

  • Upon release, an offender will not be able to use an unapproved, unmonitored internet device.
  • Any devices in a sponsor's home as well as the internet itself must be password protected.

Job Searching:

  • An offender may job search in person or use the computer lab at the parole office to search for a job online.

Cell Phones:

  • A basic flip phone is appropriate when first paroling.
    • This can be upgraded later into supervision as appropriate.
  • Once in treatment, an offender will be able to submit a Safety Plan to use devices.
  • To use a smartphone, an offender will submit a safety plan to use the internet.
  • Various types of monitoring software are utilized to both fit the need of the offender and the requirements of supervision. 
  • Costs will be covered by the offender

Electronic Surveillance is the utilization of electronic systems to closely observe and monitor an offender; including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Telephonic Monitoring
  2. Global Positioning System (GPS)
  3. Other approved technology as required

The objective of electronic surveillance is short-term action for higher risk individuals who need additional surveillance or monitoring in the community. Electronic surveillance is a mechanism by which to promote public safety through surveillance. 

  • An individual should progress off of electronic surveillance once they have demonstrated progress as outlined in their case plan and/or have reduced their risk/needs level as evidenced by an updated assessment. A review of the offender's progress, to include stabilized employment/housing and documented progression in treatment, should be conducted every 30 days while the individual is on electronic surveillance. Early removal from electronic surveillance will be staffed with the supervisor and manager for approval. 
  • If an individual has not progressed according to their case plan and/or reduced risk levels per an updated assessment, then continuation of electronic surveillance beyond set timeframes will be staffed with the supervisor and manager for approval. 

Individuals may be directed by their supervising Community Parole Officer to visit a BI installer to be placed on electronic monitoring immediate upon their release into the community.

Electronic Surveillance Directives

BI Installer Office Locations

Support Education Program (SEP)
 
The SEP was established to be a positive resource of education and support for families and friends or others who want to support someone in the CDOC who has committed a sex offense, toward prevention from re-offending and successful reintegration into the community. The goals of the SEP are as follows:
  • To educate support persons about sex offense-specific treatment.
  • To facilitate open and honest communication between support persons and the individual, they are supporting.
  • To educate, enable, and empower support persons to become positive, informed support and an effective component of the treatment and supervision team.

 

In-reach program

The SOTMP In-reach Program utilizes workshops to address questions and concerns that an SO offender may have concerning his/her transition to the community. The workshop is held six times per year (every other month) and is conducted via video conferencing. Participants include SO offenders and are either tabled or have release dates. We also include Community Parole Officers, Re-Entry personnel, Community Treatment Providers, and Parolees from Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Grand Junction. Participating CDOC facilities include all 15 levels III or higher facilities. The purpose of the workshop is to allow the releasing SO offenders to have their questions or concerns addressed by their peers in the community (parolees) as well as Parole and treatment providers in the community that they are likely to be working within the hope that this information given before release will reduce their fears and anxiety regarding their impending release as well as reduce the challenges many face in working with Parole and treatment providers. Overall, we hope that the workshops will reduce recidivism and revocations as a result of being better prepared for the transition back into the community. 

 
Tom Nelson, MA, LPC, NCC
Social Work/Counselor III
In-reach Program Coordinator
Support Education Program Coordinator
Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program
SOMB Full Operating Level Treatment Provider - Adult