Specialized Services Unit
Drug and Alcohol-Probation Partnership (DAPP)
The focus of this program is convicted, non-violent "A Level 3 and 4" offenses as defined by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.
Eligibility for the DAPP Program is the same as that for the Electronic Monitoring Program. Participants must be assessed as drug- or alcohol-dependent and must receive a Restrictive Punishment Sentence to participate in the DAPP Program. Restrictive Punishment sentences can include work release, electronic monitoring, intensive supervision, secure treatment facilities or any combination of these to satisfy the Restrictive Intermediate Punishment component.
The unique aspect of this program combines the efforts of a dedicated Drug and Alcohol Intensive Case Manager (ICM), a dedicated and experienced Probation Officer, and local treatment providers, into a single collaborative team that supports and monitors offenders in the community. The DAPP Probation Officer supervises the participant through the Electronic Monitoring and Intensive Supervision phases and also into the enhanced phase if the recommended treatment programming is not complete by the end of the Intensive phase.
Offenders placed in this program are strictly monitored by the DAPP officer and must report on a weekly basis. The DAPP team maintains regular contact with the offender, employer, treatment providers, and family in an effort to promote a stable living and working environment for the offender. Monitoring of behavior and community involvement, coupled with increased offender contact and frequent drug and alcohol testing, allows the DAPP Team to pro-actively address issues that may arise in the offender's life.
Community Service Program
The Franklin County Community Services Program was implemented as a direct response to an overcrowding problem that was evident at the Franklin County Jail and the need for more constructive alternatives to incarceration.
The program began in September of 1992 with the aid of a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Offenders began to actually complete community service hours in December 1992, as the Courts began to take advantage of the new Sentencing Option. Influenced by departmental changes and trends in sentencing, the program continues to evolve as a viable sentencing alternative for offenders in lieu of incarceration.
The Community Service Coordinator maintains the program and an active list of non-profit, not-for-profit organizations and local government agencies to be utilized by program participants. The individual participant is responsible for contacting and making the appropriate arrangements with the agency that they select to complete their court-ordered hours. The coordinator will provide assistance on an as-needed basis or when requested. The coordinator maintains and facilitates the roadside trash collection program which is available as an option for participants, as well as making arrangements for local agencies and organizations to receive requested volunteer assistance for special projects and events.
The coordinator acts as a liaison between the Department and agency, answering any questions and addressing any concerns of the agencies in utilizing the program participants. The coordinator then collects, records and compiles statistics relating to the program’s usage.
The participant’s supervising probation officer is tasked with reviewing and providing copies of the community service program rules and timesheets. Participants are instructed that the Court Ordered hours must be completed within one half of the time they are on supervision for the criminal case requiring the community service stipulation, barring unforeseen circumstances which may allow exceptions.
If the participant does not complete the hours within the specified time, their cases may be listed for violation proceedings for failure to complete the requirement.
Mental Health
This program consists of a single officer whose sole job is to closley supervise the unique segemetn of the probation and parole clientele that displays mental health and intellectual disability needs.
The first focus of this program is to protect the community and the offender. The second focus of this program is to provide a structured level of close supervision to probation and parole clientele that display mental health and intellectual disability needs. Combining close supervision with an effective treatment program, working in tandem with local community resources and mental health treatment programs.
Sex Offenders
The Franklin County Sexual Offenders Program supervises offenders who have committed sexual offenses in Franklin County and offenders who are currently Franklin County residents who were convicted of sexual offenses in other counties. These cases are managed by providing surveillance, monitoring, and treatment.
The probation and parole officer works in conjunction with treatment providers to assist in re-educating the offender. The officer assesses the overall status of the offender for specialized treatment and intervention needs, develops and implements intervention strategies necessary to reduce criminal behavior, and meets regularly with offenders in the office and in the community.
The officer also monitors the progress of offenders in treatment or therapy, prepares Court-ordered pre-sentence investigation reports, schedules violation hearings, and performs duties related to Megan’s Law DNA requirements http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/
Good Wolf Treatment Court
The Good Wolf Treatment Court of Franklin County is a court-supervised drug treatment program for non-violent individuals with a substance use problem. The mission of the Good Wolf Treatment Court of Franklin County is to promote public safety by providing accountability and support for sobriety and recovery for criminal defendants. The aim is to assistn participants in regaining health, forging supportive personal relationships, and creating a prosocial life that ends the cycle of addiction and recidivism. Refer to the Good Wolf Treatment Court Handbook for more detailed information.
INTAKE Unit
The probation officers who are performing the duties of "intake" are resposnible for meeting with court-supervised individuals at their initial appointments. During these sessions, a risk needs assessment is conducted. Based on the individual's score, they are assigned to a probation officer. Those who score low and are considered to have low risk are then assigned to the intake officers' caseloads. These caseloads have been structured to accomodate a larger number of low-risk individuals with reduced reporting standards. This approach enables line officers to focus their efforts on a smalller number of moder to high-risk individuals, providing them with more time and resources to assist in completing special conditions and case plans.
Intercounty and Interstate Transfers
Court-supervised individuals have the opportunity to have their cases transferred out of county or out of state (on a case by case basis) to better accomodate their needs. Individuals must have a stable, supportive home environment and score moderate to lo high-risk on their risk needs assessment.
In order for an individual to be eligible to have their case transferred to another state for supervision, they must have a felony conviction. Some misdemeanor offenses are eligible for transfer. Please refer to the list of eligible offenses under the forms section.
Intense/Electronic Monitoring
The Electronic Monitoring and Intensive Supervision programs provide a middle ground between incarceration and traditional probation and parole.
The emphasis of these programs is to divert some offenders who might otherwise be incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail to an electronic monitoring or intense supervision status that would provide both protection to the community and allow the offender to take advantage of community-based programs of treatment. Offenders who have violated regular supervision rules may be placed on the Intensive Supervision Program for a brief period of time in lieu of further violation proceedings from the Court.
The offender is subject to intense monitoring of their activities during their stay on these programs. The offender is able to participate in positive activities that give him or her feelings of accomplishment in the community. The offender’s freedom to move about in the community is restricted and his/her activities monitored on a regular basis.
Offenders on the program are assessed as to their treatment needs, and a plan to meet those needs is established. Offenders on the program are required to attend all treatment programs that are indicated as necessary for the needs of the offender. Available resources in the community are utilized to aid the offender in reintegrating himself/herself into society and to lead a life of law-abiding behavior.
Franklin County also utilizes SCRAM (Self-Contained Remote Alcohol Monitoring) EM units, designed to monitor alcohol use in those offenders that have demonstrated difficulty in curtailing alcohol consumption.
