AB 401

This bill requires the Department of Corrections to award performance grants

to adult probation and parole offices for increases in employment rates for

individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision in the regions the offices

serve.

The bill provides a formula to determine the amount of funds each adult

probation and parole office is eligible to receive under this performance grant

program. Under the formula, DOC must calculate a baseline employment rate for

individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who reside in the region

the office serves by averaging the annual employment rate for those individuals in

fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. Then, on July 1 of each fiscal year, DOC

must calculate the employment rate for individuals on probation, parole, or extended

supervision who reside in the region the office serves for the fiscal year that just

ended. DOC must subtract the baseline employment rate from the employment rate

for the fiscal year that just ended. If the difference is negative, the office is not eligible

for a performance grant in the fiscal year that just began. If the difference is positive,

the office is eligible for a performance grant in the fiscal year that just began that is

equal to that difference multiplied by the number of individuals on probation, parole,

or extended supervision who reside in the region the office serves, multiplied again

by $2,500.

Under the bill, an office that receives a grant may spend up to 15 percent of the

funds on data collection and administration for the grant and must spend at least 85

percent of the funds to improve supervision and rehabilitative services for

individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who reside in the office's

region. The bill specifies that the services may include implementing

evidence-based practices for risk and needs assessments; implementing

intermediate sanctions such as community service, home detention, or work

furlough programs; expanding the availability of evidence-based practices for

rehabilitation programs such as drug and alcohol treatment, anger management,

and vocational training; hiring personnel to implement evidence-based practices for

rehabilitative and vocational programming; procuring new technologies or

equipment to supervise or rehabilitate or provide vocational training; and

evaluating the effectiveness of programs.

The bill requires DOC to develop and publish outcome-based measures for each

region such as the employment rate and the average length of employment for

individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision; the percentage and

employment status of individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who

are convicted of a crime while on the supervised status; the number and employment

status of individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who complete

their period of supervised status; the programs for individuals on probation, parole,

or extended supervision that were created or eliminated; and an estimate of savings