Agenda Item No. 1 - Welcome and Introductions :  In Chairperson John Lavigne's absence, Division Chief Stefan LoBuglio called the meeting to order at 7:40 A.M.  The Committee members introduced themselves as did several members from the community who were in attendance.  They included parents of a current resident who explained how helpful the program has been in helping them support their son's transition, as well as a family member who identified herself as a victim and who expressed concern that the program was working with the individual responsible for her loss.  As a community correction program, PRRS is committed to having open meetings and recognizes that different individuals may hold disparate views about the program.  PRRS aims to improve the program every day by respecting and listening carefully to these different points of view as it seeks to carry out its public safety and rehabilitative mission.

Agenda Item No. 2 - PRRS Division Chief's Report :  PRRS Division Chief Stefan LoBuglio highlighted a few of the items from his 'Chief's Report' (attached) which provides an update on PRRS activities and developments since the previous Community Advisory Board Meeting (July 31, 2008).   In his presentation, he mentioned that some staff members and partner agencies were honored for their work for the Pre-Release and Reentry Services Division at the DOCR Annual Recognition Awards on May 7, 2008.  They and their awards are listed below:

• PRRS Division Employee of the Year:  Unit Manager Patricia Braun
• Outstanding Performance Awards:  Assessment Services Manager Teresa Still      Correctional Specialist Nichole Davis, Correctional Specialist Kendra Jochum, and Correctional Specialist Tina Michaels

• Outstanding Performance Certificate:  Correctional Specialist Tyrone Alexander

• Special Appreciation Certificate (Non-Departmental):  FBOPActing Community Corrections Manager William Cimino

• Special Appreciation Plaque (Non-Departmental):  MC Sheriff's Office Fugitive Section

• Special Appreciation Certificates (Non-Departmental):  Archdiocese of Washington Prison Outreach Ministry's Welcome Home Program Coordinator Mary Mulholland

• Special Appreciation Certificates (Volunteers):  Volunteers Julia Albrecht and Robert Tenney.

Agenda Item No. 3 NACO Achievement Awards:  In August 2008, the National Association of Counties presented two national achievement Awards to PRRS for the Archdiocese of Washington's Prison Outreach Ministry's Welcome Home Program (WHP) and for the development of the Career Resource Center at PRRS.  Since March 2007, the WHP has recruited over 55 volunteers from area parishes to work one-on-one and in group settings as mentors to assist program participants in PRRS.  The mentoring has included providing resume preparation, literacy instruction, career guidance, as well as assistance in addressing specific reentry needs such as  regaining driving and professional licenses lost as the result of criminal offenses.  The second program -- Career Resource Center -- provides internet-based job search assistance to residents of the program and was introduced to the PRC in 2006.   It was the brain child of Work Release Coordinators Angela Talley, Chris Johnson, and Hillel Raskas, and the CRC has served over 1,000 individuals since its opening.  Carefully trained volunteers and interns provide supervision within the center and assist residents with their resumes, cover letters, and job applications.  Security safeguards in the Career Resource Center which were designed by the County's Department of Technology Services as part of the overall technological plan ensure that the center's resources are used appropriately.

Agenda Item No. 4 Selection of PRRS Unit Managers:   Division Chief Stefan LoBuglio was pleased to announce the selection of two Unit Manager at PRRS which are the most senior management positions in the Division.  PRRS has four Unit Managers, and each is responsible for running one of the four housing units at the PRC and ensuring that residents are receiving excellent reentry services and complying with the rules of the program.  Newly appointed Unit Manager Pat Braun has over twenty years experience at PRC and began her career as a Case Manager.  She is a licensed social worker who has played a principal role in developing new evidenced-based programs at PRRS.  For this work, she earned the award of Division Employee of the Year (2007).  Unit Manager Chris Johnson also brings a wealth of experience and skills to this position although she gained much of it outside of the Department.  Before joining the DOCR in 2003, she managed a culinary training program for homeless individuals in the D.C. Kitchen, and has years of previous professional experience in television production and in developing and running restaurants.  In the first few years at the DOCR, she developed the very successful Bakery Job Training Program known as Sweet Release at MCCF, and came to PRRS in 2007 as a Work Release Coordinator.

Agenda Item No. 5 - Children of the Incarcerated :  Community Advisory Board Member Eric Brenner has led an effort to develop ways that PRRS can assist children of incarcerated parents, and provided a brief report of his efforts to date.  First, he mentioned the compelling research that reveals the intergenerational connection with individuals involved in the Criminal Justice System, and the critical need to intervene with children of the incarcerated.  Second, he shared a number of ideas where the program help residents identify ways that they can contribute to their children's successful futures.  Finally, Eric indicated that he would arrange a meeting with the Strathmore Cultural Arts Center to help identify possible ways to partner with this premier community resource and to introduce residents and their children to culturally uplifting activities that they normally might not consider. 

Extra Agenda Item :  Chief LoBuglio discussed a new protocol that allows the State Attorney's Office to register temporary objections to the placement of candidates to PRRS.  Under the protocol, the State's Attorneys Office may lodge an objection to a transfer decision that will be recognized for two weeks during which time the SAO must provide PRRS with additional information that should be considered in reevaluating the transfer plans.  PRRS ultimately retains the right to accept an individual into the program provided that it has received the judge's consent.

Agenda Item No. 6 - Meeting Dates for 2008 : 

• Thursday, October 30th at 7:30 A.M.
• Thursday, December 18th at 7:30 A.M.

Agenda Item No. 7 - Adjournment :  The meeting adjourned at 9:05 A.M. 

Chief's Report April 24, 2008 to July 31, 2008