As shared in the Update on Parole Administration’s Transition to Nebraska Board of Parole posted on the Nebraska Board of Parole’s website earlier this year, the one year anniversary of the Division of Parole Supervision being placed under the Board’s authority was July 1, 2017. The update included the significant strides that had been made in implementing provisions contained in legislation that had passed in 2015 and 2016 as well as the changes that had been made within Parole due to the transition to a new agency.
Since that time, Parole has continued to make strides in these areas to include:
- Supervisors trained in Yellow Belt, Governor Rickett’s Training Initiative, and completion of first project using this process improvement methodology;
- EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision) Training for Trainers;
- Partnership with the Department of Administrative Services’ HR Shared Services to assist with hiring, onboarding, and payroll;
- Contracts signed with county jails across the state for custodial sanctions;
- Availability of online payment of programming fees for clients;
- Development of “Community of Practice” for Specialized Parole Officers—will be discussing this concept and ideas for other Communities of Practice that can be developed throughout the agency going forward;
- Resource Centers at the Omaha and Lincoln Regional Parole Offices which provide programming and services for clients; and
- Pilot and implementation of Alternative to Incarceration Rehabilitation Program in which officers communicate with clients utilizing technology through a partnership with Corrisoft Company enabling more consistent communication, more effective delivery of support services, and better management of client activity.
As we move into 2018, we will be developing specific goals for the agency. In addition, plans are underway to train Specialized Parole Officers and others within the agency in new Cognitive Behavior Groups. We will also be working to revamp the in-service training program for all staff as well as revise and improve the agency’s new employee training. Further, we will continue working to address gaps in services in the regional areas of the state.
We continue to make progress in the transition and look forward to 2018 with enthusiasm and purpose. With change comes endless possibilities.