Gov. Perdue’s proposed changes to the probation system

A list of proposed changes to the North Carolina probation-parole system, by Gov. Bev Perdue on March 13, 2009. (List provided by the Office of the Governor.)

• Additional probation and parole officers to ensure effective case management: 117 additional probation and parole officers to reduce caseload and increase effective case management. The addition of officers is recommended by the National Institute of Corrections report.
  
  2009-2010: $5,986,277
  2010-2011: $7,990,156
• Additional chief probation and parole officers to increase supervision and reduce caseload: 29 additional chief probation and parole officers to bring the officer/supervisor ratio to approximately 7:1, enabling the department to provide additional oversight, particularly of problem cases. The addition of officers supports recommendations found in the recent National Institute of Corrections report.
  
  2009-2010: $2,545,790
  2010-2011: $2,246,214
• Raising pay grade for probation/parole officers: increase the pay grade for 1,048 probation and parole officers, to help raise recruitment and retention.
  
  2009-2010: $2,383,273
  2010-2011: $2,383,273
• Additional and more efficient training: an additional four correctional training instructors and a correctional training coordinator to provide new officers with the necessary skills to begin supervising probation caseloads earlier in their employment. The addition of training officers is recommended by the National Institute of Corrections report.
  
  2009-2010: $239,525
  2010-2011: $380,270

• VIPER Radios for improved communications: purchase of VIPER radios through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to enable increased communication with law enforcement.
  2009-2010: $1,264,689

• Community corrections intake coordinators for urban areas: funding of new community corrections intake coordinator positions through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. These new intake workers will perform court duties in urban areas where court dockets currently require significant time commitments from probation and parole officers. These intake coordinators will allow probation and parole officers to spend more time monitoring offenders. The addition of community corrections intake coordinators was recommended by the National Institute of Corrections report.
  
  2009-2010: $1,235,311
• Access to juvenile court records: open juvenile records to supervising probation officers.

• Warrantless searches: Require all probationers to consent to warrantless searches by probation and law enforcement officers as a condition of their probation.
• Absconder information posted on-line: A new web site, launched today, providing a county-by-county listing of absconders from probation and parole supervision. Updated daily, the web site will allow citizens to view absconders from their area and provide any information they may have on absconder whereabouts. The public can view this information online at http://www.doc.state.nc.us/.

• Continuous job postings: continuous posting of probation and parole officer openings will help reduce the time it takes to fill vacancies in the state’s probation offices.

• Making probation information available to law enforcement: the departments of Justice and Correction are working together to make probation information available to law enforcement officers in the field via the state’s Division of Criminal Information (DCI) system. Both agencies expect this system to be operational by the end of May. Law enforcement information already is available to probation and parole officers.