How are offenders referred to these services?

Offenders are screened for program participation by CSOSA’s Community Supervision Officers. Referrals are processed through the Supervisory Community Supervision Officer of the branch to which the offender is assigned. The District of Columbia has been divided into three service areas, or clusters, for program matching and administration. Each cluster has a lead institution and a Cluster Coordinator. Referrals are transmitted from the Supervisory Community Supervision Officer to the Cluster Coordinator, who maintains an inventory of that cluster’s resources (participating institutions, program slots available, mentors available, etc.). Every effort is made to place the offender in a program or mentorship in his or her cluster of residence.

How do these programs relate to supervision?

CSOSA’s supervision model emphasizes integrating offenders into the community.  Risk of new criminal activity decreases as the offender develops pro-social, healthy relationships and activities. Faith-based institutions provide an ideal setting for this type of positive socialization. Moreover, the District of Columbia’s faith community has a rich history of outreach to incarcerated individuals. This initiative builds on that tradition to serve offenders in the community.

Faith-based programming supplements and enriches supervision. It helps the offender develop accountability to self and to the community, but it does not replace ultimate accountability to their releasing authority: the U.S. Parole Commission.

The Cluster Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for the offender’s Community Supervision Officer. Prior to the offender starting a program or mentorship, the Community Supervision Officer, Cluster Coordinator, and institutional program coordinator meet with the offender to discuss how the faith-based initiative complements the offender’s supervision plan. The Cluster Coordinator monitors each offender’s participation and progress. Regular opportunities are available for the Cluster Coordinator or the specific institution’s program coordinator to meet with the Community Supervision Officer to discuss the offender’s progress.