DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE
Corrections
Beth Skinner, Director
Mission Statement:
To advance successful offender reentry to protect the public, employees, and offenders from victimization.
Measures:
Rate of return to prison within 3 years
of release
Prison inmates completing GEDs prior
to discharge
Prison Overcrowding
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Performance Plan - How we measure our progress
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Strategic Plan - How we plan for progress
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Performance Report - How we report our progress
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Department Home Page - Learn more about this department
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Highlighted Measure:
Rate of return to prison.
Data Source: Department of Corrections
Updated 12/15/2022 |
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Why
this is important:
The primary purpose is public safety, through
reducing the likelihood of new crimes being committed
by repeat offenders.
What we're doing about this:
The Department of Corrections and district departments
of correctional services are continuously working
to improve provision of evidence-based treatment
for offenders both while in prison and upon release.
By evaluating what works, we can stop doing what
doesn't work, and maximize the return on investment
of each corrections dollar spent. It's working.
Offenders released in more recent years are less
likely to return to prison than those released
in the past.
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Highlighted
Measure:
Increase in prison inmates completing their GED
prior to discharge.
Data Source: Department of Corrections
Updated 09/20/2022 |
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Why
this is important:
The primary purpose is public safety, through reducing the
likelihood of new crimes being committed by repeat offenders.
According to the Correctional Education Association, prison
inmates who are involved in education are less likely to
be re-arrested, re-convicted and re-incarcerated than non-participants.
What we're doing about this:
Currently, 1,650 prison inmates have less than a high school education, which is an increase from the past number of 1,528. The Department contracts with community colleges to provide GED classes to offenders in prison in order to reduce their chances of re-offending, and increase their chances of obtaining a job when released.
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Highlighted
Measure:
Total number of inmates, as a percent of prison
capacity.
Data Source: Department of Corrections
Updated 09/20/2022
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Why
this is important:
The primary purpose is responsible prison management. Prison
overcrowding is often a contributing factor in the likelihood
of conditions suits being filed. Also, to the extent that our prison system holds offenders who are at low risk to commit violent crimes or other acts of victimization, paying for their incarceration is a waste of taxpayer dollars. It makes economic sense to place more emphasis on reentry to hold offenders accountable, shoulder their responsibilities to their families and past victims, and become productive, taxpaying citizens.
What we're doing about this:
The Department of Corrections is employing strategies to
increase the number of release recommendations to the Parole
Board, and improve pre-release planning.
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