Dates & Times:
(Day 1) September 27, 2023 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
(Day 2) October 26, 2023 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
(Day 3) November 30, 2023 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET

Webinar Fees: $150 to attend all 3 webinars.

CPCS approved 2.0 credits per session for the Adult Criminal Trial, Adult Criminal Appeals, YAD, Parole, Mental Health Parole and SORB/SDP panels.

The CAFL, YAD Appeals and MHLD Appeals panels are approved for 2.0 credits for day 2 only.

The MHLD Appeals panel is approved for 2.0 credits for Day 3 only.

To receive credits attendees must be logged on during the program for a minimum of 80% of the conference time. Certificates will be emailed to all attendees who were logged onto the program for at least 80% of the program time. A separate certificate will be emailed for each day.

Day 1 - Less Prison, More Support: How Community Justice Support Centers provide an alternative to a committed sentence at the DOC or HOC

Description

 In 2021 the Prison Policy Initiative reported that the United States had a per capita incarceration rate of 664 per 100,000. This was the highest rate of incarceration in the world. The lowest rate in the US was in Massachusetts where the rate was 275 per 100,000. By comparison the rate of incarceration in the UK was 129 and in Canada 101. While Massachusetts is among the leaders in the United States in reducing the impacts of mass incarceration there is still a long way to go. One way our state can continue to reduce incarceration is by focusing on community justice solutions that incorporate evidence-based practices. Community Justice Support Centers offer cognitive behavioral treatment, education, career counseling, clinical case management, community service opportunities, actuarial assessments, individualized treatment plans, contingency management, motivational interviewing, and other highly effective techniques to engage participants in a course of change that can lead to lower recidivism. Courts can sentence those convicted of crimes to Intensive Supervision with Treatment at a Support Center in lieu of a sentence to the Department of Correction or House of Correction.

Faculty

• Honorable Lisa A. Grant, Justice, Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court
• Vincent L. Lorenti, Esq.  Director of Community Corrections, MA Probation Service
• Dr. Dara Drawbridge, PhD, UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
• Dr. Michelle Crist, PhD, UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Psychiatry
• Filomena DaVeiga, Program Manager, Community Justice Support Center Taunton
• Jenna Jacobson, Program Manager, Community Justice Support Center Taunton
• Robert Catyb, Former IST participant, Community Justice Support Center Quincy

Agenda

• Why, How, What?
• Implementation Support Successes Jacobson, Robert Catyb
• Judge’s perspective
• Closing

 

Day 2 - (Chief Justice) Ralph D. Gants Reentry Services: A living memorial through service to those returning from incarceration

Description

In 2022 the Massachusetts Legislature committed $2 million to the creation of the Gants Reentry Services Program via the Office of Community Corrections (OCC). According to the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, “Gants observed the need to do whatever works best, based on the best available social science evidence, to reduce recidivism and put people with criminal histories back on the path to living normal lives, not only for their sake, but for the sake of our society as a whole.” Through its network of 18 Community Justice Support Centers across Massachusetts, the OCC provides a venue for people that have been previously incarcerated to get help with state identification, housing, education, employment, and other emerging needs. Thanks to the Gants Program, Support Centers are now staffed with Re-entry Services Coordinators who may have lived-experience to help navigate and mentor as one returns from incarceration and Public Benefits Coordinators who will help access MassHealth, SNAP, and other publicly provided benefits.

Faculty

Vincent L. Lorenti, Esq. Director of Community Corrections, Massachusetts Probation Service

Senator William Brownsberger, President Pro Tempore, Suffolk and Middlesex

Jessica Alves, Program Manager, Community Justice Support Center Lowell

Matt Pike, Re-entry Services Coordinator, Old Colony YMCA

Erika Chen, Re-entry Services Coordinator, Bay State Community Services, Community Justice Support Center Boston

Kenneth Klier, Chief Operating Officer, Old Colony YMCA

 

Day 3 -  Less jail, more support: How the Community Justice Support Center serves as an alternative to bail or as a condition of release for risk of flight or dangerousness

Description

Massachusetts has seen significant decreases in incarcerated populations over the last few years.  These decreases, however, have been mostly attributable to sentencing practices rather than decision-making around pretrial incarceration due to bail or pretrial detention.  Since 2018 the Sheriff’s Association has reported a 40% decline in the number of people in custody for a sentence to the House of Correction from 3,588 in June 2018 to 2,149 in June 2023. During the same period the number of people being held in jail pending trial decreased from 4,731 to 4,030 or only 15%. (https://www.mass.gov/lists/county-population-reports) 2018’s Criminal Justice Reform Act provides access to the Community Justice Support Centers in lieu of bail, or as a condition of release. Courts can order Pretrial Treatment, wherein clients access the array of treatment, education, and employment services available at a Support Center.

Faculty

Vincent Lorenti, Director of Community Corrections, Massachusetts Probation Service

Rep. Michael Day, House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Expert on Pretrial Services

Pamerson Ifill, Deputy Commissioner of Probation, Pretrial Services Division

Program Manager, Office of Community Corrections

Testimonial from Support Center client