While the Branch continued research and evaluation on breach and incarceration trates associated with conditional sentences,”® the Community Corrections Division restructured existing staffing and program resources. Changes in electronic monitoring, for example, enabled the Branch to apply this resource to higher-risk offenders.

A new client supervisor position (probation officer 14) was created to focus on the supervision of low-risk and bail cases. For medium and high-risk offenders, probation officers remained the primary case managers and client supervisors provided secondary case management. The introduction of this position ensured that probation officers supervised smaller caseloads, which consisted solely of high and medium-tisk cases.

New technology was proposed to address issues related to workload and operational efficiency. For bail clients, the Branch initiated an automated reporting system (ARS) pilot project for low-risk offenders in 1996.

Concurrently, a manual check-in system (MCI) was piloted. As part of a Northern Region case management pilot, voice verification technology was also tested as a supervision strategy.” Neither ARS nor voice recognition proved cost-effective.

Online training

The development of distance education and online training increased flexibility in training new recruits as well as providing advanced training. A new training model was developed by Senior Management Committee to improve recruitment and save money.

To apply for probation officer and probation officer 14 positions, candidates were required to complete four online prerequisite courses. Once an individual was hired, the Branch funded the remaining training, which occurred in the hiring office. The training curriculum for the probation officer 14 position was accredited and recognized when a candidate applied to be a probation officer.

Family Justice Services Division

An alternative dispute resolution policy was introduced in May 1995, followed in 1996 by the premier’s announcement of the government’s focus on alternate dispute resolution, The objective of the policy was to provide dispute resolution options” throughout the justice system.

Several changes followed this policy decision:

» In 1996, the Ministry of Attorney General opened the Dispute Resolution Office;

» In 1997, family justice services were directed towards resolving family disputes outside the traditional court system;

38 Management Report No. 2000:02, Corrections Branch, p. 11.

39 Technology that enables enforcement of court ordered monitoring conditions without face-to-face contact between client and supervisor. Refer to ADM Directive 2000:05, July 19, 2000.

40 Including mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluations, mini-trials and litigation.

The Era of Directing Change (1997-2001)

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