Authority: §§ 53.1-67.2 through 53.1-67.6 and §§ 53.1-140 through 53.1-176.3, Code of Virginia.
A. By September 1 of each year, the Department of Corrections shall provide a status report on the Statewide Community-Based Corrections System for State-Responsible Offenders to the Chairs of the House Courts of Justice; Health, Welfare and Institutions; and Appropriations Committees and the Chairs of the Senate Judiciary; Rehabilitation and Social Services; and Finance and Appropriations Committees and to the Department of Planning and Budget. The report shall include a description of the department's progress in implementing evidence-based practices in probation and parole districts, and its plan to continue expanding this initiative into additional districts. The section of the status report on evidence-based practices shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of these practices in reducing recidivism and how that effectiveness is measured.
B. Included in the appropriation for this Item is $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from nongeneral funds to support the implementation of evidence-based practices in probation and parole districts. The source of the funds is the Drug Offender Assessment Fund.
C. Out of the amounts appropriated in this item, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Department of Corrections to pay the Department of Motor Vehicles for the costs of providing identification cards to inmates through the DMV Connect program.
D. Included in the appropriation for this Item is $1,967,265 the first year and $2,360,719 the second year and 37 positions from the general fund to expand the cognitive-behavioral program statewide for Probation and Parole offices. The Department of Corrections shall submit a report evaluating the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral program including but not limited to services and treatment provided, program completion rate, and recidivism rate for those individuals who participated in the program. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, the Secretary of Finance, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget by November 1, 2023.
E.1. Included in the appropriation for this item, $3,337,051 the first year and $3,640,419 the second year from the general fund is provided for a $3,000 per year salary increase for probation and parole officers, including senior officers and supervisors, effective July 10, 2022.
2. The Department shall conduct a review of its probation and parole officer staffing levels, including vacancies, rates of staff turnover and recruitment statistics, employment conditions, and employee compensation at the Department. The Department shall deliver a report containing such data and information to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by October 1, 2022.