Adult Probation
Community Corrections
320.203.6942
Adult Intake Functions
The primary purpose of Adult Intake functions is to provide investigative services and assessments to the court for clients not already supervised by an agent in Adult Traditional supervision. Reports prepared are intended to aid the court in arriving at the most appropriate sentence by thoroughly evaluating the reasons for the client's court appearance, prior legal history, personal background (including mental health, socialization, employment, education, financial status, peer associates, recreation, living situation, family history, drugs and alcohol, attitudes, and orientation). Victim considerations, prospects for safe release into the community, and probability of reappearance before the court are also considered. Both punitive sanctions and therapeutic interventions are considered and recommendations made appropriately. In addition to pre-sentence and post-sentence reports, the majority of bail studies, chemical use assessments, domestic abuse assessments, pre-plea sentencing guidelines worksheets, and restitution assessments are done by these agents.
Adult Traditional Supervision Functions
The primary purpose of Adult Traditional supervision is to supervise adult clients placed on probation or supervised release. Primarily, only clients who are classified with either medium or high level of risk and need are managed by these agents. Caseloads consist of a mixture of adult felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor probationers in addition to clients placed on supervised release from the state correctional facilities. Contact standards have been established, requiring both office and field visits. Agents work with clients to develop case plans and make referrals to programs based on assessments, evaluations, client risk/needs, and/or court requirements. Group supervision has been implemented for all supervised release clients and some probation clients, which has proven to be an effective time management option for agents and provides the opportunity for clients to assist one another.
Specialized Correctional Programs
Specialized Correctional Programs consist of the adult Sex Offender Program (SOP), the repeat DWI/Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), the Community Service Work (CSW) Program, Transfer and Pre-Trial, Domestic Violence Court, Drug Court, and Drug Testing.
Agents in the Sex Offender program supervise sex offenders according to contact standards based on their risk to reoffend and their individual needs. Much of their supervision is done in groups, and they co-facilitate sex offender treatment groups with the local treatment provider, CORE Professional Services.
The repeat DWI/ISP program is a court-ordered program with intensive supervision and random surveillance visits to monitor for sobriety conducted by a surveillance technician. Offenders transition through four phases of supervision, lessening their restrictions as they move through the program. Chemical dependency treatment is required in the initial phase of the program.
The CSW program places all court-ordered offenders in Stearns County at work sites in the community to perform community service work, or on work crews supervised by crew leaders. All work sites are either government or non-profit agencies. Offenders are either court-ordered to perform community service work in lieu of jail and/or fines, or they are ordered to perform a specific number of hours as a sanction/condition of their probation.
Transfer agents are required to request transfer on all new probation offenders who reside out of Stearns County and meet transfer requirements after sentencing. There is one transfer agent assigned to incoming transfers to investigate the transfer plan and assess the risk and needs of the offender. The pre-trial agent coordinates alcohol and/or drug monitoring as directed by the court as release conditions.
Specialty Court Program
Stearns County specialty courts are a collaboration between the Stearns County Attorney's Office, Stearns County Human Services - Community Corrections Division, Stearns County Court, Seventh District Public Defender's Office, and local law enforcement. At the present time, the specialty courts include Drug Court and Domestic Violence Court.
Drug Court is a specialized court that processes cases involving drug-using offenders through utilization of comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services, and immediate sanctions and incentives. Drug Court expedites the time interval it takes to get offenders into treatment and provide them with intensive supervision.
Domestic Violence Court
Started in 2009, Domestic Violence Court is a specialized court intended to improve public safety by increasing offender accountability and victim safety through intensive offender supervision and enhanced collaboration with community organizations. Participants are individuals charged in Stearns County with a felony level domestic violence related offense. The offender has to have at least one prior felony conviction or a conviction for any offense related to a felony domestic violence charge within the past 15 years.
Offenders who are court-ordered into the program receive intensive supervision immediately. Conditions of pre-trial monitoring may include electronic home monitoring, drug/alcohol testing, no contact enforcement, weekly compliance hearings, daily schedule and curfew enforcement, and supervision/surveillance. After sentencing, supervision is divided into three phases. The offender must complete all goals and expectations of each phase before moving to the next phase.
Drug Testing
Since February 2005, Stearns County Human Services has contracted with Medtox Laboratories, Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota. There are approximately 900 adult clients set up on random color code drug testing requirements. These clients are required to listen to a daily recording and provide a urine sample within a designated time frame if their color is called. We also utilize the same vendor and a "verdict" named test cup for random urine tests conducted in the office or field by the supervising agent. This cup tests for six different drugs and produces an immediate negative or positive test result indicator. Medtox has its own lab where positive samples are sent for confirmation when necessary. The Community Corrections Division is billed by Medtox on a per-test basis, and offenders are in turn required to reimburse the division if they have the financial means to do so.
Transfer / Pre-Trial Supervision
The transfer agents are required to request transfer on all new probation offenders who reside out of Stearns County and meet transfer requirements after sentencing. They are assigned as the supervision agent until the transfer is accepted in the offender's county of residence. If the offender's probation is not accepted, the transfer agent is required to supervise the file and may be responsible for submitting a violation report to the court and providing testimony if needed.
There is one transfer agent assigned to incoming transfers to investigate the proposed transfer plan in Stearns County and assess the risk and needs of the offender. This agent investigates if the offender is in compliance with their probation conditions by making collateral contacts to treatment providers, family members, and roommates, conducting urinalysis testing, and possibly making home visits. If the offender's supervision is accepted, they are placed on the appropriate level of supervision according to their risk/need as determined by the LSI-R.
The pre-trial agent coordinates alcohol and/or drug monitoring as directed by the court as release conditions. That agent reports any positive tests to the court and prosecuting attorney.
If you have questions contact Community Corrections at 320.203.6942.