Exploring Pathways to Reducing the Footprint of Community Supervision: Earned Time Credit and Shortened Supervision Terms
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SESSION INFO

Monday, February 26, 2024
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Session Type: Workshop
Across the US, people on probation and parole are subjected to long supervision terms that can last for decades. According to an analysis from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the average length of supervision is 24 months. EXiT: Executives Transforming Probation and Parole advocates for shorter supervision terms. The third policy aim calls on practitioners to 'Establish reasonable probation and parole terms that are not unnecessarily long (generally no longer than 18 months) and are measured by a balance of safety concerns and an individual’s goals,' while the fourth EXiT policy aim encourages practitioners to 'Allow people on probation to earn time off supervision through good behavior and by achieving certain milestones, like high school graduation, program completion, enrollment in college, and job retention.' Across the US, multiple states have taken measures, including legislative and administrative policy changes, to shorten supervision terms. This panel will feature practitioners from California, Missouri and Texas to discuss the implementation of these changes, their outcomes, and lessons learned.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Ms. Barbara Broderick
Chair, Executives Transforming Probation and Parole Network


Barbara Broderick is the Chair of EXiT: Executives Transforming Probation and Parole. the former chief probation officer for Maricopa County, Arizona. Broderick has devoted more than 30 years to the criminal justice system. She became chief probation officer for Maricopa County in December 2000. Before that, she was state director of the Adult Probation Office for the Arizona Supreme Court for five years, assisting local jurisdictions and treatment providers. She has been named as the nation’s top probation executive by the National Association of Probation Executives for her sustained and distinguished service to the probation profession. Before coming to Arizona, Broderick was New York State Director of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. She earned her B.A. from Niagara University and her masters at the School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Albany.

Magdalena Morales-Aina, LPC-S
Director, El Paso County CSCD


Ms. Morales-Aina is the Director of El Paso County Community Supervision & Corrections Department in El Paso, Texas. She has over 26 years of experience as a criminal justice practitioner and licensed therapist working with justice-involved individuals. She has extensive program development and training experience in Trauma Informed Care, Equity and Inclusion, Best Practices in Community Supervision, Jail Diversion, Competency Restoration, and Treatment Courts. Ms. Morales-Aina serves on several multidisciplinary committees at local, state, and national level. She has served on the Board of Directors for Texas Probation Association (TPA) and American Probation and Parole Association (APPA).

Todd Schwent
Assistant Division Director, MO Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole


Todd J. Schwent began his career as a Probation and Parole Officer for the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole in 1996. In 2005, Todd was promoted to Unit Supervisor and later provided oversight of the St. Louis County Treatment Court Program for Probation and Parole. In 2013, supervising the Sentencing Assessment Report Unit. Todd assumed the District Administrator role in St. Louis County for the St. Louis County Court office in 2017 before being promoted in 2018 to the Regional Administrator position for the Northeast Region of Missouri. In 2019, he assumed the Assistant Division Director role for Probation and Parole. Besides serving as a trainer in multiple areas, he assists in policy development and implementation, serves as the Division’s legal and legislative liaison, and works closely with a variety of stakeholders.

Ms. Wendy Still
Board Member, Executives Transforming Probation and Parole Network


Wendy Still has worked in state government for over 37 years and specialized for 29 years in Adult and Community Corrections in the State of California. Wendy’s experiences include developing gender responsive, trauma informed prison and community rehabilitation programs and strategic master plans designed to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism for California’s offenders and parolees. Wendy has served as Director, Activation Management and Rehabilitation Programs with the California Federal Prison Health Care Services, and Governor appointed Associate Director Female Offender Programs & Services, and Southern Regional Prison Administrator for 10 prisons.