Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Phase 1 - Assess Readiness

The dosage probation implementation model consists of four sequential phases: (1) Assess Readiness, (2) Preparation, (3) Planning, and (4) Implementation and Evaluation. The readiness assessment phase ensures that probation agencies and jurisdictions interested in adopting the dosage probation model are well-positioned for successful implementation and sustainability.

Effective implementation of the dosage probation model requires the following:

  • A jurisdiction that has the legal/statutory authority to grant early termination from probation
  • A probation agency with deep knowledge and skill in the use of evidence-based practices and infrastructure to ensure fidelity and continuous quality improvement
  • System stakeholders—representing the judiciary, prosecution, defense, probation, law enforcement, people harmed by crime, and possibly other entities—who support implementation and engage in collaborative policymaking related to probation sentencing, supervision, and discharge
  • Community service providers with the capacity to partner around the delivery of high-fidelity, evidence-based interventions that reduce the likelihood of recidivism

The readiness assessment phase guides you through the steps and activities to determine whether your probation agency and jurisdiction are ready to implement the dosage probation model. Please begin by reviewing the information below.

Preparing for Your Readiness Assessment

Before you begin your readiness assessment, you and others who may be helping to spearhead, oversee, manage, or conduct the assessment (e.g., executives, directors, managers, supervisors, select line staff) should take several preliminary steps to ensure you are well-prepared.

TIP

When preparing for your readiness assessment, be intentional about whom you enlist to help carry out the assessment's activities (e.g., reviewing statutes/local legal provisions, delivering formal orientations, etc.), which you will learn more about below. For example, you could recruit the assistance of all probation leadership to convey to line staff and system stakeholders the importance of your proposed dosage probation initiative. You could involve line staff members who are well-respected among their peers, knowledgeable or skilled in applying evidence-based practices, or enthusiastic about dosage probation. The readiness assessment is an opportune time to relay that collaboration—a team effort—is critical to successfully implementing dosage probation.

 

Get Comfortable with the Dosage Probation Literature

You and possibly others helping to spearhead, oversee, manage, or complete your readiness assessment are your jurisdiction's resident experts on dosage probation. Everyone should be well-read in the dosage probation literature and prepared to speak with others about the dosage probation model, whether through formal presentations, informal meetings, or other interactions with system stakeholders, probation staff, or community service providers. To prepare for these discussions, you and your resident experts will want to familiarize yourselves with the following publications and handouts:

You should also familiarize yourselves with the readiness assessment documentation to be completed to assist you in determining your probation agency's and jurisdiction's preparedness to implement dosage probation (see “Completing Your Readiness Assessment,” below).

Understand the Readiness Assessment Process

You and possibly others helping to spearhead, oversee, manage, or complete your readiness assessment should also familiarize yourselves with the assessment's four steps. The four steps, each containing a set of activities, include the following:

  1. Determine if Legal/Statutory Authority Permits Early Termination

    This part of the assessment ensures that your jurisdiction has the legal authority to permit early termination from probation. The activities include reviewing your statutes and/or local legal provisions to determine whether and how you proceed with the readiness assessment.

  2. Assess Your Probation Agency's Readiness to Implement the Dosage Probation Model

    This part of the assessment determines whether your probation agency is well-positioned to implement and sustain the dosage probation model. The activities include conducting a formal orientation to dosage probation and assessing the agency's preparedness in critical areas, including leadership, departmental morale and organizational culture, evidence-based practices, continuous quality improvement, and data management.

  3. Assess Stakeholder Interest in the Dosage Probation Model

    This part of the assessment determines whether your system stakeholders are positioned to support implementation and engage in collaborative policymaking around probation sentencing, supervision, and discharge. The activities include conducting a formal orientation to dosage probation and interviewing stakeholders to assess their support for implementation.

  4. Assess Service Provider Capacity to Deliver Evidence-Based Dosage Hours

    This part of the assessment determines whether your community service providers have the interest and capacity to deliver dosage-eligible programs. The activities include conducting a formal orientation to dosage probation and gathering and assessing initial information about providers' organizations and programs.

TIP

Dig deeper into the Dosage Probation Toolkit. The more you know about what's coming up in the readiness assessment, the more efficiently you can plan for and complete its activities. From start to finish, the readiness assessment typically spans 6–12 months, depending on resources and work pace.

Complete the first and second steps in order. The third and fourth steps may be completed at the same time. In other words, you will want to ensure your jurisdiction has the legal/statutory authority to permit early termination before you allocate time and resources to assessing your probation agency's readiness. Similarly, you will want to ensure your agency is well-positioned for implementation before you engage your system stakeholders' and community service providers' attention and time.

Gather Preliminary Support for Your Readiness Assessment

Before formally involving probation staff and system stakeholders in the readiness assessment, you will want to ensure they know about your agency's interest in, and generally support the concept of, dosage probation (i.e., discharging people from probation early through earnest engagement in recidivism-reduction interventions). You would not want to begin conducting formal orientations to dosage probation only to discover that probation staff or one or more stakeholders strongly oppose implementation. You also would not want them to feel surprised when they receive an invitation to a dosage probation orientation later in the readiness assessment process.

TIP

Lessons learned in the dosage probation pilot sites demonstrate that, to effectively implement and sustain dosage probation, the initiative must be perceived as a jurisdiction-level, not a "probation-only," effort. Engaging stakeholders early in the process is a great way to convey that implementing dosage probation is a multidisciplinary, collaborative initiative.

How you engage probation leadership and line staff before they attend their respective orientation is at your discretion, based on your agency's dynamics and staff members' needs. For example, you may wish to discuss the prospect of implementation during a monthly staff meeting—but only after you have spoken collectively or individually with all leadership to ensure their support. You may also want to share one or more of the dosage probation publications and/or handouts listed above.

How you engage system stakeholders before formally inviting them to their respective orientation is also at your discretion, based on your jurisdiction's dynamics and stakeholders' needs. At a minimum, you will need to speak with your jurisdiction's policymakers whose support is necessary for implementation. They include, at a minimum, the following people:

  • Your local chief judge
  • Your local chief public defender
  • Your local elected district attorney
  • Your local chief of probation
  • Your local chief law enforcement officer (police and/or sheriff)
  • One or more local representatives of people harmed by crime

Where state officials have authority over local jurisdictions, support from state leadership is also necessary. You may wish to connect with these stakeholders by phone or in person and email or share a printed copy of one or more of the dosage probation publications and/or handouts listed above.

Completing Your Readiness Assessment

You and possibly others helping to spearhead, oversee, manage, or complete your readiness assessment may find it helpful to "skip to the end." Before beginning your readiness assessment, familiarize yourselves with the documentation and closeout activities that will assist you in determining your probation agency's and jurisdiction's preparedness to implement the dosage probation model.

Fill Out Your Readiness Assessment Documentation

Complete the Dosage Probation Implementation Checklist as or after you complete the four readiness assessment steps guided by the Dosage Probation Toolkit. The checklist describes the essential characteristics and conditions of all probation agencies and jurisdictions wishing to implement dosage probation. It answers the question: What must we have in place now (versus what can we put in place later) to know that we are in a good position for implementation? If all criteria are checked, your agency and jurisdiction meet the minimum requirements and can feel confident moving forward with implementation.

TIP

Not all probation agencies or jurisdictions will be ready to implement dosage probation immediately. Don’t worry if this is the case for you. All it means is that your agency or jurisdiction has additional steps to take before implementation begins. Consider the barriers standing in the way and create an action plan to resolve them. Rest easy that implementation is a marathon, not a race. No matter how enthusiastic or eager we are to provide the best services for the people we work with, effective and sustainable implementation takes strategy and time.

Complete the Dosage Probation Readiness Assessment: Probation Agency Rating Form (.doc) as you complete the corresponding readiness assessment step guided by the Dosage Probation Toolkit: Assess Your Probation Agency's Readiness to Implement the Dosage Probation Model. The rating form assists in determining your probation agency's strengths, areas for improvement, and significant challenges relevant to implementing dosage probation. It answers the questions: What, if any, barriers must our agency resolve before implementation, and what improvements should we plan to make through implementation?

The Dosage Probation Readiness Assessment: Jurisdiction Rating Form (.doc) addresses three readiness assessment steps: Legal/Statutory Authority to Grant Early Termination, Stakeholder Interest in the Dosage Probation Model, and Community Service Provider Capacity to Deliver Evidence-Based Dosage Hours. Complete each part of the rating form as you complete each step guided by the Dosage Probation Toolkit. The rating form assists in determining the strengths, areas for improvement, and significant challenges outside of the probation agency relevant to implementing dosage probation. It answers the questions: What, if any, barriers must our jurisdiction resolve before implementation, and what dynamic forces in our jurisdiction should we be prepared to address during implementation?

Share Your Readiness Assessment Results

The successful implementation of dosage probation relies on strong collaboration, communication, and transparency in information sharing among all agencies and people involved. Once you have completed the readiness assessment documentation and determined whether your jurisdiction is ready to implement dosage probation, it is recommended that you share the totality of the assessment’s results with all probation staff and system stakeholders. Their understanding of the probation agency’s and jurisdiction’s areas of strength, opportunities for improvement, and barriers or challenges will prepare them to make collaborative policy decisions and engage in collective activities during implementation.

TIP

If your probation agency or jurisdiction is still situating itself to be ready for implementation, consider still sharing your assessment results with those who participated. They will likely be interested in knowing the outcome of the assessment and how your agency or jurisdiction plans to resolve the barriers to begin implementation.

How you share the results with probation staff and key system stakeholders is at your discretion, depending on their needs and your jurisdiction’s dynamics. Some probation agencies prepare a written memo, while others coordinate in-person or virtual meetings or brown bag lunches to present the findings and address questions or concerns. When sharing your readiness assessment’s results, consider including the following information:

  • A brief description of dosage probation
  • A brief description of the readiness assessment’s purpose and four-step process
  • The probation agency’s and jurisdiction’s most notable strengths
  • The probation agency’s and jurisdiction’s most notable opportunities for improvement
  • The probation agency’s and jurisdiction’s challenges and how they will be addressed or resolved before or during implementation
  • Expectations for the next steps

Please click here to leave your feedback for this page