Sedgwick County Day Reporting Center to hold Transition Celebration for criminal offenders who complete intensive program

WICHITA, Kan.— April 20, 2010—BI Incorporated, the operator of an innovative day reporting program for probationers in Wichita, will host a unique ceremony – called a Transition Celebration – for probationers who have successfully completed this criminal justice program. The ceremony will take place today at The All Occasions Event Center, 4940 East 21st Street North, from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the Transition Celebration, Carol Schneider, City Probation Officer, and Karl Peterjohn, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, will be keynote speakers. In addition, program graduates and former program participants will make remarks. A special award will be issued to a client who has exhibited exemplary behavior within the community.

The Sedgwick County Day Reporting Center, located at 703 East 21st St. North, opened to help alleviate jail crowding problems and tackle chronic recidivism with certain offender groups. More than 75 probationers go to the center each day.

“For many of the individuals who will go through this celebration, this will mark one of the first times they have successfully completed any program. This is a very positive event for these individuals, their families and the local community,” explained Terri Vierthaler, BI Program Manager.

The Sedgwick County Day Reporting Center manages a mix of participants, including offenders referred to the center instead of incarceration; sentenced offenders who are serving out the remainder of their sentences in the community; individuals who have violated probation; and pretrial defendants. The goals of the center include reducing the jail population by diverting individuals to community supervision and helping clients stay crime‐free once released to the community. The Sedgwick County DRC is open six days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

About BI Incorporated (www.bi.com)
Established in 1978, BI Incorporated is the leading technology, treatment and supervision company in community corrections today. BI contracts with approximately 900 governmental agencies nationwide, supporting them with a full continuum of intensive supervision technologies and community-based cognitive behavioral reentry programs for adult and juvenile offenders. BI’s ISO 9001:2008 certified national monitoring center, owned and operated by BI, provides 24/7 expert support supervision services exclusively for governmental agencies. BI works closely with local public corrections officials to cost effectively reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and strengthen the communities it serves using evidence-based practices in a community setting.