Merced County Wins State Award for Day Reporting Center

MERCED, Calif.—Jan. 5, 2010— The California State Association of Counties selected the Merced County Probation Department for a Challenge Grant award for its innovative Day Reporting Center program, established to help manage and young offenders in the community. BI Incorporated helped the county open the center in 2008, and has managed the program since then.

CSAC’s Challenge Award recognizes innovative and cost-effective programs launched by California counties. The probation department won one of only 12 awards from CSAC, which reviewed applications from nearly 200 entrants.

Chronic offenders who require extra supervision are typically referred to the program. Offenders who report to the DRC will go through a four-phase program that includes regular reporting to the center, intensive treatment and training, and ongoing testing for drug and alcohol use. Offenders will also participant in classes geared to change criminal behavior. Since opening, almost 200 adult offenders, many of whom are younger than 25 years old, and 200 juvenile offenders have participated in the DRC program.

“We’re very pleased for Chief Probation Officer Brian Cooley and his team in Merced County as they have been very progressive in setting up this center and embracing the evidence-based programs that are delivered to offenders,” said Matt Moore, BI West Coast Regional Manager.

Classes are the DRC are geared toward changing criminal thinking and building vocational, coping, and life skills to reduce the risk of recidivism. The DRC is also helping to reduce pressure on the Merced County Jail and John Latorraca Correctional Facility.

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.