BI Incorporated, the operator of an innovative day reporting program for probationers in Wichita, will host two events in coming weeks.

• On Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., a unique ceremony - called a Transition Celebration - will be held for probationers and parolees who have successfully completed this criminal justice program. The ceremony will take place at The All Occasions Event Center, 4940 East 21st Street North.
• On Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., an open house will be held at the Sedgwick County Day Reporting Center, located at 703 East 21st Street North.

At the Transition Celebration, Courtney Carpenter, City Probation, and Don Singleton, founder of Bethlehem House Outreach ministries and motivational speaker, 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 Patterson, BI State 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.

Center staff reinforces positive behavior for program clients. On the other hand, if participants do not adhere to the strict program guidelines or complete the necessary treatment and training classes, they receive additional sanctions, including supervision with a wide range of electronic monitoring systems or a return to jail or prison.

Offenders directed to the center 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. BI’s programs are Cognitive Behavioral Programs operating under evidence-based principles. Offenders receive different levels of treatment and training based on assessed risks and needs. They will typically go to the center for 90 to 180 days.

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 and supervision company in community corrections today. BI has contracts with more than 1,000 governmental agencies nationwide, supporting them with a full continuum of intensive supervision technologies and community-based counseling, treatment services, and reentry programs for adult and juvenile offenders. BI’s 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.