Proposal abstract people involved in the criminal legal system have significantly higher rates of trauma exposure compared to the general population

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) was awarded a $524,874 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Swift, Certain, and Fair (SCF) Supervision Program (CFDA 16.828). The grant, titled the "North Carolina Trauma-Informed Engagement and Supervision (NC TIES) Project," aims to enhance the capacity of 240 probation/parole officers (PPOs) supervising specialty caseloads to use trauma-informed engagement and supervision with individuals on their caseloads. The project's goals are to improve the quality of the supervision relationship, assess the impact on community supervision outcomes, and evaluate factors impacting program implementation and sustainability. NCDAC will collaborate with researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to conduct pre-implementation assessments, engage in implementation planning, and undertake evaluation activities. The project period runs from October 1, 2024, through October 31, 2027.

Evidence suggests these rates are even higher among those convicted of SEX offenses or domestic violence, gang-involved individuals, and people with mental illnesses. Given the high rates of trauma among people in the criminal legal system and the link between trauma, crime, and desistance, north carolina department of adult correction is proposing the north carolina trauma-informed engagement and supervision project (NC ties) will be provided to a sample of 240 probation/parole officers (ppos) that supervise specialty caseloads including security risk group (gang-involved individuals), domestic violence, SEX offense, and mental health. The goals of the project are to enhance thecapacity of ppos to use trauma-informed engagement supervision with individuals on their caseloads; improve the quality of supervision relationship between ppos and supervisees (e.g., trust, caring, and fairness); assess the impact of the program on community supervision outcomes; and assess factors impacting program implementation and long-term sustainability of the model. The north carolina department of adult correction will collaborate with a research team from the university of north carolina at chapel hill to conduct a pre-implementation assessment, engage in implementation planning and readiness activities, and undertake evaluation activities.