Protection Through Probation & Community Corrections

These are parole and probation conditions for all people under community supervision in the state of Louisiana.

Parole Conditions

1. Upon release, I will report no later than 48 hours to the Probation and Parole Office, Department of Public Safety.
2. I will submit a monthly report by the fifth of every month until I complete my supervision. I will also report to my parole officer when ordered to do so.
3. I will live at the address on the provided certificate. If I must move from this address, I will get permission from my assigned parole officer before doing so. In addition, I will not leave the state of Louisiana without written permission from my parole officer.
4. I will not engage in any criminal activity, nor will I associate with people who are known to be involved in criminal activity. I will avoid bars and casinos. I will refrain from the illegal use of drugs or alcohol.
5. I shall not have in my possession or control any firearms or dangerous weapons.
6. I will work at a job approved by my parole officer; if I become unemployed, I will immediately report this to my parole officer.
7. I will truthfully and promptly answer all questions directed to me by my parole officer.
8. I will submit myself to available medical, mental health, or substance abuse exams, treatment or both when ordered to do so by my parole officer. Also, I will submit to drug and alcohol screens at my own expense.
9. I agree to visits at my residence or place of employment by my parole officer at any time. I also agree to searches of my person, property, residence, and/or vehicle, when reasonable suspicion exists that I am or have been engaged in criminal activity.
10. I will pay supervision fees in an amount set by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections pursuant to the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Payments are due the first day of each month.
11. That I do hereby waive extradition to the state of Louisiana from any jurisdiction in or outside of the United States where I may be found and also agree that I will not contest any effort by any jurisdiction to return me to the state of Louisiana.
12. I understand that should my parole be revoked for any reason, I will forfeit all good time earned and/or any additional credits earned or could have earned on that portion of my sentence served prior to the granting of parole. I am to serve the remainder of my sentence as of the date of my release on parole.

Conditions of Probation – Art. 895
When the court places a defendant on probation, it shall require the defendant to refrain from criminal conduct and to pay a supervision fee to defray the costs of probation supervision, and it may impose any specific conditions reasonably related to his rehabilitation, including any of the following. That the defendant shall:

1. Make a full and truthful report at the end of each month.
2. Meet his/her specified family responsibilities, including any obligations imposed in a court order of child support.
3. Report to the probation officer as directed.
4. Permit the probation officer to visit him/her at his/her home or elsewhere.
5. Devote himself/herself to an approved employment or occupation.
6. Refrain from owning or possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons.
7. Make reasonable reparation or restitution to the aggrieved party for damage or loss caused by his/her offense in an amount to be determined by the court.
8. Refrain from frequenting unlawful or disreputable places or consorting with disreputable persons.
9. Remain within the jurisdiction of the court and get the permission of the probation officer before making any change in his/her address or his/her employment.
10. Devote himself/herself to an approved reading program at his/her cost if he/she is unable to read the English language.
11. Perform community service work as ordered by the Court.
12. Submit himself/herself to available medical, psychiatric, mental health, or substance abuse examination or treatment or both when deemed appropriate and ordered to do so by the probation and parole officer.
13. Agree to searches of his/her person, property, place of residence, vehicle, or personal effects, or any or all of them, at any time, by the probation officer or the parole officer assigned to him/her, with or without a warrant of arrest or with or without a search warrant, when the probation officer or the parole officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the person who is on probation is engaged in or has been engaged in criminal activity.

Louisiana’s data on the prison population shows that people in prison are most at risk of returning to prison within the first two years of release, often because they lack programs and services to achieve stability in their communities. Sometimes, they fall back into old patterns and associations. As a result, the Department has established alternatives to incarceration.

P&P officers refer people on probation and parole to a variety of programs in the community designed to address the issues they commonly face, including substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, treatment for people convicted of sex offenses, anger management, job training/skills programs, and driving schools.

In 2014-15, the Division of Probation and Parole opened five Day Reporting Centers (DRC) in addition to the three that already existed. There are now DRC’s in Monroe, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Covington, Lafayette, New Orleans, and Shreveport. DRC’s serve returning residents in the local area, providing life skills, job training, and various treatment.

To further reduce costs while continuing to provide safety for the community, certain people on probation and parole who were not convicted of violent or sex offenses may be referred to the Don Francois Alternative Center for committing technical violations of supervision (i.e. they are not arrested for a new felony) . This 90-day program addresses the rehabilitation needs of the person who committed the technical violation, including but not limited to, substance abuse treatment and anger management programs. Program participants are returned to supervision upon completion of the program.

To address long-term, significant substance abuse issues, people on probation or parole can be referred to the Steve Hoyle Rehabilitation Program, which provides a therapeutic community approach to house, treat, educate, and support individuals. The Louisiana Transition Center for Women, a local level facility in Madison Parish that accommodates women under the custody of DPS&C, and the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women offer short-term substance abuse treatment and reentry programs for women on probation/parole supervision.

History
On May 3, 1999, the Division of Probation and Parole hosted its first Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Academy. Under the leadership of Academy Director Bill Corkern and Assistant Director David Miller, P&P Academy staff dedicated many hours to the training and personal attention of our officers and graduated 34 from their very first class. Since that time, the division has conducted 34 successful academy classes, graduating approximately 873 experienced and new officers.

The task of the probation and parole officers is not only to protect society by enforcing the laws and keeping peace and enforcing the conditions of probation and/or parole, but also to assist the person on probation or parole in his or her reintegration back into society through the collaborative efforts of our community partners. The Department’s correctional facilities work together with community corrections to provide returning residents with the services and skills needed to become a productive member of the community. Our academy trains our officers to be proactive in the reintegration process.

Training
Today’s probation and parole officer is called upon to deal not only with crime, but also with virtually all community challenges, including drug abuse, domestic violence issues, poverty, and homelessness. Probation and parole officers demonstrate courage and physical skills, and possess a solid working knowledge of state and local law and community resources available to assist returning residents. They are skilled in medicine and psychology to provide emergency assistance. On numerous occasions our officers are called upon to assist their local law enforcement partners during warrant round ups and other raids, as well as special task forces such as the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and BRAVE. It is through the training they receive at the P.O.S.T. Academy and the local district office that they are prepared and equipped with the knowledge necessary to perform virtually any task.

While in the academy, trainees are required to complete approximately 480 hours of peace officer training. They must complete a specific number of hours in each of the following fields: Orientation to Criminal Justice, Legal Aspects, First Aid & CPR, Firearms, Investigations, Report Writing, Traffic Services, Patrol Activities, Specialized Activities, Officer Survival, Becoming a Professional Peace Officer, Active Shooter, and electives of our choice.

Trainees also participate in 80 hours of firearms training and must shoot a qualifying score on the P.O.S.T. firearms course in order to continue in the academy. They are then sent through 40 hours of training on Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT). Again, they must pass a written exam and show proficiency in the techniques to proceed.

Trainees must also participate in a physical fitness program daily consisting of aerobic and anaerobic exercises. At the end of the 11th week, all trainees must pass cumulative P.O.S.T. test administered by the P.O.S.T. council in order to graduate and be sworn in as Probation and Parole Officers.

Upon graduation, trainees return for an additional 40 hours of training in probation and parole topics such as investigations, preliminary hearings, supervision, and computer databases to name just a few.

Through the continued support of Director Curtis “Pete” Fremin and Deputy Directors Gerald Starks and Bobby Jamie Lee, the academy continues to make improvements in training. In 2008, the division once again introduced physical standards. The trainees are required to pass an initial physical fitness test and score at least 20 percent overall in the three exercises performed to be accepted into the academy. Prior to completing the academy, they must pass a final fitness assessment scoring at least 30 percent overall in the three areas in order to graduate.

Instructors
The Probation and Parole P.O.S.T. Academy would not be as successful as it is without the support of its many instructors both within our agency and those who so graciously give their time outside of the Department. We have some of the best firearm, defensive tactics and classroom instructors any Department could ask for. Many of these instructors carry a full investigative and working caseload, yet still find time to train their new co-workers.