Practice Corner
On November 15, 2019, the White Paper for SOMB Approved Evaluators Regarding Evaluating Risk Factors for the Additional Special Conditions of Supervision was approved by the Board. This paper was written to provide guidance on the changes to the Additional Terms and Conditions for Adult Sex offenders and Juveniles who have committed sexual offenses implemented by the Colorado Judicial Department, effective November 1, 2018. Neither this paper nor the SOMB Standards and Guidelines, require evaluators to make recommendations regarding these additional terms and conditions. This paper provides guidance on identifying individualized risk factors to assist a Judge or Magistrate in their decision.
In lieu of the blanket prohibitions, the Courts must (1) determine if restricted internet, social media use and, in the case of adults convicted of a sexual offense, use of sexually oriented and sexually stimulating materials and entertainment should be imposed, (2) the degree of restriction and (3) who will manage the imposed restrictions. For example, a judge may allow Multi-Disciplinary Teams or the Community Supervision Teams to use their discretion to modify restrictions or the judge may require that for restrictions to be modified, the issue must be brought in front of the court for a determination to modify existing restrictions. Without sufficient information identifying risk factors in these areas, the Court may allow the behavior or remain silent at the time of sentencing. Should the Court remain silent on any of these issues, the condition is not imposed and therefore not restricted.
In light of these changes, attorneys, probation officers, evaluators and therapists, among others, must determine how to best to assist the Court in making informed decisions. It is recommended that evaluators include information in the sex offense specific evaluation discussing the overall risk of the Adult or Juvenile has committed a sexual offense poses to the community should they have access to those items.
Read the full paper
here.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Domestic Violence and
Sex Offender Management Boards
Annual Conference
"20/20: Promoting a Collaborative Vision
for the Future"
Where:
Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center
620 Village Road, Breckenridge
CO 80424
1-800-525-2253
When:
July 14-17, 2020
Call for Presentations
is now open.
See more details
here
. Please submit proposals via email. Proposal deadline: February 14, 2020
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Community Corrections Conference
Division of Criminal Justice is hosting a Community Corrections Conference February 19-20, 2020. This year's theme focuses on inter-agency collaboration.
Click here to learn more!
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Policy Update
The SOMB has approved a revision (currently out for public comment) to Adult Standards Section 3.315 C.
Research Release of Information (ROI): Prior to entering information into the SOMB Data Collection System the provider must have a signed research ROI. The provider shall inform the client that this ROI is voluntary and is solely for communication with the SOMB for the purpose of research related to the Standards and Guidelines for sex offender management in Colorado, in compliance with 45 CFR § 64.508.
Discussion: Releases of Information are a voluntary aspect of Sex Offense Specific treatment. The ROI is an authorization by the client for the provider to share/receive confidential information from an identified individual or agency for the purposes of providing treatment services.
What does this mean? The SOMB is currently rolling out its new provider data collection system based on legislation that requires the SOMB to collect service level data from evaluators, treatment providers, and polygraph examiners. By December 20, 2019, 60% of all SOMB approved providers have attended the SOMB data collection system trainings. The SOMB has provided trainings in Grand Junction, Lakewood (3 times), Fort Collins, Colorado Springs (2 times), Centennial and Arvada to date. In addition, 8 agencies have hosted trainings for their staff to receive on-site training. Finally, the SOMB has offered several on-line trainings for providers who have not been able to make it to an in-person training.
The SOMB’s data collection system will go live on January 1st, 2020, but some providers who have been trained are beginning to use the system now. By the end of the year, there will be two more training opportunities, including one more on-line training opportunity for those providers who cannot attend an in-person training. For those providers who have not attended this required training by December 31, 2019, there are additional dates listed blow. If you would like to request a training in your area, please feel free to reach out to
Marina Borysov
or
Yuanting Zhang
Moving forward, for newly approved providers after January 1, 2020, it is the expectation of the SOMB that the provider’s clinical supervisor will provide the training to the data collection system.
Because the data system looks very different from earlier versions that may have been reviewed during a training, please carefully read the FAQs and client consent information sheet that we have sent all providers recently to be aware of system updates. Once you receive the activation link to use the live SOMB data collection system, please delete the testing link and only bookmark the live data collection system. The test environment will soon be disabled and any data entered into that system will be lost.
If you have any questions about the SOMB data collection system, please feel free to contact
Yuanting Zhang
.
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SOMB Stakeholder Survey about Communications
We want to ensure that our communications with you are meeting your needs so that you are best able to apply the most up-to-date Standards and Guidelines in your daily practice and your work on teams.
Please take a moment to complete this survey to tell us how we're doing and how we can improve.
There are two surveys: one for Approved Providers and another for all other stakeholders. The survey should take you no more than 10 minutes. Thank you for your input!
Patricia Billinger
Public Information Officer
P 303.239.4415 | C 720.692.7570
700 Kipling St., Lakewood, CO 80215
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Research Corner
As of Dec. 20, 2019, 60% of all providers have attended the SOMB data system workshops. The SOMB has provided data system trainings in Grand Junction, Lakewood (2 times), Fort Collins, Colorado Springs (2 times), Centennial and Arvada area. Other than the workshops SOMB provided, the SOMB staff has travelled to 8 agencies for on-site training.
The SOMB's required data entry is beginning date is Jan. 1st, 2020. There are a few additional trainings provided in January. For newly approved providers who start services after Jan. 1
st
, clinical supervision will be responsible of training new staff. If you still need data system training opportunities, please contact Marina (
marina.borysov@state.co.us
) or me (
yuanting.zhang@state.co.us
).
Because the data system looks very different from earlier versions, please carefully read the FAQs and information sheet that we sent you recently for all of the updates. Once you receive the activation link to use the production site, please delete the testing link and only bookmark your production link.
***LAST CHANCE***
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WHERE:
Lakewood, CO
WHERE: Division of Criminal Justice
710 Kipling 2nd Floor Conference Room
Lakewood, CO 80215
WHEN: January 14, 2020
TIME: 2-4pm
***Snack will be provided
WHEN:January 29, 2020
TIME: 9-10:30am
***Coffee and bagels will be provided
WHEN:January 29, 2020
TIME:12-1:30pm
***Lunch will be provided
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WHERE:
Online
WHEN: January 22, 2020
TIME: 9-10:30am
WHEN:January 31, 2020
TIME: 3-4:30pm
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SPECIAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
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ADDRESSING EXECUTIVE FUNCTION DEFICITS IN OFFENSE-SPECIFIC TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS WITH NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (ID, ASD AND ADHD)
This workshop is designed for treatment providers working with offenders evidencing executive function deficits associated with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Executive functions are brain processes responsible for attention, organizing and processing information; consequential thinking, decision-making, planning, impulse control, cognitive flexibility, self-management and emotion regulation, among others. Deficits in these functions not only contribute to risk of offending behavior, but also present challenges in the acquisition of appropriate competing behaviors and treatment compliance. For example, these cognitive deficits may preclude ability to adhere to a non-modified/adapted group curriculum, while at the same time their social-emotional development needs may not be met in treatment focused on offenders with more severe social skills deficits. The pathogenesis of offending behavior may not always be apparent, or may be a manifestation of a core symptom of a disability as opposed to sexual deviancy. Consequently, the offender may not be well-suited for conventional adaptations of sexual assault/relapse prevention models. The workshop will review the impact of executive function deficits on offending behavior; differentiate developmental from characterological issues; treatment planning, including appropriate accommodations and environmental supports; modified CBT strategies to attain key offense-specific treatment concepts; adaptive skills development, and risk management.
This training is geared towards SOMB approved treatment providers, evaluators, polygraph examiners, supervising officers and other members of the MDT/CST.
When: February 20, 2020
Time: 8:30am-12':30pm
Where: Lakewood Police Department
445 S. ALLISON PARKWAY
LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80226
Cost: Free
CEU: 4 hours
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Trainer: Dr. Paul Spragg,
BCBA-D
Dr. Paul Spragg is a psychologist and consultant specializing in forensic aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders and has over 35 years’ experience working with victims and offenders with intellectual disabilities, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Spragg is licensed in Colorado in both clinical and school psychology, and is also a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). He is the former Director of Adolescent and Adult Services at the JFK Center for Developmental Disabilities in Denver (now JFK Partners), and held a clinical faculty position in the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry. During his tenure at JFK Dr. Spragg established the first clinic for persons with co-occurring developmental and psychiatric disabilities in the Rocky Mountain Region. In 1993, Dr. Spragg founded Developmental Disability Consultants, PC, a highly regarded behavioral health group which operated continuously under his leadership for the next 25 years. Dr. Spragg now works in private practice as a solo practitioner. He divides his practice among children and adults with severe behavior challenges, training, and forensic mental health services.
In his capacity as a forensic practitioner, Dr. Spragg assumed several roles including
forensic examiner, trial consultant, treatment provider, and expert witness
. Dr. Spragg is experienced in both civil and criminal litigation and in his capacity as a forensic practitioner has qualified as an expert witness in Federal District Court (District of Colorado) and over 15 Colorado judicial districts on a variety of matters pertaining to intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Drawing upon 12 years’ prior experience as a SOMB-listed Evaluator and Treatment Provider, Dr. Spragg now provides consultation to Community Supervision Teams on providing sex offense-specific treatment adapted for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders. In many cases he also serves as an adjunct individual psychotherapist to address interfering or high-risk behaviors and to assist offenders and their families in navigating and complying with requirements of the criminal justice system (SOMB, probation and parole).
Dr. Spragg has lectured and consulted extensively on many different aspects of developmental disabilities including assessment, dual diagnosis, advocacy, psychotherapy, offender and victim issues, and various applications of applied behavior analysis (ABA). He has presented at numerous local and national conferences and provided continuing education workshops and trainings to caregivers, students and professionals alike, including developmental disability providers, mental health clinicians, behavior analysts, special education personnel, advocacy and social service agencies, and attorneys.
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Looking for more training opportunities?
You can always find additional training opportunities offered by other professionals in the field on our website. Please
click here
to see what's available now.
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