Sex Offender
Adult Sex Offender Unit
Jackson County Community Justice operates a sex offender supervision program that focuses on community safety, recidivism reduction, victim safety, and offender accountability. The Community Justice's Sex Offender Unit is comprised of three (3) parole/probation officers who are tasked with monitoring each offender's supervision conditions identified by the Courts, Local Supervisory Authority, and/or the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision.
The Community Justice Sex Offender Unit utilizes a Containment Model in the supervision of this offender population. The Containment Model is a three-pronged approach that includes the parole/probation officers, treatment providers, and polygraph examiners. The Containment Model utilizes a multi-agency partnership in the cooperative supervision of offenders within the community and assists in maintaining the overall goal and vision of community safety, offender accountability, and rehabilitation.
Parole/Probation Officers:
The parole/probation officers are specially trained in the behaviors of sex offenders and utilize a variety of tools to assist in monitoring and enforcing the offender's supervision conditions. The parole/probation officer's duties consist of, but are not limited to the following:
- Complete risk assessments within the first 60 days of supervision.
- Notify local law enforcement of new sex offenders in surrounding jurisdictions.
- Provide referrals to sex offender treatment and monitor compliance with treatment conditions.
- Monitor all supervision conditions ordered by the Court, Local Supervisory Authority, and/or the Parole and Post-Prison Supervision Board.
- Provide ongoing communication and support to the treatment providers and polygraph examiners.
- Respond to offender violations.
- Participate in the local and statewide Sex Offender Supervision Network (SOSN).
- Conduct office visits and unannounced home visits with the offender to monitor compliance with supervision conditions.
- Provide the final decision on serving sanctions, issuing travel permits, participation in family meetings, and allowing 'contact' with minors/victims.
The Community Justice Sex Offender Unit frequently conducts unannounced home visits on supervised sex offenders. The parole and probation officers monitor sex offender behavior through office visits, phone calls, virtual visits, discussions with the approved treatment provider, and contact with the polygraph specialist.
The sex offender unit in Jackson County strives to protect the community and reduce the recidivism rate of sex offenders. Our success is attributed to the supervision strategy we have developed, which includes evidence-based practices.
The Community Justice Sex Offender Unit utilizes treatment providers approved by the local Sex Offender Supervision Network (SOSN) and department Director. Approved treatment providers are clinical members of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) and licensed and endorsed by the Oregon Licensing Board for Sex Offender Therapy. Sex Offender Treatment involves the following requirements:
No contact with minors unless approved by the parole/probation officer and therapist;
No alcohol consumption unless approved by the parole/probation officer and the offender has completed the sexual history disclosure process;
No non-prescribed or illegal drugs;
No pornography;
Mandatory weekly treatment group meetings;
Timely disclosure of treatment and/or parole/probation violations;
The individual must provide a written account of the crime of conviction, a full sexual history disclosure, and provide adequate updates as required by the treatment provider and the parole/probation officer. All disclosures are verified through a polygraph examination. Any discrepancies in the written disclosure documents and the polygraph require immediate resolution by the offender.
The treatment provider completes and submits written reports to the parole/probation officer every four months outlining treatment accomplishments and progress. The treatment provider and the parole/probation officer are in constant contact and discuss any issues as they arise. This is to ensure the offender is being held accountable and to identify treatment progression or concerns.
The use of polygraph examinations are a mandatory part of sex offender supervision and are recognized by the parole/probation officer and treatment provider as an effective tool in helping to manage sexual offenders in a community-based program.
The Community Justice Sex Offender Unit utilizes polygraph examiners approved by the local Sex Offender Supervision Network (SOSN) and department Director. Polygraph examiners used by the department are required to be licensed as a 'General Examiner' through the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and be certified by examination through the American Polygraph Association in the field of post-conviction sexual offender testing (PCSOT). The polygraph examiner provides the following types of testing:
- 'Specific Issue' Examination is conducted on an offender who remains insignificant in denying their crime or specific parts of the crime.
- 'Maintenance' Examination is required for offenders six months after the inception of supervision and at least every six months after that. Some offenders, due to risk factors, may be tested on a more frequent basis. Maintenance polygraphs are used to augment the supervision compliance checks and to promote accountability throughout supervision.
- 'Sexual History Disclosure' Examinations are generally completed during the first six months of treatment. The Sex History Disclosure is used for case planning purposes. It helps determine an offender's prior target victim pool, their grooming techniques, their strategy to gain victim access, and their history of other deviant patterns that should be addressed in treatment.
- The polygraph examiner provides all testing results to the parole/probation officer and treatment provider. If an individual fails a polygraph exam, the individual completes an addendum clarifying the failed content of the exam. They may be required to submit to a follow-up polygraph examination.
Community Justice Today - Sex Offender Leveling
Viewer discretion is advised for this video as sensitive topics are covered. When a sexual assault case is being processed, very specific steps are taken to determine the level of notification and intervention required for the offender.
