Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome your interest in the programs offered by the Idaho Department of Correction and support your efforts to provide public education in these matters. The IDOC and our many partners in offender treatment have spent the past several years working to ensure that offenders have appropriate access to quality programs statewide. Through these coordinated efforts, we are establishing a continuum of care for all offenders assigned to the IDOC for supervision. The programs that comprise this continuum are selected and implemented based on national correctional literature, "What Works" literature, and through the expertise of local resources. We believe this document will help you to better understand offender programming in Idaho.

1.How are offenders assessed?
Primary Assessments:
Offenders are assessed at the Reception and Diagnostic Unit, using the following assessments:
Level of Service Inventory—Revised (likeliness to recidivate)
Texas Christian University Drug Screening II (drug and alcohol use and abuse)
Test of Adult Basic Education (educational level)
Medical Health Evaluation (overall medical health and special issues)
Dental Screening (dental issues)
Psychological Screening (self-injurious behavior, medication, special education, and victimization histories screening)
Classification (security risk and housing assignments)
Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (English language placement)
Vocational Screening

Secondary Assessments:
Some offenders may require additional psychological evaluations. These evaluations may include:
Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool Revised
House-Tree-Person
Sentence Completion
Personality Assessment Inventory

2.Once offenders are assessed, how are they assigned classes or groups?
Each offender has a case manager who writes a case plan for him/her, based on the assessments. The needs are prioritized and offenders are assigned to groups or classes based on priorities and availability.

3.What happens when an offender drops out of a group?
It depends on the reason for the drop and the type of group. If he/she drops out because of a move to another facility and it is a group that he/she can be enrolled in again with no problem (an open group such as CSC) then he/she reenters the group as soon as it is available. If it is a close-ended group, then the drop reason is noted in the case plan, the class remains a part of the case plan and it will be necessary to start over.
If the offender requests to drop, the reason is noted in the case plan, and depending on the reason, it may be noted that the offender refuses to program and may receive some sort of disciplinary action. If it is behavioral, it is noted as a behavioral drop and some sort of disciplinary action might occur.
If the offender is on supervision in the community and the group is part of the case plan and required as part of his probation/parole, he/she may receive a sanction or be violated.

4.What is the offender’s responsibility in the plan?
It is the offender’s responsibility to complete the case plan, by attending groups, classes or completing the assignments that are given by the case managers. There are consequences for refusing to work on the case plan.

5.Is gender taken into consideration when someone is classified and or placed in programs?
The first principle in becoming gender responsive is to acknowledge that gender matters. The data is quite clear, women and men enter the criminal justice system through different means, respond to supervision and custody differently, have different needs, and experience behavioral change in gender-based ways. The Idaho Department of Correction continues to provide a leadership role in ensuring that an integrated and comprehensive gender-responsive female offender program and services are provided to meet the needs of female offenders.

6.What is aftercare and what is available in the Districts?
Aftercare is a continuation of a core program that is required before an offender is determined to have finished that part of his case plan. Not all districts have all aftercare programs. The offender should talk to the Probation/Parole officer for information about available aftercare programs.

7.Does an offender have to pay for programs?

It depends on who is delivering the program. If the program facilitator is an IDOC staff member the answer is no for it's delivery and sometimes yes for program material. If the program facilitator is a private provider the answer is yes for delivery and materials.

8.Can an offender get a college degree while incarcerated?
An offender can take college classes while he/she is incarcerated, but the Idaho Dept of Correction does not pay for the classes and assists only in monitoring a test.

9.Can an offender learn a second language while incarcerated?
English as a Second Language is offered at all sites. No other language is taught.

10. What resources are available in the community for offenders and their families?
http://connectingfamilies.net
http://www.idahocareline.org

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