Forensics Program
Program Description
Although community safety takes precedence, when carefully and thoroughly assessed, many low-risk offenders can be treated and effectively
supervised in the community as an alternative to incarceration or as conditions of their release from a correctional facility. The Forensic
Program is one part of a treatment and supervision network that involves program staff, probation officers, parole officers, assistant state's attorneys,
public defenders, family and client, collaborating to minimize the offender's risk for recidivism, improve the offender's ability to function,
and enhance the safety of Will County residents. Providing collaborative treatment and supervision of offenders reduces future victimization
and is prevention.
In addition to the knowledge of various theories and approaches to mental health and substance abuse treatment, staff members have received
specific training and/or experience in one or more of the program's specialized populations served: Sexual Abusers, Domestic Batterers, Not
Guilty by Reason of Insanity, and Fitness to Stand Trial.
Populations Served
The Forensic Program serves individuals referred by the criminal justice system, who have been adjudicated in accordance with one or more of
the four specialized treatment fields, are presumed to pose a risk for future reoffending, and are in need of specialized assessment and/or treatment
to address the basis for offending.
Without external pressure, most offenders will not successfully complete treatment or abide by treatment and probation/parole requirements.
Clients who exercise their right to refuse having members of their supervision network involved in their treatment, are not eligible to receive
services through this program. Clients may be referred to other available specialized treatment providers, upon approval from their supervisory
agent.
The program is not appropriate for non-adjudicated offenders.
The existence of some degree of denial does not preclude a client from entering treatment. However, community-based treatment is not appropriate
for a client who continues to demonstrate complete denial.
Clients who voluntarily remain in treatment once released from further obligation by the supervising agent, are expected to comply with the
same treatment requirements as a court-mandated client.
Eligible individuals must be a resident of Will or Grundy County, or resident of a neighboring county but under jurisdiction of the Will or
Grundy County criminal justice system.
Domestic Batterer, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, and Fitness to Stand Trial services are limited to adults 18 and older. Sex Offender
Services are available to individuals 13 and older, although maturity level may necessitate referral of some early teens.
Individuals with active drug or alcohol abuse problems must obtain an appropriate level of treatment, and remain abstinent, prior to participation
in Sex Offender or Domestic Batterer treatment.
Program Goals
The program does not advocate cures. Management of abusive and criminal behavior is a life-long task. Treatment focuses on assisting the individual
to accept responsibility, institute change, and manage criminal thoughts, attitudes, and behavior, over a lifetime.
Sex Offenders:
- Disclosure of all sexual offenses, reduction of denial and defensiveness, and assumption of full responsibility for sexual offending
- Identification and correction of distortions in thinking that enable sexually abusive behaviors
- Identification of offense patterns, risk factors, and specific plans to eliminate abusive behavior
- Education about an offender's potential for re-offending and the offender's risk factors for individuals in the offender's support system
- Development of a capacity to understand the impact of his behavior on survivors
- Replacement of deviant sexual desires, arousal, thoughts and fantasies with healthier sexual attitudes and functioning
- Resolution of other core clinical issues that may facilitate abusive behavior
- Development of specific communication and social skills necessary to form appropriate and healthy relationships
- Referrals for ancillary treatment needs
Domestic Batterers:
- Education about the causes and forms of domestic violence
- Development of skills for handling immediate conflict situations without becoming abusive
- Promotion of attitudes associated with non-abusive behavior and challenging of attitudes associated with abusive behavior, including:
- Respect for equal rights
- Full responsibility for abusive behavior and for stopping it
- Expression of a full range of emotions
- Awareness of the costs of abusive behavior
- Empathy for the survivor's experience
- Negative effects of abuse on survivors, families and others
- Development of skills for non-abusive behavior and equal partnerships including:
- Non-violent conflict resolution
- Assertive, non-aggressive communication
- Maintenance of positive, healthy, nurturing and non-abusive parenting
- Encouragement to take responsibility for change in the community
- Confronting other abusive individuals
- Participation in self-help groups
Unfit to Stand Trial:
- Through medications and counseling, decrease the symptoms of mental illness interfering with one's ability to understand what is happening
in court or to cooperate with one's attorney
- Increased ability to self monitor the progression of symptoms
- Increased compliance with participation at all scheduled treatment and court appointments
- Referral and linkage to adjunct services necessary for the defendant to remain in the community (food, clothing, shelter)
- Education regarding the legal system, and return to fitness
Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity:
- Through medications and counseling, post-adjudication maintenance of psychiatric stability, ability to self monitor the progression of
symptoms, participation at scheduled treatment appointments, and referrals
Program Services
ASSESSMENT
Staff complete an offense-specific assessment that emphasizes the collection of information related to criminal behavior. An assessment may
include:
- Clinical interviews
- Medical history and/or examination
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Paper/pencil testing
- Intellectual and personality testing
- Polygraph examinations
- Medical testing
- Drug and alcohol testing
Staff are mindful of limitations posed by client self-report and make all possible efforts to verify the information provided by the client. A thorough
review of written documentation and collateral interview includes gathering and reviewing information from all available and relevant
sources, including:
- Criminal investigation records
- Child protection services investigations
- Previous evaluations and treatment progress reports
- Mental health records and assessments
- Medical records
- Correctional system reports
- Offense statements from abuser
- Offense statements from victim
Survivors of abuse are not re-interviewed for purposes of gathering information for the abuser's evaluation
TREATMENT
Group treatment is the primary modality for all services. At the discretion of the evaluator, individual treatment is available for those with special
treatment needs. Individual treatment is not available as an alternative to group treatment, simply by client request.
Treatment services follow a cognitive-behavioral model and requires significant learning, self-disclosure, and behavioral assignments to be completed
outside of the treatment session.
The program seeks to provide or ensure access to a full range of services to meet the client's needs. Additional general services may include:
- Crisis intervention
- Case management
- Referral to additional treatments
- Aftercare
Frequently Requested by Not Available Services Include:
- Psychological testing, (unless conducted as part of our full evaluation)
- Initial evaluations to determine fitness to stand trial
- Child custody Evaluations
- Parental Fitness Evaluations
Program Outcomes
Progress is based on observable changes in thinking, functioning, behavior, and consistency with which one demonstrates an ability to apply
newly learned materials and behavior.
If a client does not address the identified treatment objectives and the thinking or behavioral patterns remain at a level determined to present a
risk to the community, the treatment provider may refuse further services, with an obligation to inform the judicial system of such termination.
The treatment provider shall immediately notify the appropriate authorities if a client is unsuccessfully terminated from or discontinues
involvement in the treatment program.
For clients who are discharged from the program in good standing (e.g. released from treatment by the court, or having successfully met treatment
goals), discharge plans include provisions that clients are free to continue in the program voluntarily, or to return to the program in the
future for additional supports.
Program Locations
All Forensic Services are currently offered through the Joliet office located at:
501 Ella Avenue
Joliet, IL 60433