DCS Annual Report 2016 | Page 9

THE DCS ONE COMMUNITY PHILOSOPHY Our agency lives out the One Community approach to supervision through all facets of our work, including: OUR MISSION • Strong collaboration with fellow criminal justice agencies • Commitment to victims and their families • Involvement in the communities we serve • Holistic programming for supervised offenders and their families As an integral part of the criminal justice system, we protect and serve all Georgia citizens through effective ONE OFFICER opportunities for successful outcomes. At the heart of effective community supervision is the relationship between a Community Supervision Officer and the supervised offender. DCS CSOs are driven by a passion to personally connect with and inspire successful change for individuals. Our officers are highly trained to integrate evidence-based practices into every officer-offender interaction—helping build human-based, collaborative supervision relationships that are rooted in compassion and accountability. OUR VISION ONE FAMILY To become the national leader for innovative and progressive community supervision. DCS officers often help the family members of supervised offenders by connecting them with job training, referrals to services, educational attainment opportunities, and other programs. and efficient offender supervision in our communities, while providing We will accomplish this by: • Embracing best and next evidence based practices • Utilizing an integrated approach to improve offender behavior • Effectively coordinating between all concerned stakeholders • Ensuring victim’s voices are heard and victim rights protected Strengthening the family unit enhances an offender’s likelihood for success. Because our officers work with the whole family, they have the knowledge and trust required to make a meaningful difference. ONE COMMUNITY Within each district, dedicated DCS Community Coordinators work to increase access to employment , housing, and educational opportunities for supervised individuals. DCS officers are commited to embedding themselves within the communities they serve. This allows our officers to gain the local knowledge necessary to access the valuable partnerships, community advocates, and opportunities that will most benefit supervised offenders. 2017 Annual Report 9