Special Supervision

Intensive Supervised Release (ISR)

  1. ​​Agent of record
    1. Each offender must be assigned an agent of record, but supervision of the offender may be accomplished by a team of agents. 
    2. The agent of record ensures all release planning, contacts, case planning, case review and record keeping are completed as specified.
    3. Teams must jointly review each case a minimum of weekly.  When a violation occurs, the agent attending the hearing must contact the other agents in the team prior to the hearing to become familiar with the facts of the violation and the offender's general adjustment.
  2. Release Planning:
    1. Physically investigate and approve residence prior to release from a Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) in accordance with DOC policy 203.0​18 – Agent Assignment and Release Planning​.
    2. Ensure that if offender is residing in someone else's residence that they are aware of special supervision practices such as contact standards, internet, weapons or other issues that may impact supervision.
    3. Enter a placement investigation chrono in the electronic database that outlines if accepted; if denied concise documentation as to the reasons the placement was denied.
    4. Ensure the request for EHM/GPS monitoring has been submitted with inclusion/exclusion zones identified as needed.  All ISR offenders must have EHM/GPS installed unless approved by ISR supervisor. All agents must have completed vendor training and review EHM/GPS data daily to ensure compliance and public safety.
    5. ​Agents shall follow the ¾ Housing instructions for homeless ISR offenders when the local jail is willing to provide ¾ housing and a joint powers agreement has been executed.
  3. Transport of released offender to initial ISR placement
    1. ISR agents and/or DOC transport staff must transport an offender who is placed on ISR from the releasing correctional facility to the offender's initial placement. 
      1. If the offender is transported to his/her initial placement by someone other than the ISR contacted by the ISR agent.
      2. Upon completion of the transport, agents must enter a “transport chrono" that identifies, time of arrival at the MCF, time left the MCF, any stops, review of discussion in the vehicle, any items of concern, and time of arrival at placement.
    2. An offender may meet one or more of the following criteria to request assistance from the Central Transport Unit or MCF transport:
      1. The offender is being released from segregation on date of release;
      2. The offender has significant documented mental health conditions or mood disorders and has not been compliant with medication(s) or medical staff;        
      3. The agent provides the case manager and/or program staff with safety related concerns during the agent assignment or investigation process; or
      4. The offender's end of confinement review committee (ECRC) score is level three and is being released homeless.
    3. When the initial placement is a private residence, and the ISR agent didn't transport, the ISR agent must see the offender in person within four hours of the offender's arrival to the initial placement.  If an offender was released per Colton's Law (see Appendix - Colton's Law​, offender must remain under agent's direct contact until it is verified EHM/GPS is active.
    4. When the initial placement is a staffed facility and DOC-funded, the agent must see the offender within 24 hours of the offender's arrival at the placement.
    5. Initial face-to-face contact with offender - at the initial face-to-face contact with the offender in the community, the agent must:
      1. Review the special conditions and ISR offender handbook in detail;
      2. If EHM/GPS is employed, initiate the surveillance prior to release (to include inclusion/exclusion zones, leave/return times etc.) and provide thorough explanation of requirements of the surveillance system.
  4. ​ISR phases:
    1. ISR is divided into three phases for non-level three predatory offenders and four phases for level three predatory offenders:
      1. Phase I – four months (minimum 60 days)
        1. Phase II – four months
        2. Phase III – four months
        3. Phase IV – (level 3 offenders only) is broken down into 3 levels and continues until expiration of sentence and or/conditional release period
          1. Level 1-one year in length, must complete CD/SO programming prior to level
          2. Level 2- one year in length
          3. Level 3-until expiration of sentence or conditional release period.
    2. ​​​The duration of the ISR phases are based upon compliance and progress toward risk reduction. It is generally anticipated ISR offenders may be moved to the next phase after 4 months and transferred to supervised release after one year. Offenders engaged in risk reduction behavior, with supervisory approval may have the option to move to the next phase after 60 days. However, all level three predatory offenders must be placed on ISR for their entire supervised release, conditional release, or parole terms.
          1. The agent must check the offender's criminal history and driving record before advancing the offender to another phase. 
    3. ​​With a restructure report or use of the DOC immediate sanctions process, an ISR agent may delay offender movement to a lesser phase or revert the offender to a higher level of supervision due to an offender's poor adjustment.
    4. ​Offender movement from one phase to the next phase must be noted in the chronological database and CSTS. Requests for early movement between phases and/or early transfer after 6 months to regular supervision requires ISR supervisory approval.  Agents must complete the “Request for Early movement to next phase /Transfer to Supervised Release" form prior to moving an offender early.  Requests must identify overall adjustment and what risk reduction /skill building activities the offender has engaged in and completed.
    5. ​ISR caseloads as identified in MN Statute 244.13, subd. 1.  are limited to 30 offenders for every two agents.
    6. Contacts
      1. ​Frequency of ISR agent and offender face-to-face contact:
        1. Phase I
          1. A minimum of three face to face contacts per week with one of the contacts being a home visit.
          2. During this phase a case plan must be implemented to address offender risk/needs and identify strengths.
          3. Ongoing skill building utilizing Core Correctional Practices must take place at a minimum of once a week.
        2. Phase II
          1. Minimum of two face to face contacts per week with 1 of those contacts being a home visit.  
          2. During this phase a case plan must be implemented to address offender risk/needs and identify strengths.
          3. Ongoing skill building utilizing Core Correctional Practices must take place at a minimum of once a week.
        3. ​Phase III
          1. A minimum of one face-to-face contact per week with two of those contacts per month being a home visit. 
          2. During this phase a case plan must be implemented to address offender risk/needs and identify strengths.
          3. Ongoing skill building utilizing Core Correctional Practices must take place at a minimum of once a month.
        4. Phase IV - Level 3 Sex Offenders only
          1. Level 1- Two face-to-face contacts per month with one of those contacts being a home visit.
          2. Level 2- One face-to-face contact per month with one of those visits being a home visit every other month.
          3. Level 3- One face-to-face contact per month with one visit being a quarterly home visit.
      2. ​​​​All Face-to-fact visits consist of:
        1. ​​Brief check-in on conditions;
        2. New development of risk factors;
        3. Review homework from last case planning session; and
        4. Core correctional practices.
      3. Timing of face-to-face contacts
        1. Agent contacts must be random in nature and must occur seven days per week, including holidays. 
        2. The contacts must occur unpredictably anytime of the day or night, with a minimum of half of the face-to-face contacts occurring on weekends, holidays, or between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM.  Phase 4 contacts must have 25% of visits conducted during non-traditional hours.
        3. Agents are authorized to make double and triple back contacts (contacts within a short period of time) with offenders.  These contacts must be logged, however, may not be used to meet the agent's requirement for mandatory face-to-face contacts.
        4. The assigned agent or other members of the agent's ISR unit must make all contacts or agent's team or designee.
          1. An offender is required to submit a weekly schedule during his/her supervision phases, as directed by agent(s). 
          2. With supervisory approval, other trained agents may make contacts. 
          3. The agents must make additional face-to-face contacts as needed. 
          4. An offender's case plan may be evaluated continuously and during transition to a new phase.
          5. All contacts made with the offender (including collateral) must be documented in the ISR chrono database by the end of the next day.
          6. Each team has an on-call ISR agent assigned every day, to monitor and record information from the 24-hour offender line, in addition to calls from BI, Law Enforcement, and Officer of the Day as it relates to warrants.  Agents are responsible for ensuring the line is working and forwarded to the next agent every day.  Agents must respond appropriately. Agents must enter a chronological entry by the end of the next business day.  Warrant information or public safety concerns must be entered immediately so that information is available.
        5. ​​If an offender is in a 24-hour per day (including weekends and holidays) staffed facility, the agent may reduce the number of contacts to once per week for offenders in phase I, II, and III.  Agent contacts in phase IV must occur as stated in this policy.
        6. Collateral contacts
          1. The agent must utilize the resources available in the community to monitor the offender's activities. 
          2. The agent must maintain contact with appropriate law enforcement agencies, employers, and professional staff of program agencies who are involved with the offender and document all contacts in chronos. Offender contact with law enforcement must be investigated and if needed appropriate action taken.
          3. The agent must also maintain contact with the offender's significant family members such as wife/husband and parents.
      4. ​​ISR Phase requirements
        1. Phase I - house arrest
          1. The offender must maintain a weekly pre-approved schedule and may leave the residence only for pre-approved scheduled activities including employment seeking activities, training, treatment, community service responsibilities.  Offenders must spend a minimum of 40 hours per week engaged in constructive activity.
          2. Offenders may not alter involvement in authorized activities unless the agent approves.  Failure to seek and obtain agent approval may result in a violation report.
          3. After an offender has been fully program compliant to all elements of the program, the agent may authorize pre-approved pro-social activity.  The participation in pro-social activity must not compromise public safety.  Agents may require a safety plan be approved by agents/treatment prior to participation.
          4. The agent authorizes the leave for the exact amount of time required by the activity plus transportation time. 
          5. All pre-approved scheduled activities must conclude to allow for the offender to be at his/her approved residence by 10:30 PM, unless specifically authorized by the agent.
          6. All pre-approved scheduled activities must be attended in the community where the offender lives or, in the case of rural areas, the nearest community providing services, or the ISR supervision area without agent approval.
          7. The offender may be absent for family emergencies only with prior agent approval for the specific occasion.
          8. For medical emergencies, the offender may report his/her absence during or after the emergency. In all situations, the agent must verify the medical emergency.
          9. The agent may restrict the number of visitors to the offender's residence for agent safety purposes. All visitors must be pre-approved by an agent.
        2. ​Phase 2- Modified house arrest - Modified house arrest is the same as house arrest described in Phase I except that:
          1. The offender may have family or recreational activity with prior approval of the agent.
          2. The offender must return to his/her residence by 10:30 PM.
          3. If an offender works evening or night shifts, or is in an approved evening or nighttime activity, the agent may allow a modified family or recreational activity schedule.
        3. Phase 3- Curfew
          1. Curfew is 10:30 PM to 6:00 AM seven days per week unless authorized by agent.
            1. ​Offender community service work, education, or treatment program participation must conclude by 10:30 PM unless specifically authorized by the agent. 
        4. An offender who works the evening or night shift must report home immediately after work and use minimal travel time to return home and have a curfew of 10:30PM to 6:00 AM on their days off. 
        5. Phase 4- Level 3 sex offenders
          1. All Phase 4 pro-social activity is approved by agent and curfew is “as needed".
          2. All phase 4 offenders must submit to a maintenance polygraph annually or as needed.
        6. Offender residence
          1. The offender must reside in the residence approved by the agent. 
            1. The agent must give approval prior to a residence change. 
            2. If an offender does not obtain pre-approval, the agent may submit a violation report or request a warrant.
            3. Agents may not authorize the offender to relocate to another county unless approved by the other county and/or ISR team, regardless of who is to provide the offender supervision. 
            4. ​Halfway house placement, though not routine, may be used with HRU approval.
          2. ​​Access and search of the offender residence
            1. The agent must have reasonable access to the offender's residence on an ongoing basis. 
            2. Access may be anytime of the day or night. 
            3. The agent must inform the offender the access is exercised for supervision purposes only. 
            4. For DOC agents, searches must be conducted as outlined in DOC policy 201.017 - Offender Searches.
        7. ​​Electronic surveillance (EHM-including alcohol monitoring systems) and global positioning systems (GPS)
          1. GPS supervision is a condition of release for all level III sex offenders for up to 90 days. The field services director must approve any requests for GPS supervision exceeding 90 days.
          2. EHM and/or GPS(electronic monitoring) supervision must  be a condition of release for offenders entering the ISR program, unless authorized by the ISR supervisor  and  may be imposed at any time in order to further the supervision structure for up to 90 days (excluding  Soberlink alcohol monitoring system).
          3. Agents must review EHM/GPS data for each offender at least daily to ensure compliance with conditions and their schedule. Observations of non-compliance must be investigated immediately, including all alerts from the monitoring company. 
          4. The field services director must approve any requests for EHM and/or GPS supervision exceeding 90 days.
          5. All staff must receive training from the monitoring vendor regarding the use of their equipment and the process and procedures for monitoring offenders on electronic monitoring.
          6. All training must be documented in the electronic learning and management site.
        8. ​Violations:
          1. All alleged violations must be investigated immediately, and appropriate action taken.
          2. Violations that constitute an emergency and are a public safety risk must be taken into custody by issuing a warrant via HRU.  For non-emergencies an agent must submit a violation report.
          3. Agents must follow the DOC policy 201.012 - Safety regarding offender transports into custody. Offenders on ISR testing positive on a drug screen may be taken into custody or if approved by the Hearings and Release Unit.  With HRU approval, an offender may be restructured with or without additional conditions back to community supervision.
        9. Transfer:
          1. A transfer investigation request must be submitted 30 days prior to completion of ISR to the district in which the offender will be residing via the transfer module in CSTS.
          2. The agent must include the offender's progress and behavior while on ISR, including programming and /or skill directed practice, employment, housing, violations, chemical use and family/support       concerns, chronos and an updated needs assessment.