Community Supervision
CSOSA's Community Supervision program constitutes the probation and parole system for adult offenders in the District of Columbia. Parole was abolished in the District of Columbia for offenders sentenced after August 5, 2000. Subsequent to that date, offenders are subject to a period of supervised release following incarceration. Approximately 20,000 men and women are under CSOSA supervision each year.
CSOSA's approach to community supervision emphasizes assessment, intervention, and accountability. In addition to the conditions of release imposed by the D.C. Superior Court (for probationers) or the U.S. Parole Commission, a prescriptive supervision plan is developed for each offender. Based on a comprehensive assessment, this plan identifies the offender's specific needs and the specific program strategies that can be employed to meet them. This program strategy, coupled with stringent standards of contact and surveillance drug testing, ensures that CSOSA both protects the public and provides the men and women we supervise with the services they need to improve their lives.
The Community Supervision program is comprised of approximately 470 Community Supervision Officers and other staff organized into nine branches which provide case management, offender investigations, diagnostics and evaluations, intake, supervision, drug testing and related support services. Learn More >
Most Community Supervision Officers carry caseloads that include probationers, parolees and supervised releasees. General Supervision teams supervise the majority of offenders with average caseloads of approximately 50 offenders per officer. Special Supervision teams supervise smaller caseloads of sex offenders, offenders with mental health problems, domestic violence offenders, traffic/alcohol offenders and high risk substance abuse cases. Average caseloads in these units is approximately 32 offenders per officer.
Related:
Fact Sheet: Community Supervision
Supervising Criminal Offenders in Washington, D.C. (Published in Corrections Today, Feb. 2006)
Learn More About CSOSA
Employment Information
As a Federal agency with a distinctly local mission, CSOSA employees perform challenging work that directly affects public safety in the District of Columbia's neighborhoods.
