Correctional Management Institute
Grants Total $297,000

Dan Beto

According to Dan Richard Beto, executive director of the institute, the grants include $147,168 to continue the Center for Project Spotlight, $88,000 for the continuation of the Texas Probation Training Academy, $12,000 for the Texas Probation Training Academy, and $50,000 to continue the Texas Drug Offender Education Program.

Project Spotlight is an innovative program initiated and funded by the Governor's Office. "The program created partnerships in seven of the state's most populous counties among law enforcement, juvenile probation, and adult supervision officers," said Beto, "for the purpose of providing intense supervision and enhanced services to juvenile and young adult offenders on probation living in high crime areas."

Key features of Project Spotlight are reduced caseloads, intense supervision during nontraditional work hours, high visibility, enhanced educational and social services, and an emphasis on public safety through offender accountability, said Beto. Project Spotlight sites are found in Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Nueces, Tarrant, and Travis Counties.

The Center for Project Spotlight, created last year by a grant from the Governor's Criminal Justice Division, is responsible for providing training and technical assistance to the seven sites. Assisting the Correctional Management Institute in this project is the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Personnel involved in this initiative are Beto, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Phillip M. Lyons representing the Law Enforcement Management Institute, and doctoral fellow David W. Webb, who serves as the project manager.

The Governor's Criminal Justice Division also provided $88,000 to continue the Texas Probation Training Academy. In addition, the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice awarded $12,000 to support the training efforts of the Academy.

The Academy has provided relevant training to adult and juvenile probation officers throughout Texas for over two decades, according to Beto.

"The Academy provides basic training for juvenile probation and detention officers, certification training for community supervision officers, and specialized training to enhance officers' skills in a variety of areas," said Beto.

In addition, the Academy provides training for trainers and produces the highly successful Chief Probation Officers Conference. Key Academy personnel include staff associates Michelle Broselow and Amanda Bilnoski.

The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse awarded the institute a $50,000 grant to continue the Texas Drug Offender Education Program. This program offers certification training and continuing education to persons responsible for administering or providing training to offenders required to participate in the program as a condition of probation.

The program is managed by Sharese Whitecotton, a former probation officer.

SHSU Media Contact: Julia May
Aug. 31 2001
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