Iowa

Training:

Provided a consultant to conduct a one-day training on juvenile sex offender treatment and prevention at the request of the 1st Judicial District Juvenile Court for juvenile probation officers, treatment providers, case workers, and community representatives in Dubuque, Iowa, October 1999 (100 participants).

OJP Grant Sites:

2002: The Iowa Department of Corrections sought to provide a comprehensive treatment and supervision program for sex offenders in two rural areas/counties of the state. A report on state sex offender treatment program standards found that these jurisdictions were unable to provide intensive supervision, lacked educational support opportunities for family members of offenders, and needed timely pre-sentence investigations and appropriate assessment for all sex offenders. Grant funds were used to hire and train two full-time probation/parole officers to conduct pre-sentence investigations and coordinate assessments, facilitate groups to educate family members of offenders about the dynamics of sex offending, and carry small caseloads of sex offenders in the rural areas/counties. Also, this project sought to increase release coordination between the Iowa Board of Parole and community corrections staff to facilitate better transition from the state's institutions to the community.

1999: Iowa's Fifth Judicial District, Department of Correctional Services, used an implementation/enhancement grant to enhance supervision and treatment of sex offenders and provide assistance to victims and offenders' families. The department supervises and/or provides treatment for approximately 150 adult sex offenders in Des Moines. The Des Moines metro area includes Polk, Jasper, Harren, and Dallas counties and had a 1999 population of 427,723. Approximately 95 sex offenders participate in treatment on a weekly basis, including both primary and aftercare groups. Staff conduct home visits and surveillance, in addition to traditional supervision duties. Through grant funds, the department worked to improve community networking and collaboration, provide partner and spouse groups for offenders' families, and provide group counseling sessions for victims (to be paid for by offenders).