H1N1 Swine Flu Virus - Probation and Parole Preparedness

From the American Probation and Parole Association APPA Pandemic Flu Guidelines for Community Corrections:

"The overarching objectives of pandemic preparedness and response planning are to ensure the continuation of mission-critical functions and to protect the health and safety of employees and correctional clients while promoting the community mitigation strategies outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States."

One mission-critical function is offender supervision, which must continue during a pandemic to the extent possible and practicable. However, the way in which offenders are supervised may change during a pandemic in order to accommodate a diminished workforce and the compromised ability of offenders to comply with normal supervision conditions. Additionally, some standard supervision practices, such as face-to-face contacts between offenders and staff during field visits and in-office reporting, may jeopardize the health and safety of employees.