Standing up for communities

As an organization that helps motivated offenders become contributing members of the community, generating positive momentum lies at the core of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services’ (SCDPPPS) mission. SCDPPPS provides qualified offenders with alternatives to incarceration. The goal is to encourage them to live as contributing taxpayers rather than costing taxpayers thousands of dollars from within the prison system. Another important component of the organization’s mission is to preserve victims’ rights. Through a financial restitution program, SCDPPPS collects millions of dollars from offenders and distributes that money to victims.

Technology is at the foundation of SCDPPPS’s ability to effectively administer these important services to its widespread constituency. More than 750 employees manage 35,000 active offenders and over 50,000 total offenders annually in at least 56 distributed sites and dozens of courtrooms. “We are actively using technology to unchain our workforce,” David O’Berry, director of information technology systems and services states. “Our philosophy is to give our parole and probation agents the tools they need to do their jobs in the field.”

Bringing the classroom to a mobile workforce
As part of the IT team’s focus on mobilizing technology beyond its Columbia, SC headquarters, SCDPPPS’ solution includes tablet PCs and notebooks that enable agents to stay connected to important data. Plus, videoconferencing capabilities make it possible for offenders to present their testimony from prison, decreasing transportation costs, security risks and victim stress. And through the use of global positioning system devices and electronic monitoring, SCDPPPS is able to keep track of offenders’ locations. This highly mobile technology environment combined with the logistics of managing a far-reaching program requires continual training and education. However, bringing employees to one location for on-site, instructor-led training is expensive. It is also difficult to tailor course content to varying student levels or skills specific to SCDPPPS.

Dell Learning System offers new possibilities
David immediately knew the Dell Learning System would help address SCDPPPS’s training challenges. This total e-learning solution preloaded on Dell hardware includes course content like workplace human resource regulations as well as training on the latest software applications and technology. “The Dell Learning System gives us the ability to train large numbers of people when and where they need the training,” David says. “Learning in the work environment offers a tremendous advantage over learning in a classroom where students return to their job a week later and try to apply what they’ve learned,” Beverly Steele, help desk manager explains. “Our employees don’t have to take several days away from their work for training.” Another key benefit of the system is that the organization has a record of what employees are learning. “We have, in essence, a living employee manual we can reference to uphold standards,” Beverly adds.

Mobile learning with fewer resources
The Dell Learning System provides an integrated approach to training for SCDPPPS. With the solution’s easy-to-use Learning Management System, the IT team is able to centrally manage course content and track student scores and class completions. Plus, it offers the organization flexibility on many levels. The human resources and IT team are able to tailor the content to provide training specific to their environment and required regulation compliance testing. Moreover, the Dell Learning System is saving SCDPPPS money, time and significant resources. “We don’t need to provide training rooms or computer equipment,” emphasizes Beverly. The Dell Learning System is also saving help desk resources. “In the past, a large number of help desk calls have involved employees requesting assistance because they don’t know how to operate the technology,” she says. From management skills to technology aptitude, the Dell Learning System helps keep SCDPPPS moving forward and outward so agents can stay focused on their work in the field.

Make it happen. . . with Dell Training. Call 800-822-1608 • Click www.dell4slg.com