Preface

This Annual Assessment provides information on the progress made toward achieving the goals and objectives contained in the department's Agency Strategic Plan 1997- 2002, dated January 30, 1997, covering the fiscal year July 1997 to June 1998.

This assessment reports on our seven strategic issues: Public Safety; Recidivism Reduction ; Resource Acquisition and Use; Increasing Productivity Through Continuous Quality Improvement ; Development of Partnerships; Effective Communication with the Public and Staff ; Effective Use of Technology. Under each issue can be found our department's goal, each of its supporting objectives. Our overall progress for each issue is summarized in the "Progress Achieved" section and specific strategy accomplishment stated in the "Progress Assessment" statements. The statements in this assessment are either a department wide or regional perspective.