In 2007, the District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), a Federal executive branch agency that provides parole and probation services in Washington, DC, became the first Federal justice agency to add a podcast to its Web site. Although CSOSA still provides community outreach through production of both a monthly radio and television show called “DC Public Safety,” the podcast adds a social media where the agency can further educate the public, policymakers, and the media; and where people can find information regarding public safety, criminal justice, and criminal offenders. CSOSA gives microphone time, not just to administrators, but to rank-and-file employees, current and former inmates, and the public. The podcasts are unedited and give all individuals the chance to say what is on their minds; however, the agency will remove profanity or slanderous remarks. Topics are selected based on inquiries received from the public and the media. The podcast is both easy and inexpensive to initiate; a primer called, “So You Want to Podcast?” is available at www.csosa.gov/Olipa/pubs/-podcast_article.pdf.
PODCAST How to
NCJ Number
220869
Date Published
October 2007
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes the benefits of podcasts as experienced by the District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).
Abstract