WHO WE ARE | Message from the Acting Director
Welcome to the website of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA). You will find a wealth of information on our programs and services as well as our efforts to deliver state-of-the-art community supervision to the nation’s capital.
CSOSA enhances public safety by effectively supervising adults under our jurisdiction. We reduce recidivism by implementing best practices that achieve successful outcomes; support the fair administration of justice; and promote accountability, inclusion, and success.
CSOSA places great value in its partnerships with community organizations, local and federal criminal justice agencies, city government, the faith community, and individual citizens in promoting both successful reintegration of the supervised population and public safety for all residents and visitors of the District.
I encourage you to explore our website and learn more about the mission of our agency, what we do, and the positive impact we have in the District. You can also follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter, @DC_CSOSA), like our Facebook page (/DCCSOSA), and connect with us on LinkedIn (CSOSA) to stay up-to-date on our work.
Acting Director
WHO WE ARE | About the Acting Director
Denise A. Simmonds, Acting Director
Denise A. Simmonds became Acting Director of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) on February 10, 2025.
Prior to her appointment as Acting Director, Ms. Simmonds was the Deputy Director of CSOSA. As Deputy Director, she oversaw the agency’s compliance functions in the Office of Investigations, Compliance, and Audits (OICA), as well as the Office of Behavioral Intervention (OBI) and the Office of Legislative, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs (OLIPA).
Ms. Simmonds joined CSOSA in September 2019 as the Senior Director for Investigations, Compliance, and Audits and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2023.
Before joining CSOSA, Ms. Simmonds served as a criminal prosecutor and manager for more than sixteen years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Simmonds was a litigation attorney in private practice with the D.C. office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP; this followed a two-year judicial clerkship for the Honorable James T. Giles in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Simmonds graduated from Boston University and earned a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.
MEDIA | Videos
The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) is developing a series of videos to inform you about the work we do and how we do it.
About CSOSA: Quick Fact
video series
This video series provides a textbook definition or short answer to some of our most frequently asked questions.
If you have an idea for a topic that should be covered in a Quick Fact video, send a message to us through our Contact Us page.
Videos in this series:
- What is community supervision?
- Whom does CSOSA supervise?
- What is probation?
- What is parole?
- What is supervised release?
- What is a civil protection order?
- What is a deferred sentencing agreement?
- Who places someone on community supervision?
- How long are most people on supervision?
- What is an individual supervision plan?
- Can CSOSA arrest people?
- What’s an AVR?
- What are the supervision levels?
- What is evidence-based practice?
- What is criminogenic risk?
- What are stabilization needs?
- When are supervisees put on GPS?
- What is restorative justice?
- How many contacts do supervisees make with their CSO?
- What are collateral contacts?
Success Story Sunday
video series
Type “definition of success” into an Internet search tool and you are bound to get a wide-ranging variety of responses. Regardless of how you define success, many find that the path to achieving it is not a straight line. Persevering in the face of obstacles and setbacks is critical. We acknowledge that while every path to success does not look the same, for justice-involved individuals, close supervision, as needed, and access to resources to address stabilization and criminogenic needs help to smooth the path to successfully completing supervision.
CSOSA’s mission is to effectively supervise adults under our jurisdiction to enhance public safety, reduce recidivism, support the fair administration of justice, and promote accountability, inclusion and success through the implementation of evidence-based practices in close collaboration with our criminal justice partners and the community. In doing this work, we remain steadfast to our guiding principles of community, accountability, justice.
Watch the videos in this series to learn about some of the challenges former supervisees faced on their journey to success.
Hire One
video series
Employment is a critical pillar to any effective reentry strategy. We at CSOSA are focused on creating opportunities for those under our supervision to succeed in order to enhance public safety throughout the community. As the federal agency that supervises people on probation, parole, and supervised release in the District of Columbia, we have firsthand knowledge and experience with this oft-overlooked source of talent.
We’re asking you to join the list of companies that already partner with us. We can help you find skilled and motivated people who will reward your business with hard work and loyalty. You, in turn, will be helping the people we supervise achieve financial independence. And you’ll be helping to make the District of Columbia a safer place for all who live and work here.
If you Hire One referral from CSOSA, we know that you will come back to us for more.
16Jul
Celebrating Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week
July 16-22 is Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision (PPPS) Week! Now in its 23rd year, PPPS Week celebrates and honors the achievements of community corrections professionals nationwide.
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) joins the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) in saluting the dedication and commitment of the individuals in CSOSA’s Office of Community Supervision & Intervention Services and Office of Behavioral Interventions, as well as the supervision professionals of our sister agency, Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA).
This year’s PPPS Week theme, Stronger Together, acknowledges that success is achieved through unity. When supervision agencies, criminal justice organizations, and community partners align, our collective goals become more attainable. Together we can positively impact public safety and help justice-involved individuals reach their full potential.
CSOSA supervision staff do important, challenging work. They make meaningful, human connections with supervisees. They use evidence-based practices to develop individualized supervision plans for the best possible outcomes. They ensure supervisees have access to appropriate community-based services. CSOSA staff see potential and capacity for change in all individuals. Their hard work and perseverance transform lives and ultimately make the District a safer place to live, work, and visit.
To learn more about PPPS Week, visit APPA’s website.
