A BLUEPRINT TO A SUCCESSFUL
RE-ENTRY PROGRAM
Facilitator: J. McKinzie, BBA,M.ED
Shelby County Division of Corrections
13th Annual NPCL Conference
June 8-11, 2011
Arlington, VA
INCARCERATION RE-ENTRY
STATISTICS
•285 millions men and women are incarcerated in the U.S.
•95% of all state prisoners will be released from prisons.
Since 2000, there has been a release increase of 20% which means
approximately 9 million people are released back into the community.
But the question is, how are we going to assist them in their re-entry
State of TN
National Average
Parolee
8,721
1863 per 100000
Probationer
49,302
447per 100000
Incarceration
29,369
Approx. 285 Million
Preparing for Re-entry
• Building positive relationships
• Understanding dysfunctional
relationships
• Establishing safe boundaries
• Effective communication
• Roles and responsibilities
• Identifying fears and expectations
• Identifying resources necessary for a
successful release
• Planning that first day "outside" Very
Important
• Re-Entry Plan
REALITY OF RE-ENTRY
What About the Boot?
GO! Defend for yourself
• How?
• Needs support system
• Who?
Go! Back into your community
• Old Habits,
• Life Style Addictions Issues
GO! We will see you in 2 to 3 years (recidivism)
The tendency to relapse into a previous undesirable type of behavior, especially crime.
Recidivism or a new undesirable behavior will occur if we don’t have a postrelease, follow-up initiatives in place for a successful re-entry
MYTHS ABOUT RE-ENTRY
Are They Really “FREE”?
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•
Probation
Parole
Discrimination/Prejudice
Mindset
There is a Process to become “Free” just like it was a process that lead to
incarceration.
A series of steps or actions directed toward a specific aim of
change and development
Re-entry Agencies must assist in a successful re-entry
WHEN PRISONERS COME HOME
Family Concerns
• When will he/she get a job?
• What if he/she does not remain clean
and sober?
• Will we recognize him/her?
• Will he/she go back to their old
lifestyle and friends ?
• What is his/her new role in the family?
• When can we trust him/her again?
•
(checkbook, discipline, intimacy, etc.)
CHALLENGES OF RE-ENTRY
• Getting a job
• Staying clean and sober
• Building positive, and established new
relationships
• What is my new role going?
• Fear of failing (this is huge)
• Trust will have to be re-built and will take time
• What are the expectations of each family member
and how can those be prioritized?
RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS
PRE-RELEASE PROGRAM
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•
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12 Hrs Life Skills Program
Vocational, Trade & Apprentice
Ex-offenders Employment Service
Post-release Reporting Agency
Re-entry Resource Center
Family Group Conference
Addiction Relapse Prevention
Re-Entry Programs Diagram
Pre-Release
12 Hrs. of Life Skills
Post-Release
Correctional Reinforcement
Monthly Reporting System
Ex-Offenders Employment Agency
Certification Program/GED Prep
College/Trade Enrollment
Addictions Program
Job Readiness
Free Counseling Services
Mentoring Program
Family Group Conference
Entrepreneurship
Support Groups
Transitional Housing/Mission
Crisis-Ex-offenders Hotline
Community Resource
RE-ENTRY OUTREACH
Counseling
Prison Mentoring
Substance Abuse Program Community Resources
Program Support Cycle
Education/Training
Resource Center
Substance Abuse
Addiction
Housing
Financial Support
Employment
CHANGES IN LAWS & POLICIES
• Child Support Laws•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Alternative to locking up Fathers (Job placement for fathers)
Geared toward the mother
Enforce more than financial support (Paper Dads)
Suspend order while incarcerated without warrant
Amnesty program for arrearage (Go back 5 to 10 years) if the
father volunteers in the community or with activities/event that
involves children and families, with the involvement of his
children.
Percentage of support should be invested (CD, mutual fund,
annuity, etc.) released to the child when aged out (18 or 21)
Non-enforcement of support order for unwed mothers after 2014.
Suspend order while incarcerated without warrant
• Felony Status•
Modify/amend how long a felony is active (7-10 years as Credit)
• Voting Rights•
Voters rights restored upon release, if no legal obligations are
active (Restitution, Parole and Probation)
• Job Opportunity•
Remove question #7(criminal background) on most applications
about incarceration
36-40
8%
over 40
8%
Age Group
18-21
17%
31-35
4%
26-30
21%
22-25
42%
RE-ENTRY ORGANIZATION POSITIONS
• EDUCATION COORDINATOR-responsible for GED, vocational classes,
trade/skills building, career builder
• RE-ENTRY COORDINATOR-deals with post and pre-release re-entry.
Responsible for all transitional issues from jail to home.
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE & ADDICTION COORDINATOR-deals with pre and post
addiction issues (not limited to drugs and alcohol)
• EMPLOYMENT COORDINATOR-deals with all pre and post employment
opportunity issues
• COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR- resources within the community
that will assist with re-entry
• PROJECT CASE MANAGER-deals with all pre and post release issues on a
one-on-one basis per individual needs
THE DOWNSIDE TO NO RE-ENTRY PLAN
Drug Game, Negative & Criminal-Minded People,
Crime, Domestic Violence, Alcohol & Drug Abuse,
Addictions
There Is A Price to Pay for Re-entry
OLD HABITS + NO PLAN =
RECIDIVISM/INCARCERATION
?
Thank You
and
Have a Successful Re-entry
Program