Evidence-Based Reentry Practices in
a Jail Setting
Gary Christensen
Corrections Administrator
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office
Realities
• Mid-Year 2004 - 2.2 million incarcerated (Beck & Harrison,
2005 - U.S. Dept. of Justice)
• Highest rate per capita in History
– 726 persons per 100,000 citizens
– World leader – Russia 2nd @ 564/100,000
• Sanctions Overall (Probation, Parole, Jail, Prison)
•
•
•
•
•
1.8 + million (1980)
7 + million (current)
388% increase vs. approx. 25% US population increase
WHY?
Today, nationwide, as well as locally, 80% of
incarceration relates to substance or alcohol abuse
(Belanko, et al.; US Dept. of Justice; National Institute of Corrections)

crime directly related to abuse (DWI to Criminal Sale), getting money
for, under the influence of, severe drug/alcohol history, selling, etc.
U.S. Sanctioning Realities - Race
Chart #1
Sanctions - Race
60%
56%
50%
45%
44%
40%
White
41%
39%
40%
% of Race
Black
32%
Hispanic
30%
30%
Other
20%
20%
18%
15%
12%
10%
3%
2%
1%
2%
0%
Prison-State/Fed
Parole
Jail
Sanction Type
Probation
U.S. Sanctioning Realities – Race
(Beck & Harrison, 2005 - U.S. Dept. of Justice)
Prisoner Recidivism
Langan & Levin (2002)
Sample size – n=272,111
•
–
•
•
•
within 3 years of release
67.5% were rearrested
46.9% were reconvicted
51.8% returned to prison
–
Offenses and Violations
Realities
• Average # of felonies committed by ONE active
drug user = 140 per year (Belanko, et al.; US
Dept. of Justice)
• Over 90% of our local jail populations will
transition directly to our streets
• 80% of those who recidivate will do so within 6
months post-release
Is there need to change our
practice?
Do we practice in the best
interests of the public?
Can work within a jail facility
contribute to “beyond the walls”
long-term public safety?
How do or can jails work with or as
part of our system of corrections?
What do jails do to enhance longterm public safety?
How is EBP different in jails?
…inter-jurisdiction
….in community corrections?
….in prisons?
How is it the same?
What part do our
actions/attitudes have in the
current state of our system of
corrections?
What initiatives/perspectives
relative to offender sanctions are
important within your
jurisdiction?
Rehabilitation, punishment,
restoration, incapacitation, etc.
Perspective within a system designed to
enhance long-term public safety
Treatment, strategy, or training?
Rehabilitation VS. Habilitation?
Is there such a thing as a perfect
treatment strategy?
Is failure a reality?
Is there a treatment or strategy
that can/will lessen the risk that
transitioning offenders will
recidivate?
*Punishment and EBP*
Risk Management/Reduction Strategies:
must it be either or?







Incapacitation/ Incarceration
Direct Contacts
Supervision of Conditions
Electronic Monitoring
Drug Testing/ Screening
Restraints
Setting Limits
RISK CONTROL
Sanction
SHORT-TERM
CONTROL







Treatment & Programming
Cooperation & Collaboration
Challenging Choice
Ownership & Responsibility
Teaching & Supporting Self
(Risk Management)
Communicating/ Upholding Limits
Clearly
RISK REDUCTION
Intervention
LONG-TERM
CHANGE
What can a jail staff do to contribute to
long-term public safety?
 Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate…
 Serve as a resource – educate others
 Encourage system professionals to meet clients prior to
their release – enhance responsivity
 Assess with actuarial assessment
 Measure outcomes – daily, weekly, long-term
 Require a social learning environment - model
 Plan for Transition – follow people and outcomes
 Offer continuing service
The Dutchess County Jail Transition
Program is designed to:
 Enhance
public
safety
through
the
management of criminogenic risk factors,
while considering the necessity for other types
of interventions such as substance and/or
alcohol treatment.
 Facilitate the successful transition of offenders
to our community.
 Reduce recidivism.
?Outcomes?
• 3-year period November, 1998-November of 2001
(Christensen, 2002)
• over a 33% in reduction of recidivism
Comparison of Recdivism - Program
(21.1% ) VS. Control (54.2% )
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
3882
Non-Recidivist
Incarcerations
Recidivist
Incarcerations
401
4595
107
Program
(21.1%)
Control
(54.2%)
Program N=508; Control N=8477
?Outcomes?
• 1998-current – Recidivism Rates remain at
approximately 25%
• Current study of all inmates who entered the transition
program
– Combined recidivism rates of program inmates prior to their
entry to the program = 65+%
– Aggregate Risk Score (LSI-R) = 28
– Rate of Recidivism post program release = 20%
Outcomes-Daily measurement
A
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
B
C
D
E
F
G
ID#
Age
Start
Wk
ID
Date
#
LSI
I
My
How
Transition
Will I
Appli-
Needs
Change
cation
Form
Form
Week
INMATE NAME
H
Presentation Due
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
Formal
Contract
R
Letter to
Group
Release
Trans.
Extra
Myself
Present.
Date
Plan
Group
Work
Group Individual AssignLeader Counselor
Need TP
ment
Need LSI
CANNON, Isaiah
FULLER, Jedediah
STOKES, David JR.
18801
19054
24763
A
6/26/06
1
x
x
A
6/26/06
1
x
x
A
6/26/06
1
x
x
HUNTER, Kelvin
24741
A
6/26/06
2
x
x
ABBOTT, Anthony
19627 A
25687 M
14676 A
1735 A
15817 A
1326 A
10346 A
25791 A
24580 M
17229 A
1051 A
20521 A
25810 M
17229 A
24399 A
22216 A
15198 A
8740 A
25698 A
6/12/06
4
x
x
Moe
Moe
laundry
x
x
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
School
x
x
x
8/18/06
x
B
5/22/06
4
x
x
x
Moe
KM
garbage
x
x
x
9/12/06
x
BD
6/19/06
4
x
x
x
Moe
Moe
laundry
x
x
x
9/19/06
x
B
6/19/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Pam
laundry
x
x
x
5/22/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Olmo
x
x
4/17/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Olmo
x
x
7/3/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
x
x
6/12/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
school
x
x
6/5/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Anna
school
x
x
4/3/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Sylvia
Outside
x
x
6/19/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
x
x
7/3/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
x
x
5/22/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Anna
x
x
6/26/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Anna
x
x
6/26/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Onaje
school
x
x
BD
6/26/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Sylvia
school
x
x
B
4/24/06
4
x
x
x
Onaje
Runion
x
x
x
6/19/06
4
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
X
x
x
x
x
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
6/19/06
x
x
x
Moe
Anna
x
x
x
ABED EL HADI, Mahmoud
ALLAH, Mondu
ANTENUUCI, Joseph
AURORA, Nazareth
CANNING, Robert
CATTS, Clifton
DALTON, Christopher
DELGADO, George
DRAYTON, Shamik
EARLY, John
FASCE, Corey
FLORYAN, Ryan
GINESE, Anthony
GORTON, Tyrell
HARRISON, Ronald
HINES, Raheem
JOHNSON, Darrell
KIERNAN, William
Moe
Moe
10/20/06
x
School
School
B
8/17/06
x
B
8/24/06
x
B
11/26/06
x
B
PV
x
B
B
x
8/1/06
x
x
B
x
B
x
B
x
B
B
7/27/06
8/11/06
x
B
x
B
x
B
x
B