A BLUEPRINT TO A SUCCESSFUL RE

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”? • • • •

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 • • • • • • •

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• • • • •

• • •

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

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Thank You and Have a Successful Re-entry Program