Prisoner reentry was not "discovered" until the last fifteen years when it started to dominate American policy. This is caused in part by the enormous number of prisoners who have been released, as well as a movement that has identified the problem as "reentry."
Approximately two-thirds of prisoners released will be rearrested within three years. It's crucial to comprehend the significance of this shift for offenders and their families, as well as its ramifications for public safety, as these individuals make the move from life in jail or prison to life in the community, or what we usually refer to as offender reentry.
Why certain offenders experience late-onset failure, whether it matters who comes home, why recidivism rates are high in the first year after homecoming, and how stigma and other collateral repercussions of conviction might be addressed are all issues that require more research.
Fortunately, more and more programs have been developed in both the community and prisons. But putting them into practice successfully presents significant difficulties. The category encompasses a wide range of initiatives, although just a few thorough reviews have been carried out.
Reentry programs may, on the whole, reduce recidivism, although program results might vary and occasionally have a criminogenic effect. The risk-need-responsivity model is typically congruent with programs that are effective.
The national plan to improve the criminal justice system is heavily reliant on funding reentry programs, which help jailed people make a smooth transition back into society after being released.
What are Reentry Programs?
Reentry programs help jailed people make a smooth transition back into society once they are released. Enhancing reintegration is a crucial part of assisting with post-incarceration reentry efforts by facilitating access to drug-free housing, helping with job placement, and offering other supportive services.
According to statistics, half of state convicts are reincarcerated, and more than two-thirds are rearrested within three years of their release. This comes from difficulty in finding work during re-entry. Increased crime, more victims, and pressure on the already overworked criminal justice system are all results of high rates of recidivism. However, outcomes are already improving from reentry programs: state-level reincarceration rates are 23% lower than what they were in 2008.
The main goals of reentry programs are to reduce recidivism, help inmates become productive, tax-paying citizens, and save the government money by reducing the direct and indirect costs of incarceration.
Reentry programs and reentry courts are created to assist ex-offenders in successfully "reentering" society after their time in prison. This decreases recidivism, boosts public safety, and saves taxpayer money.
The reintegration initiatives place a major emphasis on removing or minimizing obstacles to effective reentry, enabling determined people who have served their sentence and paid their responsibility to society to compete for employment, find stable housing, care for their families, and give back to their communities.
Here are some of the most well-known and effective recidivism programs that can serve as role models for communities that need assistance with offender reentry.
Successful Prison Reentry Programs in the United States
1. Prisoner Reentry Programs in Detroit, Michigan: Friends of Returning Citizens (FORC) -- A Fresh Addition
The Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance's Friends of Returning Citizens (FORC) program was introduced on September 18, 2022. Craig Whilby and Jamil Allen-Bey, who developed the program after serving more than 30 years in the Michigan prison system, are co-founders.
Their goals are "to fight for criminal justice reform and to provide aid to returning citizens as they navigate life after prison." With their new facility, they hope to spread the word and assist even more people after starting just before the epidemic and continuing to do so ever since.
The pair explains that a lack of resources and a person's anxiety about adjusting to life outside of prison might result in a mindset that motivates them to commit crimes again. For this reason, they offer former inmates more than just bus passes, clothing, gift cards, and computer instruction. They are providing emotional assistance.
Craig and Allen hope that the training will help many convicts who have accepted the label of "prisoner" to think more broadly about who they are and how they see themselves as citizens.
2. Texas Reentry Services: Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP)
A nonprofit program called the Prison Entrepreneurship Program links recently released offenders with business leaders.
Leadership and creative skills are emphasized in this reentry program. Since PEP started in 2004, their graduates have achieved incredible milestones, including:
- A 100% employment rate within 90 days.
- 80% of graduates have active savings accounts.
- Graduates have had a $122.5 million dollar positive economic impact on Texas.
PEP is committed to providing the best prisoner reentry outcomes in the country. They offer inmates unmatched resources and real-world, values-based business skills so that when they are released back into society, they will have the means to live wholesome, contented lives and be active members of society.
PEP participants participate in a tried-and-true program that includes one-on-one coaching from executives who give their time, business plan mentoring from seasoned professionals, and a fiercely competitive business plan competition.
PEP's work begins inside with mentoring, character, and leadership development in addition to its academic program. Many have compared it to a mini-MBA because of the depth of business knowledge it imparts and the demanding pace the students go through.
PEP is not a simple program, and not everyone is a good fit. Students who want to succeed must be prepared to change, be open to change, and be willing to master new abilities.
3. Second Chance Program Arizona: Community Bridges Fact Team
Approximately two in five inmates held in state and federal prisons have a history of mental illness. People can receive assistance from Community Bridges in Arizona, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC, in a number of ways, including through arranging treatment schedules and/or finding housing possibilities. The FACT team also assists individuals in finding employment and benefits.
A wide range of services are provided to individuals who have been diagnosed with a significant mental illness and are at a medium to high risk of relapsing into the criminal justice system through the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Program, or FACT.
By offering patients extensive treatment services to help them live successfully in the community, FACT hopes to reduce interactions with the criminal justice system and work closely with patients to plan for reentry back into society.
4. Reentry Programs in New York: Delancey Street Foundation
The Delancey Street Foundation is a residential self-help program for drug addicts, ex-offenders, ex-gang members, and the homeless in major US Cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.
According to DSF, the typical resident has been a hard-core drug addict for sixteen years, abusing several substances and alcohol, dropping out of school in the seventh grade, and being institutionalized multiple times.
Many have been gang members, and the majority have lived in abject poverty for many generations. DSF says they made the decision to manage Delancey Street without any employees or financing rather than hiring professionals to assist the people who were having issues.
Their inhabitants must learn to hone their skills and support one another, just like in a big family. It is a method of transforming lives "despite all obstacles."
Residents of Delancey Street receive education that enables them to work and develop skills that can be applied in the job market. Over 10,000 men and women have graduated into society as tax-paying citizens, enjoying prosperous lives since its foundation 40 years ago.
Other risk indicators, such as drug usage and general well-being, have significantly decreased for participants along with recidivism.
5. Housing for Released Prisoners Illinois: Safer Foundation
The Safer Foundation has been in business in the state of Illinois for more than 44 years, and its primary goals have always been to assist those with criminal histories and lower recidivism.
They provide a path for those involved in the legal system to walk down by offering stable support, jobs, education, and advocacy.
The program has seen exciting results, including:
- A 64% job retention rate within one year.
- 75% completed job training and 50% of those were employed in the industry where they trained.
- 82% are eligible for employment.
Through their programs, SAFER assists more than 300 people each year in obtaining their GED; they have a network of more than 400 employers who hire participants; and in 2014, they were able to place 4,200 people in jobs.
The mission of the Safer Foundation is to continue empowering people, enhancing communities, and paving the road for a brighter future for all. They have been working toward this goal for more than 50 years; it was not easy to rid the world of structural legal and social barriers.
6. Reentry Programs in California: The Last Mile
The Last Mile offers business and technological training to inmates in order to prepare them for successful reintegration. It offers two year-long programs: Web Development and Audio and Video Production Program.
The Last Mile offers programs for learning web development, career building, technology training, and opportunity acceleration, as well as for expanding and reentering the workforce.
While the program started in San Quentin prison, it now crosses eight states and sixteen facilities. 40% of the program finishers have a salary over the US Median, an impressive feat. This helps individuals stay out of prison and build a new life for themselves.
7. Reentry Programs for Inmates in Arkansas: Pathway to Freedom
Pathway to Freedom, Inc. is an 18-month pre-release residential program through the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC). Once the inmate has completed the program, the organization offers an additional 12 months of mentoring and support.
The program has the highest success rate of all options offered within the Arkansas prison system, with a recidivism rate of only 23%.
What Is Reentry Program Software?
Reentry program software like PlanStreet is a specialized case management tool designed to help organizations manage and support individuals moving from incarceration into society. This software helps case managers, probation officers, and other professionals streamline the reentry process and build a better future for former inmates.
Some time-saving features include:
- Centralized and current data insights
- Program progress and attendance tracking
- Risk and needs analysis levels
- Easy-to-learn document client meeting documentation
Remove Hurdles in Your Reentry Program With PlanStreet
PlanStreet's reentry program software was designed to remove stress from case management administration and boost outcomes. Our case management software streamlines each step in the process, from intake to monitoring and evaluation. Your team can automate processes and workflows, enroll and track attendance, and improve client engagement with an easy-to-use client portal.
With our robust analytics software, case managers can make data-driven decisions about which services and solutions are best for their clients. Your team can build tailored reports to fit your organization's needs in one click.
Let us show you how PlanStreet can elevate outcomes for your reentry program and schedule a live demo with our team today.