Search results matching tag 'Reentry'

Creating a Workforce Development Culture To Reduce Reincarceration

Scott — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:24:00 GMT

In the mid-1990s, offender reentry gained visibility as an important public policy issue. At that time, organizations such as the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and the National Institute of Justice began exploring offender workforce development strategies as an avenue for promoting the successful reintegration of offenders into communities. These strategies stem from the idea that offender employment builds communities, increases the economic self-sufficiency of families, strengthens fragile families, and provides structure and support for those seeking to remain crime free.

In 2003, ED's Life Skills for State and Local Prisoners Program awarded a 3-year, $1 million research/ demonstration grant to support Vermont's Workforce Development Program. Correctional administrators in Vermont aimed to reduce recidivism by 25 percent for offenders with poor work histories and moderate to high risk of reoffending by using a strengths-based approach to teach fundamental life skills throughout education, work, and living units.

This strengths-based program approach is built on participants' understanding and use of the "Habits of Mind," which are 16 aspects of behavioral intelligence, or life skills, that foster effective problem solving. In addition to reducing recidivism by 25 percent and reinforcing participants' acquisition of the Habits of Mind, the Workforce Development Program targeted a 90percent employment rate within 1 month of release and sought to make changes in the organizational culture at each of three program sites.

Read the rest of NIC's Transition and Offender Workforce Development Bulletin on NIC's website.

creating a green halfway house

ICCA — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:11:54 GMT

I am interested in learning about the process to make a halfway house more environmentally-friendly. Is anyone aware of halfway houses that are already doing this, or have some knowledge about the process (with some extent of experience in building or working at a halfway house)?

Can recedivism be reduced to below 10%?

DaveKoch — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:44:27 GMT

Read the article, "Prisoner Recidivism - a genuine solution to an American Epidemic" at: http://web.me.com/davidjkoch/davidjkoch/Daves_Blog/Daves_Blog.html

Offender Mandatory Savings

aschristmann — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:10:07 GMT

We are looking at our procedure and would like to enhance offenders’ required savings in order to better assist offenders with reentry needs. To this end, we are asking for feedback on what other states are doing in this area.

Second Chance Act, 2009-10

WARD ALLEN — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:15:57 GMT

I understand that funding has been continued into 2010 for the Second Chance Act. Anyone have info on deadlines, or anything else important? Thx

ARCHS IN ST. LOUIS TO LAUNCH NEW MENTORING PROGRAM VIA SECOND CHANCE ACT FUNDING

ARCHS — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:48:28 GMT

ARCHS AWARDED $265,944 IN FEDERAL SECOND CHANCE ACT FUNDING FOR MENTORING PROGRAM ST. LOUIS, MO: Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) has been awarded $265,944 in funding by the U.S. Department of Justice to create a pre and post prison release mentoring program to serve non-violent offenders set to be released from Missouri prisons. The money is part of the Second Chance Act Mentoring Grant Program. ARCHS was the only grant recipient in Missouri for this particular mentoring funding. The grant will fund a two-year ARCHS’ Reentry Mentoring Partnership that is expected to serve 280 offenders, age 18-35, who are scheduled for probation and/or parole from the Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri and the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific, Missouri. It is anticipated that half of the offenders will then voluntarily enroll in the post-release phase of the mentoring partnership. ARCHS plans to partner with the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC), Missouri Board of Probation & Parole, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (Amachi), GUIDES Family Life Center, Helping Others Maintain Stability (HOMS), Humanitri, and the Institute for Peace and Justice to implement the grant. The ARCHS’ partnership will provide prisoners with pre-release mentoring activities that include family reunification support services. Post release services include mentoring, job and soft skills training and access to mental health and substance abuse services, housing and other community supports. In addition to the grant award, ARCHS and its partners will provide an additional $106,442 of in-kind funds to support the grant’s activities. The partnership is designed to enhance the existing pre-release services provided by the DOC. ARCHS partners with the DOC on several reentry initiatives, including hosting the annual Missouri Reentry Conference and supporting the efforts of the Missouri Eastern Region Reentry Group Effort (MERRGE). “This is the second federal grant ARCHS has been awarded to address the needs of Greater St. Louis’ ex-offender population,” said Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ CEO. “In 2007, ARCHS was awarded a $1.9 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to support ex-offender job training activities. ARCHS exceeded the grant’s goal of serving 488 ex-offenders by reaching more than 640 and placing more than 350 in jobs annually valued at more than $5.6 million. We are proud of the trust that federal funders have placed in ARCHS’ strategic management system.” ARCHS’ 350 community partners annually serve more than 100,000 area residents. ARCHS manages more than $30 million in not-for-profit funds. Learn more at stlarchs.org

MO-DOC Motivational Interviewing Skill Builder

Ed Yahnig — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:27:56 GMT

Motivational interviewing techniques have proven themselves beneficial in criminal justice applications. Used with success by substance abuse practitioners to open the lines of effective communications with their clients, motivational therapy techniques have a proven track record of success. This instruction module is intended for members of the case management team who have previously attended the MDOC two-day Motivational Interviewing-Practitioner training module. It will train the staff member on the benefits of MI, while presenting its basis in evidence-based practices and its link with integrated case management.

NIC's 'Online/Kiosk Employment Application Simulation' Used in New York's Digital Reentry Programs

llinke — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:42:00 GMT

The summer issue of New York State Department of Correctional Services' quarterly newsletter, DOCS Today, includes a summary of their expanding use of digital reentry programming. See page 8. Computer labs (not internet accessible) are used to both deliver services and increase computer literacy for inmates nearing release. Nearly 12,000 inmates have used the labs for self-guided career tutorials, skills assessments, access to statewide job databases, and developing basic computer skills. NIC's simulated online job application also prepares inmates to apply online for jobs, or apply at automated kiosks. Watch for a related Information Bulletin, "Career Resource Centers: An Emerging Strategy for Improving Offender Employment Outcomes," to be released by NIC later this summer.

Re: Reentry Research Continues To Report Out

Eileen Conway — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:46 GMT

The Urban Institute has now added a fourth Houston report, One Year Out: Tracking the Experiences of Male Prisoners Returning to Houston, Texas. They have also added a press release announcing the four reports.

New Research Reports on Reentry

Eileen Conway — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:07:00 GMT

Followers of the literature on reentry may be interested in a new post on the Correctional Research Roundtable forum regarding three new reports from the Urban Institute's Returning Home study.