Reintegration of Ex-Offenders (RExO)formerly known as Prisoner ReentryResources

Thefollowingisalistofsites and documentsthatmaybeusefulinlearningmoreaboutprisonerreentry programsandhowcommunityorganizationsareactivepartnersinthereentryprocess.Thisinformation includesotheragencyeffortsandprograms,training,andtechnicalassistanceopportunitiesandpublications. PRIEvaluation Amultiyearevaluationofthe30originalPRIgranteeswasundertaken,beginningin2005, toassessthesuccessofthegranteesinimplementinganemploymentcenteredservice approachforexoffenders.Formoreonthisevaluation,pleaseclickhere.

HelpfulDOLResourcesforCommunityNonProfitsinReentry
MentoringExPrisoners:AGuideforReentryPrograms(PDF)
Thismanualprovidesguidelinesandrecommendationsintendedtoaddressthe challengesandtoincreasethebenefitsofmentoringadultexprisonersaspartoftheir involvementinreentryprograms.

Ready4Reentry:APrisonerReentryToolkit(PDF)
Thistoolkitisaguideforcommunityorganizationsinterestedinestablishingor enhancingtheirprisonerreentryprogram.Thisdocumentcoversavarietyoftopics, suchasrecruiting,casemanagement,jobplacement,mentoring,and formingsuccessfulpartnerships.

JustOut
ThispromisingpracticesguideexaminestheearlyimplementationofReady4Workand reportsonthebestemergingpracticesinfourkeyprogramareas.

OtherDepartmentofLaborResources
OneStopCareerCenters
Centersprovideaccesstoworkforceinformation,jobcounselingandplacementprograms, andvariousotherresources.OneStopCareerCentersalsoprovideeducation andjobtrainingsupport.Therearealsonumerouselectronicresourcesavailable throughtheprogram'swebsite. FederalBondingProgram(FBP) Foundedin1966,theFBPwasdesignedtoprotectemployersfromfraudulentordishonest actsby"atrisk"employees(i.e.candidateswithahistoryofarrestorothermorally questionablebehavior).Sincecommerciallyavailablebondsdonotprotectbusinesses againstthesecandidates,theFBPprovidesfreeprotectionbondsforthefirstsix monthsofemployment.Thesebenefitsareavailabletoanyemployerinanystate, andinformationontheapplicationprocessisavailableontheorganization'swebsite. Viewalistofthestatefederalbondingprogramcoordinators

WorkOpportunityTaxCredit(WOTC)
Thisafederaltaxcreditthatencouragesemployerstohirepeoplewhofallwithineighttargeted groupsofjobseekers,includingexoffenders,byreducingemployers'federalincometaxliability.

HomelessVeterans'ReintegrationProgram(HVRP)
Thisprogramprovidesservicestoassisthomelessveteransinfindingmeaningful employment.Jobplacement,careercounselingandjobtrainingareamongthemany servicesprovided.HVRPworkswithvariousveterans'organizationsasameansofreaching outtotheveterancommunity.

PrisonerReentry:IssuesandAnswers
Thispublicationprovidesbasicinformationonprisonerreentryandcommunityorganizations.

Ready4Work:BusinessPerspectivesonExOffenderReentry
ThispublicationprovidesinformationfromthefocusgroupswhichDOLconductedwith thebusinesscommunitytolearnfromtheirexperiencesinhiringexoffenders.

TrainingandTechnicalAssistance
NationalInstituteofCorrections(NIC)
NICisanagencywithintheDOJthatofferstraining,technicalassistance,andinformation servicestothosewhoprovideemploymentservicestopeoplewithcriminalrecords. RecentlytheNICannouncedathreeday,DVDbasedOffenderEmploymentSpecialist(OES) trainingcourse.Pleaseseethelinksbelowfordetailedinformationandcontacts.

TrainingBrochure VideoonOEStrainingprogram CorporationforNationalCommunityService(CNCS)

CNCSisanindependentfederalagencythatprovidestrainingandsupportforvolunteer organizationsaroundthecountry,includingcommunitybasedprograms.TheResource Center(seebelow)isanexcellentsourcefortrainingtoolsandothertechnicalassistance. Additionally,thewebsitefeaturesaccesstoliveandrecorded"webinars"discussing topicsofcrimepreventionandprisonerreentry.Foraguideonhowtonavigate theCNCSwebsiteandlearnabouttrainingopportunitiespleaseseethelinkbelow.

TheResourceCenter CrimePrevention/PrisonerReentryWebinars
Basedonthesuccessofthe2007PSNAntiGangTrainingConference,theDepartmentof Justicewillbeofferingseveralmoreantigangconferencesin2008.Theseconferencesare intendedtoteachlawenforcementofficialsstateoftheartgangpreventiontechniques. Themainsitecontainsinformationontheseconferences(includingthecalendarlinkedbelow), andvariousotherresources.

2008ConferenceCalendar

DepartmentofJusticeResources
WeedandSeed
Thisisacommunitybased,multiagencystrategythatinvolvesatwoprongedapproach:first, lawenforcementagenciesandprosecutorscooperatein"weedingout"violentcriminalsanddrug abusers.Secondly,publicagenciesandcommunitybasedprivateorganizationscollaborate to"seed"muchneededhumanservices.Theseservicesincludeprevention,intervention, treatment,andneighborhoodrestorationprograms.Acommunityorientedpatrollingcomponent bridgestheweedingandseedingelements.Thissiteincludesasectionon howcommunity organizationsareinvolvedinbuildingpartnershipstopreventcrimeandstrengthenneighborhoods. FindadditionalinformationabouttheWeedandSeedDataCenter

DepartmentofJustice'sYouthGangPreventionInitiative
ThischoicebasedprogramengagescommunityorganizationsinanefforttoprovideAmerica's Youthandoffendersreturningtothecommunitywithopportunitiesthathelpthemresist ganginvolvement.Thesixcitiesselectedtoimplementthisprogramare:LosAngeles,CA Cleveland,OHDallasFortWorth,TXMilwaukee,WITampa,FLAndthe222Corridorthat stretchesfromEastontoLancaster,PA,nearPhiladelphia.

U.S.DepartmentofJusticeGangReductionProgram
Thepurposeofthisprogramistoincorporatefederal,state,andlocalresourcesintheuseof moderntechniquesofgangprevention,intervention,andsuppression.Therearecurrentlyfour pilotprogramlocations:EastLosAngeles,CAMilwaukee,WINorthMiamiBeach,FL andRichmond,VA.Thelinkedsiteprovidesinformationontheprogram,andotherresources relatedtoantigangactivities.

SeriousandViolentOffenderReentryInitiative(SVORI)
Thiscomprehensiveprogramaddressesbothjuvenileandadultpopulationsofserious, highriskoffenders.

CharacterBasedRelease(FCBR)Programs
Somestatescurrentlyhavecharacterbasedinitiatives.Thepurposeoftheseprograms istoprovideinmateswithlifeskills,angermanagement,andothersuchservicestoease theirreintegrationintosociety.Floridaisoneofthestatespioneeringthisapproach, andcurrentlyhasthreeentirecorrectionalfacilities,orCharacterBasedInstitutions, inwhichtheentireinmatepopulationisapartofthisinitiative.

FederalBureauofPrisons(BOP)Programs
TheFederalBOPoffersseveraloptionsforprisonerreentry,includingResidentialRe entryCenters(RRC),ComprehensiveSanctionCenters(CSC),andhomeconfinementoptions. RRCsaretypicalhalfwayhouses,inwhichcontractorsmonitortheactivitiesofrecently releasedprisoners,toensureaneffectivereintroductionintothecommunity. CSCsaremorestructuredthanRRCs,andutilizeafivestepprocesstoscaleback oversightfrom24hourconfinementtohomeconfinement.Homeconfinementissimply therequirementthatthenewlyreleasedprisonersremainintheirownhomesduring nonworkinghours.

TheOfficeofJuvenileJusticeandDelinquencyPrevention(OJJDP)
TheOJJDPisaDepartmentofJusticeProgram,whichprovidessupporttolocalandstate governmentsinanefforttoimprovethejuvenilejusticesystem.TheOJJDPModelProgramsGuide isanexcellentresourceforanyoneworkinginthejuvenilejusticesystem.Itprovidesadatabase ofpastprograms,andideasforimplementingnewpracticesinthepreventionandintervention ofdelinquency.

OtherPrisonerReentryResources
SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)
SAMHSAisresponsibleforboththeAccesstoRecoveryprogramandtheCenter forSubstanceabuseprevention.Detailsontheindividualprogramscanbefoundbelow.

AccesstoRecovery(ATR)
ATRisasubstanceabuserecoveryprogramsimilartotheBeneficiaryChoiceContracting Programthatgrantspaymentvoucherstothosewhoareseekingsubstanceabusetreatment. Thevouchersallowthepatienttochoosehis/hertreatmentsite,withthehopethattheywillbe betterabletopickasitetailoredtotheirneeds.TherearecurrentlyATRprogramsin14States.

ATRFactSheet 2004ATRGrantees CenterforSubstanceAbusePrevention

Thissiteprovidesaccesstovariouseducationalresourcesandprogramsthatfocusonthe preventionofsubstanceabuse.Varioustools,suchasprogramplanning,strategiesfor implementation,andothersuchresourcescanbefoundhere.

CenterforDiseaseControl(CDC)
TheCDCprovidesvariousservices,suchasHIVtestingandtheMinorityAIDSInitiative.TheCDC's mainwebsitealsoprovideslinkstovariousotherresources.

DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD)
PastoffendersareallowedtoliveinSection8subsidizedhousing.Moreinformationon Section8housingcanbeobtainedontheHUDwebsite.

VolunteersinServicetoAmerica(VISTA)
TheCorporationforNationalandCommunityService'sVISTAprogramfocuseson developingprisonerreentryprogramsthathelprecentlyreleasedprisonersfindmeaningful work.Asidefromthesummarylinkedabove,theVISTAprogramhandbookhasexcellent informationontheplanning,implementation,andevaluationofprisonerreentryprograms.

U.S.CourtsOfficeofProbationandPretrialServices
TheOfficeofProbationandPretrialServiceshasitsownprisonerreentrysupervision programs,whichseektoputrecentlyreleasedprisonersbackintoapositiveenvironmentin thehopesofreducedrecidivism.Inadditiontoanassignedprobationofficer,whocheckson theprisoner'sprogresswithwork,school,andsoon,theofficeprovidesmentalhealth, substanceabuse,andothersuchtreatmentservices.Otheroptionsforrelease suchashomeconfinementarealsoprogramssponsoredbytheoffice.

StateFocusedReentryEfforts
NGAPrisonerReentryPolicyAcademy
TheNGAPolicyAcademyworkswithstategovernorsandpolicymakerstodevelopnewstrategie stoimproveprisonerreentryprogramsandrecidivismrates.Oneoftheprogram'smaingoals istoallowstatestotapintothealreadyexistingprograms(drugtreatment,jobplacement,etc.) thatwillaidintheprocess.

JusticeReinvestmentProgram
TheJusticeReinvestmentProgramisaninitiativebytheCouncilofStateGovernments JusticeCenter,whichaimstoimprovethewaystatesthinkaboutprisonerreentry.Thefirst stepintheprogramistoanalyzeandidentifytrendsintheprisonpopulation,likewhich neighborhoodsorareasprisonerstendtoreturnto.Then,statespendinginthese areasisassessed,todetermineifthereisawaytostreamlineandintegrate multipleprogramstargetedatthesameareas.Theoverallgoalofthisistogenerate savingsfromthisincreasedefficiencythatcanbereinvestedincommunityprograms. TherearecurrentlyJusticeReinvestmentprogramsin8states. Findmoreinformationabouttheprograminyourstate

AdditionalResourcesandTools
UrbanInstitute
TheUrbanInstitutehascompiledabodyofresearchandinformationregardingprisonerre entry.IncludedistheirReentryRoundtableserieswhichbroughttogetherprisonerreentry researcherstosharetheirfindingsanddiscussrelevantissues.

CriminalOffenderStatistics
TheU.S.BureauofJusticeStatisticshascompiledthisbodyofinformationincluding statisticsonratesofrecidivism,prevalenceofimprisonment,comparisonsofFederal andStateinmates,andgenderrelatedinmatestatistics,aswellasseveralpublications coveringdifferentaspectsofinmatesandcrime.

StatebyStateandNationalTrends
Thissiteprovidesnationalandstateannualstatisticsforallcategoriesofcrime.

U.S.DepartmentofJusticeReentryProgram(Reentry.gov)
ThisisthemainsitefortheDOJ'sReentryprogram.ItcontainsanoverviewofthePrisoner ReentryInitiativeasawhole,withvariouslinksandreferencestootherorganizationsand resources.TheReentryResourceMapisanexcellentwaytolocatereentryresources aroundthecountry.

PastDOJGrantRecipients UnitedStatesAttorneysContactInformation TheReentryPolicyCouncil(RPC)

TheReentryPolicyCouncilwasdesignedtoassiststategovernmentswithvariousreentry issues.Itsgoalwastodevelopideasandpoliciesforstateofficials,andtoimproveinformation sharingamongorganizations.TheRPCisorganizedintothreegroups:PublicSafetyand RestorativeActivities,SupportiveHealthandHousing,andWorkforceDevelopmentand EmploymentOpportunities.In2005,theRPCpublishedanextensivereport,whichreflectsthe resultsofaseriesofmeetingsamong100ofthemostrespectedworkforce,health,housing, publicsafety,family,community,andvictimexpertsinthecountry. Ready4WorkPage

Ready4Work: ABusiness,Community,andCriminalJusticePartnership
StructureandPurpose
ThePrisonerReentryInitiative(PRI)wasdesignedtoexpandtheelementsofanearlier prisonerreentryprojectcalledReady4Work(R4W). Ready4WorkwasanETApilotproject thatalsohelpedreturningoffendersbylinkingthemtofaithbasedandcommunityinstitutions thathelpthemfindworkandavoidarelapseintoalifeofcriminalactivity.R4Wwaslaunched in2003andwasathreeyearpilotprogramtoaddresstheneedsofexprisonersutilizing FaithBasedandCommunityOrganizations(FBCO).This$25millionprogramwasjointly fundedbytheU.S.DepartmentofLabor(DOL),theU.S.DepartmentofJustice,Public/Private VenturesaPhiladelphiabasedresearchanddemonstrationnonprofitandaconsortiumof privatefoundations. Ready4Workplacedcommunityorganizationsatthecenterofsocialservicedeliverytoex offenders.Itplacedanemphasisonemploymentfocusedprogramsthatincorporatementoring, jobtraining,jobplacement,casemanagementandothercomprehensivetransitionalservices. Thefollowingselectorganizationswerechosentoprovideservicestoadultexoffendersin elevencities: CityofMemphisSecondChanceExFelonProgramMemphis,Tennessee AllenTempleHousingandEconomicDevelopmentCorpOakland,California EastoftheRiverClergyPoliceandCommunityPartnershipWashington,DC ExodusTransitionalCommunityEastHarlem,NewYork HolyCathedral/WordofHopeMinistriesMilwaukee,Wisconsin OperationNewHopeJacksonville,Florida SAFERFoundationChicago,Illinois SearchforCommonGroundPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania UnionRescueMissionLosAngeles,California WheelerAvenueBaptistChurchHouston,Texas AmericaWorksDetroitDetroit,MI ForfurtherinformationontheR4Wprogram,includingparticipantdemographics, outcomesandresources,pleaseclickhere.

NewPage:Ready4WorkProgramDesignandOutcomes Participants:ParticipanteligibilityforReady4Workwasdeterminedbasedon threefactors:(1)ageoftheexoffender(2)Presentingoffenseand(3)lengthoftimepreor postrelease.Exprisonersbetweentheagesof18and34whohadmostrecently beenincarceratedforanonviolentfelonyoffenseandwerenomorethan90dayspreorpost releasewereeligibletoenrollintheprogram. Onceindividualsenteredtheprogram,theywereeligibleforuptooneyear'sworthofservices. Thetypicalprogramtrajectorybeganwithaweekortwooftrainingin"softskills"suchas rsumewritingandworkplaceetiquettetoprepareparticipantsfortheirjobsearch.Participants werealsomatchedwithmentorsinonetooneand/orgroupmentoringrelationships. Uponcompletionoftheirinitialemploymenttraining,mostparticipantsbegansearchingfor work,thoughsomecontinuedwithmoreadvancedtrainingrelatedtospecificindustries. Casemanagersandjobplacementspecialistshelpedparticipantsfindjobsandsupportedthem whiletheywereworking.
ParticipantDemographicsAfricanAmericanmalesconstitutedthemajorityofReady4Work enrollees.Thegeneralreturningexoffenderpopulationisapproximately90percentmale.1Ratesof enrollmentformalesinReady4Worktrackedthatfigurecloselyconstituting81percentof theprogram'sparticipants.SeventyeightpercentofReady4Workparticipantswere AfricanAmerican,8percentwereWhitenonHispanicand5percentwereHispanic. TheaverageageofaReady4Workparticipantwas26yearsold

eightyearsyoungerthantheaverageforexoffendersreleasedfromprison.2Insum,the programservedapredominantlymalepopulationthatwasonaverageyoungerandcomposed ofagreaterpercentageofminoritiesthantheoverallpopulationofthosereturningfromprison statisticsthat,whencombinedwithnonviolentpresentingoffenses,indicateahigherchance ofrecidivating.3 Table1:ComparisonofPersonsEnteringParolein1999withR4WParticipants PersonsEnteringState Parolein19991 Averageage Race/ethnicity WhitenonHispanic AfricanAmericannonHispanic Hispanic Other Gender Male Female
1

Ready4WorkParticipants2 26yearsold 8% 78% 5% 9% 81% 19%

34yearsold 35% 47% 16% 1% 90% 10%

Source:Hughesetal.2001.2Source:R4Wsites'managementinformationsystems.

EducationandWorkHistory Twoofthemostsignificantchallengesfacedbyexprisonersarelackofeducationandthe absenceofmeaningfulworkhistory.Atenrollment,39percentofReady4Workparticipantshad notfinishedhighschoolorobtainedtheirGEDs.Morethanhalfhadheldafulltimejobforone yearorlongerpriortoenteringprison,31percenthadheldafulltimejobforlessthanoneyear andapproximately16percenthadneverheldafulltimejob. CriminalHistory Ready4Worktargetedindividualsreturningfromprisonwithahighprobabilityofrecidivatingfor

enrollment.Exprisonerswithextensivecriminalbackgroundsthosemostlikelytoreturn toprisonparticipatedintheprogram. HalfofReady4Workparticipantshadbeenarrestedfiveormoretimes.Lessthan10percent hadbeenarrestedonlyonce(seeTable2).Morethan55percenthadmostrecentlybeen incarceratedforadrugorpropertyoffense.Asaresultofthesecriminalrecords,themajority ofparticipantshadspentmorethantwoyearsinprison,andalmost25percenthadspent fiveormoreyearsbehindbars.Participantsaveraged17yearsofageatthetimeoftheir firstarrest. Table2:CriminalHistoryofReady4WorkParticipants PresentingOffense Drug Property Other 44% 14% 42% 1 2to4 5ormore NumberofArrests 9% 41% 50%

Source:R4Wsites'managementinformationsystemsandparticipantquestionnaires.

Results TheReady4WorkpilotprogramformallyendedAugust31,2006.Theresultsoftheprogram, whichwereverifiedbyanindependentthirdparty,arepromising.Atotalof4,482formerly incarceratedindividualsenrolledinReady4Work.Oftheseparticipants,97percentreceived comprehensivecasemanagementservices,86percentreceivedemploymentservicesand63 percentreceivedmentoringservices. Ready4Worksitesplaced2,543participants(57percent)intojobs,with63percentofthose placedretainingtheirjobforthreeconsecutivemonthsafterplacement.Onaverage,program costswereapproximately$4,500perparticipant,comparedwithaveragecostsof$25,000to $40,000peryearforreincarceration. Recidivism RecidivismisdefinedinReady4Workasreturningtoaninstateprisonasaresultofa convictionforanewoffense.Thisisacommonmeasureusedbyotherstudiesandprograms assessingrecidivismrates.However,thisdefinitionexcludesthosereturningtoprison forviolatingtheirprobationorparoleconditions,aswellasthoseincarceratedinlocaljails. DataanalysisonReady4WorkpreparedbyPublic/PrivateVenturesshowsthatonly2.5percentof Ready4Workparticipantshavebeenreincarceratedinstateinstitutionswithin6monthsof release,and6.9percentwerereincarceratedattheoneyearpostreleasemark. Thoughthesestatisticsarepromising,itisimportanttonotethatarandomassignmentstudy hasnotbeenperformed,sonostrictcontrolgroupexistedforthesakeofcomparison. TherecidivismoutcomesfromReady4Workwere,however,comparedagainsttheuniversally acceptedrecidivismbenchmarkfromtheBureauofJusticeStatistics(BJS) reincarcerationstudy,"RecidivismofPrisonersReleasedin1994.4"Ready4Work recidivismratesarehalfthenationalreincarcerationrateof5percentatsixmonthsand 34percentlowerthanthe10.4percentnationalrateofreincarcerationoneyearafterrelease. Ready4Workrecidivismstatisticsareofparticularsignificancegiventhefactthattheprogram's populationwasatastatisticallyhigherriskforrecidivatingthanthegeneralexprisonpopulation representedbytheBJSstatistic,duelargelytoage,raceandtypeofoffense. Whencompared againstasubsetofthe1994BJSstudythatincludesonlyAfricanAmericanmaleinmates betweentheagesof18and34releasedafterservingtimefornonviolent offenses,the2.75 percentrecidivismrateforReady4Workparticipantsat6monthsis54 percentlowerthanthe 6percentBJSBenchmarkfigure.The7.28percentReady4Workrecidivismrateattheoneyearpost releasemarkwas49percentlowerthanthisBJSsubsetattheoneyearpostrelease

Table3:Ready4WorkRecidivismRatesandBureauofJusticeStatisticsBenchmarks

Table4:Ready4WorkRecidivismRatesandBureauofJusticeStatisticsBenchmarks forAfricanAmericanMaleNonViolentOffendersbetweentheAgesof18and34.

MentoringasaComponentofReady4Work Over60percentofReady4Workparticipantsreceivedmentoringaspartoftheirservices. Participantswhometwithamentoratleastonceshowedstrongeroutcomes thanthosewhodidnotparticipateinmentoringinanumberofways: Mentoredparticipantsremainedintheprogramlongerthanunmentoredparticipants(10.2 monthsversus7.2months). Mentoredparticipantsweretwiceaslikelytoobtainajob. Afterthefirstencounter,anadditionalmonthofmeetingsbetweentheparticipant andmentorincreasedtheformer'slikelihoodoffindingajobby53percent. Meetingwithamentorincreasedaparticipant'soddsofgettingajobthenextmonthby73 percentoverparticipantswhodidnottakeadvantageofmentoring.Anadditionalmonth ofmeetingsincreasedaparticipant'soddsoffindingajobbyanother7percent. Thosewhometwithamentorwere56percentmorelikelytoremainemployedforthree monthsthanthosewhodidnot.Anadditionalmonthofmeetingswithamentorincreased theparticipant'soddsofremainingemployedthreemonthsby24percent. AcompleteanalysisofmentoringoutcomescanbefoundinMentoringExPrisonersinthe Ready4WorkReentryInitiative,linkedbelow.

Publications
Ready4WorkInBrief:InterimOutcomesAreInprovidesevaluativeinformationontheprogram. JustOutexaminestheearlyimplementationofReady4Workandreportsonthebestemerging practicesinfourkeyprogramareas. MentoringExPrisonersintheReady4WorkReentryInitiativereportsonthesuccessofmentoring forexoffenders. CalltoActionhighlightstheaccomplishmentsofthreeReady4Worksites:OperationNew Hope,TheSecondChanceProgram,andtheEastoftheRiverClergyPoliceCommunity Partnership.