2. SCENARIO
A group of convicted felons that served 15 to 20 years in prison are about to be released. Many of
these convicts have been diagnosed as mentally ill, victims of mental and physical abusive and
lived in homes with drug addicted parents. None of these convicts have high school diplomas or
job skills because they never held a job for more than a few months and have been committing
crimes since childhood. The policy that will be developed is to help transition soon-to-be-released
felons into society to prevent them from reoffending and the return to the Criminal Justice system.
3. BACKGROUND INFO
Prisoner reentry is a serious issue.
Factors that influence reentry:
Lack of support
Lack of education
Drug/Alcohol abuse and/or addiction
Mental Illness
4. PREVIOUS POLICIES
Project Rio (Texas) 2004
Pre Release: Help with developing an employment plan, interview skills, develop life skills and
obtain necessary documents
Post Release: Job placement assistance
Strengths: Helps inmates with reentry process
Weaknesses: Lacks educational/vocational training, counseling, and mentoring
5. BOSTON RE-ENTRY INITIATIVE (BRI)- 2001
Pre release: develop a plan based on their own individual needs (mentoring, mental health
treatment, substance abuse treatment, education, etc.) to help prevent them from reoffending
Post release: continue working with mentors up to 18 months post-release to help them meet the
goals of their individual reentry plan. If an offender is on Probation or Parole, the case manager,
mentors, and parole/probation officer collaborate with each other to help participant achieve goal.
Strengths: Acknowledges not all prisoners are the same and they have individual needs.
Weakness: Focus is only on one prison group.
6. POLICY
Developed in the State of New York.
Help the transition from prison back to society.
Start 4-5 years before release
State prisoners
Incentive for compliance
early release date (6months to 1 year)
voucher. Interview attire, basic grooming (men and women)
7. COMPONENTS OF POLICY
Job Readiness (create resume, job conduct, interview skills/attire)
Education-(Basic skills, computer, college courses)
Group/ Individual Counseling-(Drug/ Alcohol, cope with traumatic events)
Mentoring (How to change life around)
8. LIFE COURSE THEORY
Turning Points: Entire program(Education, Job training, counseling, and mentoring).
Conventions: Compliance with the prison’s rules, attending the program.
Anchors: Keep inmates out of trouble in and out of prison through mentoring.
Informal Controls: Relationships formed throughout program
Formal Controls: Post release inmates will be put on parole or probation
Social Bonds: Through group counseling and mentoring.
9. EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICY
Recidivism Rates: After 3 years
Successes: Starting a job, continuing education, starting a family etc.
Surveying/Interviewing the Inmates
