Reentry Program Background The Collaborative has worked to reduce recidivism over the past few years. With the support of government, foundation, and inmate welfare funding, it has been able to build new programs and retain the Urban Institute to identify areas for improvement. In the coming year, the Collaborative seeks to integrate the best of these programs and apply lessons learned. The integrated approach that it has adopted is described in this model. Aims By investing in well-coordinated and evidence-based services, support, and supervision for those offenders at higher risk of committing crimes, the Collaborative expects to be able to reduce individuals criminal behaviors and substance abuse and increase their employment and positive connections with family, peers, and community. This will reduce recidivism, save money and improve public safety. Target group: Up to 400 men and women in Allegheny County The Re-Entry Program will target men and women who are serving a county sentence of 90 days or more in the Allegheny County or its contracted Alternative Housing sites, whose risk assessments indicate that they are at medium-high risk of reoffending, and who have probation supervision as a part of their sentence. Each of these individuals will receive the full array of services and support and will be the highest priority for receiving contracted classes and services in the jail. All Re-Entry clients will receive the following: o Assessment and service plans (one for in-jail and one for post-release. The service plan will be incorporated into the Offender Supervision Plan) o coordinator in the jail o Opportunity to live on the Re-Entry Pod in the jail (for male inmates in Allegheny County only) o Re-Entry Probation Officer o Treatment and services pre and post release Approximately 90 days before the client s minimum release date, their case will be reviewed by the Administrator of Re-Entry, the assigned Re-Entry Probation Officer, and the assigned Coordinator. At this point, approximately 200 of the clients will be designated as higher 11
need clients. This group of clients will continue to be identified as Re-Entry 1. In addition to the above listed services, Re-Entry 1 clients will receive a Coordinator who will engage with them 60 days prior to release and follow them in the community for 6 to 9 months. The remaining clients will be identified as Re-Entry 2 and will not receive a Coordinator. Their service coordination post release will be provided through their Re- Entry Probation Officer and will follow the Offender Supervision Plan which is developed based on an LSI-R risk and needs assessment conducted by the Re-Entry Probation Officer. Roles The chart that follows specifies the roles of key staff for all sentenced, medium and high risk inmates in the Allegheny County. Roles of key staff Group : Re-Entry 1 Re-Entry 2 Probation Re-Entry Sentence Length: 90 days or longer 90 days or longer 1 to 90 days Assess/Plan, Pre- Release Coordination: Coordinator Coordinator Probation Officer Post Release Coordination: Coordinator+ Re-entry PO Re-entry PO Probation Officer Mandatory participation During regular group presentations to eligible clients, inmates in the target group will be informed that they have met the criteria for the program and are automatically part of the Re- Entry Program. Together with the Re-Entry Team (see below), they will develop service plans for both the in-jail and post-release parts of the program. The post-release or phase 2 service plan be incorporated into the Offender Supervision Plan which is developed by the Re-Entry Probation Officer based on an LSI-R risk and needs assessment. If a client fails to complete a portion of his or her Phase 1 service plan, the incomplete services will be included in the Phase 2 service plan and their completion will be enforced by Probation after release. Clients will be informed that Judges will be apprised of their progress. Clients cannot self-refer to service coordination through the Re-Entry Program. Enrollment in Re-entry 1 and Re-entry 2 is determined by sentencing and risk level. 12
Delivery of s Assessments, service planning, and classes and services will be provided in the Allegheny County, contracted Alternative Housing locations, Probation Day Reporting Centers, and at contracted locations throughout the Allegheny County community. Evidence-based practice states that the services utilized by the Collaborative including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are most effective for clients with a medium-high risk to recidivate and may in fact have a reverse impact on low risk clients. In accordance with this contracted services in the jail will be reserved for people of this target group. Re-Entry Team The Re-Entry Team is responsible for planning services and maintaining a high degree of communication and collaboration. This team includes the two (one in the and one in Alternative Housing), four and their supervisor, and five Re-Entry Probation Officers. The and Probation Officers work closely with contracted service providers. The Administrator of Re-Entry in the and the designated Adult Probation Manager lead the Re-Entry Team and co-chairs a Re-Entry Committee. The Director of Adult Probation, the Deputy Warden of Inmate s and the Administrator of Re-Entry are members of the Operations Committee of the Collaborative and they bring policy decisions and recommended changes to the Re-Entry Model to that Committee. Description of Key Changes to the Re-Entry Program The Collaborative has integrated the various pieces of Re-Entry and the Day Reporting Centers. Key changes include: 1. Responsibility for in-jail service coordination, assessment, and service planning will rest with two in the. They will work with the providers in the jail as well as the Re-Entry P.O.s and the. 2. will engage with their clients approximately 60 days prior to their minimum release date. They will work with the client from that time until 6 to 9 months after release. s may take place in the or in the community. 3. Where possible, the Coordinator (CSC) and Re-Entry Probation Officers, will be geographically teamed 1. 1 The aim is for the 5 Re-Entry Probation Officers and 4 to be teamed geographically so that they know one another, the resources in their area, including the Day Reporting Center, housing, employment, treatment, family services, faith-based and volunteer organizations, and law enforcement. If the client moves, the will stay with the client. 13
4. All clients will receive an educational assessment which will guide further education and career training referrals and will enroll in Cognitive Behavioral Treatment classes. These will be the first services scheduled. 5. Approximately 90 clients will enroll in career track training programs through the Career Tech grant provided by the Department of Justice. All clients participating in Career Tech will be assigned to the Re-Entry 1 group and receive a CSC. 6. The will be trained in family services and relationships and will engage the family as support, as a central part of their role in Re-Entry. 7. All contracted providers, (in and outside of the ), and Re-entry Probation Officers will use the Collaborative Application to track referrals and services delivered and outcomes for those services. Re-Entry Program: process Time Program element Who does it Location Screening Division of Computer s produces list of sentenced clients and provides this to the Deputy Warden of Inmate s and Re-Entry Analyst. DCS, Re-Entry Analyst screens for eligibility using the risk proxy, sentence type, detainers, and active cases as recorded in APCMS, OMS and publicly available information on JNET. Re-Entry Analyst - 5 mos through release Presentation Administrator of Re-Entry and Re-Entry P.O. present to groups of inmates to inform them that they are in the program, the opportunity/responsibilities involved, and next steps. Re-Entry Administrator + Re-Entry P.O.s If a client refuses to participate, they will not receive a Coordinator. They will receive a Re- Entry Probation Officer. Assessment (400 clients/yr) The assess clients using Montgomery Co. assessment, which includes LSI-R questions. Assessments will be completed in the Collaborative Application and will be accessible to the 14
Administrator of Re-Entry, CSC and Re-Entry P.O. for continuing service coordination. planning (400 clients/yr) develop service plans with clients. Plans will be completed in the Collaborative Application and will be accessible to the Administrator of Re-Entry, CSC and Re-Entry P.O. for continuing service coordination. Enrollment in classes and treatment (400 clients/yr) Re-Entry Analyst enrolls clients in the in classes, per their service plans. The Coordinator coordinates enrollment into services for clients in Alternative Housing directly with the contracted service providers. coordination (400 clients/yr) ensure clients complete services per their plan in a timely manner. s and treatment (400 clients/yr) Contracted service providers deliver treatment and services. Re-Entry Analyst + Contracted service providers 15
Phase 2 Planning (Re-Entry 1 200 clients/yr) and do a warm hand-off, with the clients in the and Alternative Housing. + The will review the client s progress and develop a Phase 2 Plan with the client which will be incorporated into the Offender Supervision Plan. Plans will be uploaded into the Collaborative Application and will be accessible to the Administrator of Re-Entry and Re-Entry P.O. for continuing service coordination. At this time the Coordinator will engage the inmate s family members. Phase 2 Planning (Re-Entry 2 200 clients/yr) The Coordinator will develop a Phase 2 Plan with the client which will be incorporated into the Offender Supervision Plan. Plans will be completed in the Collaborative Application and will be accessible to the Administrator of Re-Entry and Re-Entry P.O. for continuing service coordination. Re-Entry P.O. + -60 days Home visit & LSIR (400 clients/yr) The Re-Entry P.O. will administer the LSI-R risk and needs assessment. The Re-Entry P.O. then visits the home where client will live and approve/deny the home plan. If the Re-Entry PO determines that the home address is unacceptable, the CSC, if one has been assigned, or Reentry P.O. will work with the client to identify alternative housing options. Re-Entry Probation Officers + 16
Phase 2 meeting (400 clients/yr) Two Phase 2 meetings will be scheduled each month. This is where the Re-Entry Team begins to develop the Phase 2 Plan which will be incorporated into the Offender Supervision Plan. At the end of the Phase 2 meeting the Re-entry Team will review the clients who are due for a Phase 2 in the following month (clients who are 90 days away from their minimum) and determine if they will be placed in Reentry 1 (given a CSC) or Re-Entry 2 (no CSC). Parole Forms (400 clients/yr) 30 days prior to the minimum parole date, the Coordinator or the Coordinator will provide the Caseworker with Re-Entry documentation. If the client is in Alternative Housing the Re-Entry documentation will be given to the Alternative Housing Specialist who will submit it to the Deputy Warden of Inmate s. Release (Clients housed in ACJ) All inmates released through the Discharge and Release Center receive a free phone call, bus ticket, medications (if prescribed through the contracted medical provider), homeless shelter referral if needed, and weather appropriate clothing if needed. Re-Entry Administrator, + Re-Entry PO. + + Contracted Providers + Clients Coordinator + Discharge Center (); and CSC and community Day of release The and Re-entry Probation officer who are assigned to the client in the Collaborative Application will receive an email notification through the Application upon release. Post-release Supervision and Coordination (400 clients/yr) Clients will follow their and/or Supervision plans, which include meeting with their CSC and Re-Entry Probation Officer and may include drug testing, and Re-Entry P.O.s + locations, including DRCs 17
participating in services. Some of these are available through the Probation Day Reporting Centers. The Coordinator and Re-entry Probation Officer will work together to supervise the client and make sure they get the services they need to be successful in the community. s and treatment (400 clients/yr) Contracted service providers deliver treatment and services. Contracted providers DRCs, other community locations Return to : If a client returns to on a technical violation with no new charges, they will continue in the Re-Entry Program. To promote consistency, in all cases if a client has a CSC, they will remain on the CSC caseload as long as they are in Re-Entry. If a client returns to on a technical violation with new charges and the charges are dropped at the preliminary hearing, they will continue in the Re-Entry Program with the Coordinator. If a client returns to on a technical violation with new charges and they are sentenced at the preliminary hearing, they will be closed in the Re-Entry Program. If the new sentence qualifies for participation in the Re-Entry Program (3 months or longer) they will be re-opened as a Re- Entry Client. If a client receives new charges but remains in the community while charges are brought to court, they will continue in the Re-Entry Program. If the charges are brought to a higher court and the client is re-incarcerated for sentencing, they will be closed in the Re-Entry Program. If the new sentence qualifies for participation in the Re-Entry Program (3 months or longer) they will be re-opened as a Re-Entry Client. 18