Innovative Collaborative Strategies in Re-entry Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing A Call to Action Conference Presented by: Lee Buckley June 25, 2010
Introduction Lee Buckley Community Reentry Coordinator Coordinator for the Governor s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives Former airline executive > 20 years in the private industry Minister-in-Training Ministry focus is recovery Bethel Seminary candidate for MA in Community Ministry Leadership 2011.
Objectives Introduction and Background Minnesota Department of Corrections Reentry Unit and Programs Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Effective Community Based Models Options for Volunteer Engagement Impact and Strengthen Families Affected by Incarceration
Minnesota Correctional Facilities Level 1 Minimum Stillwater Lino Lakes Faribault Willow River Togo Level 2 Minimum Faribault Level 3 Medium Lino Lakes Moose Lake Faribault Level 4 Close Rush City St. Cloud Stillwater Level 5 Maximum Oak Park Heights Faribault 1993 Lino Lakes 1305 Oak Park Heights 444 Red Wing 43 Rush City 988 St. Cloud 1038 Shakopee 569 SEllwater 1614 Willow River 178 Moose Lake 1028 Togo 30 Tot Pop As of 6/22/10 9230 Shakopee houses multiple security levels for female offenders
Population Who Do We Serve? 9,619 Adults 650 or 7% are female Offenses As of 1/1/2010 Drugs 1,844 19% Criminal Sexual Conduct 1,623 17% Homicide 1,346 14% Assault 1,122 12% Traffic/Accidents 796 8% Burglary 624 7%
Offenses Who Do We Serve? Person 4,791 50% Drug 1,844 19% Property 1,101 12% DWI 686 7% Other 662 7% Weapons 503 5% PSI Holds 32 >1% 9,619 as of 1/1/2010
Race Who Do We Serve? White 5,203 54% Black 3,395 35% American Indian 779 8% Asian 237 3% Unknown/Other 5 >1% 9,619 as of 1/1/2010
Who Do We Serve? 95% of incarcerated offenders returned to the community (7,796 in FY2007) Reconvictions 52% of those released from prison in 2004 returned within three years. 38% of those released from prison in 2004 were revoked within three years. 26% of those released from prison in 2004 returned to prison for new offenses.
The Re-entry Unit Created in 2005-2006 to address the needs of the growing number of offenders released from prison. Reporting Structure Joan Fabian, Commissioner Chris Bray, Deputy Commissioner, Community Service Director, Ken Merz, Director of Administrative Services Director, Gary Johnson, Director of Reentry Services and Housing
The Who & What Gary Johnson; Director Tim Lanz, Facilities Re Entry Manager Mark Groves, Facilities Re Entry Coord Lee Buckley, Community Re Entry Coordinator Joann Dillavou, MnCoSA Director Diane Lunda, Grants Specialist Kristen Hoeft, Administrative Asst. Jenn Hamrick & Maggie Degroot, AmeriCorp VISTAs
The Re-entry Unit Statewide collaborative offender reentry initiatives MCORP MnCoSA (Minnesota Circles of Support and Accountability) Grants and legislative appropriations Collaboration and coordination with state and federal agencies Access and support of community reentry efforts
MCORP What is MCORP? Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Re Entry Plan A collaborative effort involving DOC, county agencies, state agencies, faith based organizations, community outreach, and private citizens all coming together to identify points of intersection & collaboration between these services to offenders in transition or re entry.
What does MCORP Do? Gaps Analysis completed 2005. This guided the development of the pilot project (MCORP) and identified the target population. MCORP budget funded by Governor 2007; grants awarded to participating counties (Hennepin/Ramsey/Olmsted, Dodge & Fillmore) Two Phase project where offenders are tracked and research has followed. Advisory groups in each county established
Collaborations from MCORP Services for offenders prior to release: Child Support Liaison (DOC/DHS) DOC/DPS - state ID documents (DL) for transitioning offenders prior to release. DOC & DEED (ISEEK) implementation of secure computer access to the state s website for offenders to look for employment prior to release. Goal is to have the ISEEK website available to all DOC facilities. DOC has collaborated with DHS to sponsor an online MinnesotaCare application process for offenders to access Health care prior to release
Where are Re Entry Services? Transition coordinators are positioned in each facility to assist offenders with: Pre Release classes 3 day curriculum Personal ID Documents Birth Certificate & Social Security Card Community Resources Transition/Resource Fairs Transition coordinators supported by centralized Re Entry team as well
More than just an ID DOC was awarded a $450,000 ( 07) federal grant through the Prisoner Re Entry Initiative. This grant has been demonstrated in Hennepin & Ramsey counties through best practices. MinnesotaHelp.info service provider database goal is to implement access at all DOC facilities Implementation of MinnesotaWorks.net goal to have it operational at all DOC facilities NIC Technical Assistance Grant - Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative
Demonstration Projects Annie E. Casey Demonstration Project New Living Way Christian Center, Council on Crime and Justice, and the MN Department of Corrections. Engaging Communities in Reentry Report Community Listening Sessions Offender Listening Sessions Conversations Around Reentry: Perspectives from the Philanthropic Sector Council on Crime and Justice Welcome Home Support Circles
Demonstration Projects Joyce Foundation s Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration Project Four sites in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Paul. Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota Transitional Jobs Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Job Search Assistance Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration Project Community Day Fall 2010 Research Release
Contracts and Grants Personal Finance Pre and post release culturally specific services Employment/Work Readiness Training
Faith Community Programming Residential program IFI Collaborations and partnerships with places of worship, service providers. 2002 Lino Lakes 2006 Shakopee Trained and credentialed Correctional Ministries Institute for Prison Ministries Not supported by the DOC
Volunteers Individual Facility Compliance Centralized approval process Volunteer Coordinator Religious Coordinator Background Checks Cannot be a visitor Policies regarding post-release contact
Outreach Transition Coalition Monthly Meetings 2 nd Friday of Each Month Web site: https://iforums.doc.state.mn.us/site/tc/default.aspx Calendar of Events Community Re-entry 2 nd Chance Coalition Governor s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives
Outreach Specific to Sex Offenders MnCoSA Pilot project w/80-100 volunteers who support L2 sex offenders as they transition from institution to community. Sex offender specific re entry program. MSORP Group of stakeholders close to the sex offender re entry business.
Conferences/Workshops Out 4 Life Minnesota April 17-19, 2010 Community Empowerment through Black Men Healing June 24-25, 2010 International Association of Women Police September 26-30, 2010 Minnesota Sex Crimes Investigators Association (MNSCIA) September 30 October 2, 2010. Minnesota Department of Human Rights 2010 Conference December 3, 2010
Affiliations Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) Minnesota Community Corrections Association (MCCA) Minnesota Association of the Volunteer Administrators (MAVA) Hands on Twin Cities AmeriCorp National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) MN
Community Based Focus Steele County Minnesota NAMI Marketing Collaboration Human Service, Corrections Agent, Sheriff, Employer, Health Care. State of Ohio Citizen Circles Locations across the state Training Tools
Community Based Concepts Support Circles Volunteers Direct service providers Employers or business owners Faith community Family Restorative justice professionals Former offenders
Community Based Concepts Lessons Learned Previous efforts State of Ohio Citizen Circles AEC Welcome Home MnCoSA Others? Regional Volunteer Leaders Recruit support support circle locations Facilitate training
The Call transcend resolution transformation accountability internal identification Interpret formulate intervention disclose external adaptation adapt innovative reality context affirm strengthen psychological and spiritual relocation culture
Contact Lee Buckley Minnesota Department of Corrections 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108 651-361-7241 Lee.Buckley@state.mn.us