Re-Entry Programs: Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Successful Community Re-Entry Senate Criminal Justice Committee William Carr Assistant Secretary of.

Re-Entry Programs:Reducing Recidivism and Promoting

Successful Community Re-Entry

Senate Criminal Justice Committee

William Carr Assistant Secretary of Re-EntryOctober 4, 2011

“While we diminish the stimulant of fear, we must increase to prisoners the incitements of hope, in proportion as we extinguish the terrors of the law, we should awaken and strengthen the control of the conscience.”

Dorothea Dix, Prison Reformer (1802-1887)

Recidivism and Successful Community Re-entry

Agenda

– Re-Entry Facilities– Vocational Training – Identification Cards– Work Release Beds– Prescription Drugs Upon Release– Financial Assistance – Mental Health Services in the Community

Re-Entry Facilities

Northern Region:• Baker

Southern Region:• Demilly• Polk • Sago Palm

Re-Entry Facilities Portals: A Single Point of Entry

RE-ENTRY FACILITY

ON-SITE CRIMINAL REGISTRATION

POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION ?

CONNECTED WITH PROBATION STAFF

RE-ENTRY PORTAL

OFFENDER REUNITED WITH FAMILY

OFFERED RE-ENTRY SERVICES AVAILABLE AT PORTAL

OFFERED RE-ENTRY SERVICES AVAILABLE AT PORTAL

YESNO

Re-Entry Facilities: Portals

• Designated release site for offenders returning to a specific county upon release

• Locations– Jacksonville Reentry Center (JREC)– Hillsborough County Portal– Pinellas Safe Harbor– Palm Beach County Portal

“The moment of release represents a critical point in time that can make or break an inmate’s successful reintegration into society.”

(Release Plan for Successful Reentry, Urban Institute Justice Policy Center)

Vocational Training

Occupational trades based on Agency for Workforce Innovationand U.S. Department of Labor

– FY 2010-2011• Vocational courses offered to 4,981 inmates• Certificates awarded 2,190 inmates

– Primary recipients• Inmates identified with the greatest need• Youthful Offenders with no marketable occupational skills• Adults with no marketable skills within 3.5 years of release

“Without education, job skills, and other basic services, offenders are likely to repeat the same steps that brought them to jail in the first place…”

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

33 occupational trades offered within the Department include:

– Commercial Class “B” Driving – Building Construction Technology– AC, Refrigeration and Heating (HVAC)– Applied Welding Technologies– Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing– Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts– Electrical– Environmental Sciences– Gasoline Engine Service Technology– Masonry Brick and Block– Plumbing Technology– Waste Water Treatment Technologies

Vocational Training

Vocational Training Specter Program

• A federally funded grant for Post-secondary vocational training

• Inmates 35 years of age and under who have a high school diploma or GED

• Programs operated at 7 institutions

Vocational TrainingU.S. Department of Labor

In collaboration with U.S. Department of Labor and the Florida Department of Education

– Will provide the opportunity for inmates to earn an industry certificate from the Florida Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor

– Available for long-term and short-term inmates

– Program offering includes…• Auto-body repair• Cosmetology• Welding• Landscaping• Housekeeping

Issuing Identification Cards

• Collaboration with Social Security Administration and DHSMV to meet the requirements of the Real ID Act

• Currently 13 participating sites• Social Security cards issued to inmates at all Institutions

• Since January

• 530 birth certificates issued• 384 ID cards issued

“Proper identification generally is required to find employment, obtain housing, or apply for public benefits that may be necessary to obtain medication or other treatment services that can help reduce inmates’ risk of reoffending.”

(OPPAGA, Report No. 09-44)

Work Release

• Work Release is a community transition program authorized by Florida Statute, which was introduced in the Department of Corrections more than 35 years ago.

• Participating inmates must be within 14 months of their release date.

• Work release allows inmates to be gainfully employed while still being in a controlled environment.

Work Release Beds

• Statewide Community Release Program

3,992 – Total Beds

o Department Operated Facilities -20 2,133

(53%) – Total Beds

o Vendor Operated Facilities - 131,859 ( 47%) – Total Beds

Paid Employment

• Subsistence in FY 10-11 $6,748,739 General Revenue

o20 Department Operated Facilities:$6,748,739

o 13 Vendor operated (vendor retains all subsistence collected) $0

Paid Employment

• Restitution, fines, court costs collected FY 10-11$1,853,840

o 20 – Department Operated Facilities:$1,011,471

(55%)

o 13- Vendor Operated Facilities:$842,368 (45%)

Financial Assistance in the Community

FDOC and DCF entered into an Interagency Agreement

– DCF will provide a dedicated staff member to assist inmates transitioning back into the community with the following:

• Determine eligibility for all ACCESS assistance programs • Process applications for Office of Disability determinations • Food Assistance• Medicaid• Temporary Cash Assistance

Prescription Drug Cards

• Provide offenders with access to discounted prescription drug benefits to aide in the reentry process

• Saved FDOC ex-inmates and probationers $28,000 since June– 1,874 have used the card since May– Save an average of 38% on prescriptions– Individual saved 93% on a single prescription

“While access to in-prison health care services may be readily available, continued adherence to treatment regiments following release is a critical public health issue…”

(From Prison To Home, Urban Institute Justice Policy Center)

Mental Health Aftercare

Post Release & Work Release Medications Policy

• Statute requires that an inmate be provided a 30-day supply of all HIV/AIDS-related medication at the time of release.

• FDOC policy requires that all inmates prescribed psychotropic medications will be provided with a 30-day supply of medications as part of their mental health re-entry plan at the time of release.

• FDOC policy allows for inmates to be provided with up to a 30-day supply of medications upon end of sentence (EOS) or transfer to a Work Release Center (WRC).

• If the Work Release inmate cannot afford continuing health care, including prescribed medications, the inmate is referred for evaluation by a health care provider at the inmate’s assigned institution.

Process for Offenders Needing Post-Release Outpatient Mental Health Services

180 Days180 Days

150 Days150 Days

45 Days45 Days

30 Days30 Days

ReleaseRelease

Treatment Plan updatedTreatment Plan updated

Referral to DCF Referral to DCF SSI/SSDI

Application initiated SSI/SSDI

Application initiated

Aftercare Appointment Set with CMHC

Aftercare Appointment Set with CMHC

Treatment Summary Completed

Treatment Summary Completed

SSI/SSDI Application forwarded to SSA

SSI/SSDI Application forwarded to SSA

Treatment Summary Forwarded to CMHC and Probation/Parole

Treatment Summary Forwarded to CMHC and Probation/Parole

Inmate Advised of Aftercare Arrangement

Inmate Advised of Aftercare Arrangement

Release Medications Order

Release Medications Order

30 Day Supply of Medications

30 Day Supply of Medications

Electronic Web-Based Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Referral System

Step 1:

FDOC staff enter referral information into DC Mainframe

DC

Mainframe

DCF

Server

Step 4:

Community provider receives referral and posts aftercare appointment in aftercare database.

Step 5:

FDOC staff obtains aftercare arrangements from aftercare database / communicates information to inmate.

Step 2:

Encrypted file transfer

Step 3:

DCF staff receives referral and assigns community provider

Resources

William Carr, JD Asst Secretary , Reentry [email protected]

Latoya Lane, PhD Director of Reentry [email protected]

Dean Aufderheide, PhD Director of Mental Health [email protected]