Introduction
Integrating into the community or finding work for former inmates can be challenging due to criminal stigma, poor education, and sparse work histories. Inability to get employed, constructive engagement, mentorship programs, or support groups are key factors contributing to future arrests or attempts to commit more crimes by former inmates. Based on witness account review, incarceration often has devastating impacts on the offender’s psychology and life, making it harder to rebuild their lives (Barsky, 2017). Therefore, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Allegheny County Jail-Based Reentry Specialist Program, and its impact on public safety, justice, and the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Program Structure
The program was a joint effort by Allegheny County Jail to provide pre-and post-release services to inmates serving a county sentence (National Institute of Justice, 2016). It consisted of two phases supervised by a Reentry Probation Officer and four Reentry Specialists. Phase 1 prepared inmates for release through in-jail programming and services for five or more months. Phase 2 involved providing supportive services in the community for up to 12 months after release. The program mainly focused on narcotic education, finding employment, and maintaining financial responsibility for the clients. Additionally, the former inmates learned how to further their education through guest speakers from trade schools.
Program Existence and Agencies Involved in the Program
The criminal justice system in Allegheny County partnered with human services agencies to launch the program in 2010 and 2011 (National Institute of Justice, 2016). The first phase of the program, called Reentry 1, was established in 2010 and involved coordinating the services inmates would receive in jail and the community. Reentry 2, which commenced in 2011, entailed aligning the program with core correctional practices. The program jurisdiction was limited to county prisons in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Populations Served
The Reentry Specialist Program targeted adult male and female inmates sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and who were returning to Allegheny County after release. Only medium- to high-risk offenders qualified for enrollment in the Specialist Program based on the Proxy Triage Risk Screener (National Institute of Justice, 2016). Besides, only inmates approved by the County Jail Classification Department for housing on Re-entry Pod were eligible for the program.
How It Advances Public Safety
The specialist program focuses on finding employment and financial responsibility for reentry inmates, which they need for rebuilding and self-sustenance. Assigning a Reentry Specialist to work with the inmates pre- and post-release can help them match interests and skills to various job options, access goodwill from the community, and develop healthy family functioning and relationships. For example, the prison credential program can signal criminal disassociation and employability (Lindsay, 2022). Most former offenders who manage to find work abstain from crime longer and become more responsible and better people in the community (Lindsay, 2022). Coordination and support services with the inmates’ families also help them regain confidence and build skills in parenting and relationships.
Effectiveness of the Approach
A study on the effectiveness of the Allegheny County Jail-Based Reentry Specialist Program found it effective in transforming inmates (Willison et al., 2014, as cited in National Institute of Justice, 2016). The impact analysis study suggested the program reduced rearrest among participants and prolonged their stay from trouble for at least 90 days post-release. The study findings indicated the possibility of rearrest declined by 24% points for Reentry 1 (Willison et al., 2014, as cited in National Institute of Justice, 2016). Nevertheless, the Reentry 2 program had little effect on supervision violations despite participants exhibiting less defiance than the control group. Therefore, the authors could not measure the second program’s impact on return to custody and reconviction. The current trend has brought technology-based solutions for delivering reentry programs, support services, and supervision that can improve outcomes (Russo et al., 2022). Correctional facilities can consider technology-based solutions, such as virtual workshops and other simulation technology, to support reentry alongside other interventions.
Conclusion
In summary, pre- and post-release services offered to inmates can reduce rearrest and prolong their stay in the community. Assigning specialists to inmates for psychological support and education helps them overcome the stigma, facilitate integration into the community and rebuild, and promote acceptance by employers. Additionally, technology-based solutions like virtual workshops and other simulation technologies can facilitate the reentry process when incorporated into the current programs.
References
Barsky, N. (2017). WE ARE WITNESSES. The Marshall Project. Web.
** Lindsay, S. (2022). Damned if you do, damned if you don’t: How formerly incarcerated men navigate the labor market with prison credentials. Criminology, (60)3, 455-479. Web.
National Institute of Justice. (2016). Program Profile: Allegheny County (Pa.) Jail-Based Reentry Specialist Program. Crime Solutions. Web.
Russo, J., Vermeer, M., Woods, D., & Jackson, B. (2022). Leveraging Technology to Support Prisoner Reentry. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.