Transcript Slide 1

Drew Carberry, Director
Faith and Communities Engaged
in Service Program
The National Crime Prevention Council
[email protected]
202-261-4186
Allison Fleming, M.S., CRC
Training Associate
at Institute for Community
Inclusion
[email protected]
617-287-4339
617-287-4350 (TTY)
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Ex-Offender Reentry: An
Overview
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Reentry: A definition
Reentry (n.)
A broad term that refers to the issues
related to the transition of offenders
from incarceration to community.
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Incarceration
• 2.2 million persons incarcerated in prisons
each year.
• 9-12 million persons circulate through the
more than 3,500 jails and community
corrections systems each year.
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The National Context:
Persons in US Prisons and Jails 19801999
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
Prison
Jail
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
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Prisoners Face Many Reintegration
Challenges
• Substance Abuse
• Health (Physical
and Mental)
• Employment
• Housing
• Family
High Rates of Reoffending:
•Approximately 700,000 exoffenders return to
communities each year
• 47% reconvicted w/in 3
years
• 66% returned to prison
w/in 3 years
reunification
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• Returning prisoners cluster within
regions
• And within a few major cities
• High-return communities more
disadvantaged:
– families living below the poverty level
– unemployed persons
– female-headed households
• Ex-offenders return to a small number
of communities
• Reentry reduces the stability of
communities
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Most returning ex-offenders return to just a few neighborhoods.
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Focus on Seven Domain Areas
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Employment – work, training, vocation,
education
Family/Marital – support from family
Associates/Social Interaction – positive
interaction with non-criminal associates
Substance Abuse – intensive, outpatient, AA/NA,
sponsor
Community Functioning – home, budgeting,
social services, leisure, health
Personal/Emotional – mental health, coping
skills, decision making
Attitudes and Beliefs – religion, law abiding
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Reentry and Employment
• 3 Most Common Fundamental Needs of
Formerly Incarcerated Persons:
– Jobs
– Housing
– A person or people who believe they can
successfully reenter their communities
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Demand Side Barriers to
Employment
State regulatory barriers
– Employer reluctance
• Liability
• Lack of post-hiring support
• Concern about negative publicity
• Concern about “trustworthiness” of former
prisoners
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Employment Results of
Incarceration
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Dissuading employers
Disqualifying occupations
Eroding work skills
Limiting acquisition of work experience
Creating behaviors inconsistent with work
routine
• Undermining social connections for job
opportunities
-Stemen
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Mental Health
• 30% of Americans NEED Mental Health
services
– 14% Alcohol dependence, 11% Major
Depression
• 10% of Americans are treated for Mental
Health Issues
• “Co-occurrence” “confounding”
• Journal Psychiatric Services
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Substance Abuse and Mental
Illness
• 80% of inmates have substance abuse
involvement (use, addiction, distribution)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
frequently co-occur.
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Things to Think About…
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Liability insurance coverage
Due diligence / background check
Benefit knowledge
Positive Placement
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Advocacy Resources
National Policy/ Federal Legislation (202) 544-5478, www.lac.org
State Specific Questions (212) 243-1313, www.hirenetwork.org
Congressional legislative website, www.thomas.loc.gov
After Prison: Roadblocks to Reentry, www.lac.org/roadblocks.html
Federal Bonding Program, www.bonds4jobs.com
Work Opportunity Tax Credit, http://www.wa.gov/esd/wotc/default.htm
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CNCS Resources
– National e-mail discussion group
CNCS Ex-offender reentry programs
To join, e-mail
“[email protected]”
www.nationalservice.gov/resources
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Acknowledgement
Thanks for assistance to:
• Jeanne Cure, NCPC
• Nancy LaVigne, Urban Institute
• Dr. Erik Roskes,
• Roberta Meyers- Peeples, HIRE Network
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Hidden Disabilities
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What is a Hidden Disability?
• Catch-all phrase = not apparent or visible
• Usually refers to a chronic health
condition, a cognitive disability, or a mental
health disability
• Some people do not want others to know
that they have a disability, or do not
consider themselves to have a disability
• Ex offenders may never have been
diagnosed with a disability
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Learning Disabilities
• Often grouped in with cognitive disabilities
• May cause difficulty with reading, math,
verbal comprehension, and/or organization
• Use multiple modes of communication and
learning to accommodate different styles
• Vary methods for participants to give
feedback
• When unrecognized, can result in years of
academic struggle, dropping out, and
conduct issue
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Attention Deficits
• Emphasis on organization and planning
skills
• May struggle with impulsivity, sitting still,
remaining on task for long periods of time
• Allow person to vary tasks, take breaks to
remain productive
• Easily distracted, help develop strategies
for blocking out external stimuli
• May appear as surly, angry, or
uncooperative rather than having LD or
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ADHD
Traumatic Brain Injury
• Effects depend on severity of trauma,
length of time since trauma, and
treatment/rehabilitation following injury
• May affect speech, mood, memory,
attention, concentration, cognition,
executive function
• Often person will be unaware of some
limitations
• Help people solidify skills and identify best
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learning style
Medical Conditions
• Such as: HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Sickle Cell
Anemia, etc.
• Associated stigma- disclosure
• May need time off, flexible schedule
• Effects of medication, fatigue, pain
• Telecommuting options, negotiated job
tasks, carved jobs
• Protection of person’s privacy
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Mental Health Disabilities
• Some people take medication, others
don’t!
• How does the person know when they are
“well” and “not well”
• Importance of taking a break
• Flexible schedule to capitalize on most
productive times
• Remember that people are different, and
not everyone’s symptoms look the same
• Associated stigma- extra consideration for
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disclosure
People in Recovery
• Substance abuse is a significant issue,
and is often related to the person’s
criminal history
• Awareness & support of person’s recovery
• Recognition of “using” behavior, including
maladaptive coping strategies (lying,
manipulating, bullying, etc)
• Assistance in developing coping strategies
and new social networks
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Issue of Disclosure
• Since disability is non-apparent- person
has to make a decision
• Help person explore possible benefits &
consequences
• If person chooses to disclose- encourage
them to do it themselves, help them
develop explanation that they are
comfortable with
• Information presented in a functional way,
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on a need to know basis
Making Accommodations
• Talk with the person, get to know them
• Goal- universally designed programs
• Strategize- “what would help you complete
this task better,” “what would you like to
see done to make this easier for you,”
“how do you think you work best”
• Find Resources & ideas- example:
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/disabilities.ht
ml
• Try it out & evaluate effectiveness
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Case Study: Mike
• What resources could you help Mike
locate?
• What issues would you work with Mike
on?
• Do you see any possible hidden disability
issues with Mike?
• What strategies would you use with Mike
to help him perform best in your program?
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Case Study: Bill
• What issues do you see getting in the way
of Bill’s employment?
• What accommodations can you think of
that may help Bill?
• What concerns might you have about
working with Bill?
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Contact information
Drew Carberry
[email protected]
202-261-4186
Allison Fleming
[email protected]
TEL: 617-287-4339
TTY: 617-287-4350
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