Corrections_Today_Fall_2025_Vol.87_No.3

from the archives

service delivery as offenders move through the system. The Second Chance Act of 2005 recognizes the impor tance of such assessments in reducing the likelihood of offender recidivism through its provision for demon stration grants to state and local governments to adopt such tools. Consistent with this framework, the process of planning for reentry begins immediately at a reception center, not a few weeks, Ensuring that offenders receive appropriate program ming both during confinement and while they are under supervision in the community is an important compo nent of the reentry transition. National statistics indicate that a significant percentage of offenders who enter state and federal prisons have previous histories of substance abuse and/or mental health problems. These offenders require effective intervention and service delivery in a manner that must be sustained both during and after incarceration. There is a provision in the bill offering funding supportive of such programming to assist states in addressing these offenders’ unique needs. Strengthening families One of the more significant costs associated with im prisonment is its impact on the families and children left behind. As research shows, a growing number of prison inmates are parents. During the past decade, the total number of parents in prison has increased sharply from an estimated 452,500 in state and federal facilities in or even a few months, before release from incarceration.

1991 to 721,500 in 1997 - an increase of 60 percent. These inmates are parents to more than 1.5 million children. This figure represents a growth of more than one-half million children in the past decade, according to But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry by Jeremy Travis. One of the more sobering trends too often overlooked in correctional management discus sions is the impact incarceration and reentry have on families, fathers, mothers, children, siblings and others who are connected to a family network. The Second Chance Act of 2005 recognizes the impor tance of engaging families in reentry by providing funding options to states and local jurisdictions to expand family-based treatment centers offering comprehensive treatment services for the family as a unit. Family case management that starts in side and continues following an offender’s release serves to reinforce successful reentry transitions. Improving communities’ quality of life The Second Chance Act of 2005 addresses the vital role that community and faith-based organizations can play in ensuring that returning offenders are productive and remain crime free. Communities and local citizens bring expertise, knowledge of resources, and often a willingness to assist offenders in navigating reentry in a positive manner. As the legislation recognizes, mentoring represents a particularly important component in this process. Mentors, whether through faith based or other community organizations, offer guidance, direction and often a compassionate commitment to work with ex-offenders as they reacquire the skills and competencies they need to make it once they are released. The Department of Rehabilitation and Correc tion under the Ohio Plan on Reentry has created a “reentry mentor” as part of the volunteers program. The goal is to afford com munity and faith-based organizations the opportunity to work

Fall 2025 | Corrections Today

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