Corrections_Today_January_February_2024_Vol.86_No.1

I n today’s era of government, governmental agencies are being asked to do more with less resources. This is being seen within the criminal justice systems and especially within corrections. As recidivism rates increase, what is being done to combat these rising numbers? There are ongoing efforts for criminal justice reform; reentry programs and community-based corrections programs are a step in the reform process. One of the main goals of the criminal justice system is reform; if this goal is not being met, then the criminal justice system is failing. Upon release from a correctional facility, an offender needs to have the tools to be successful. These tools range from educational skills, job skills and life skills; these skills can be acquired through reentry programs. The majority of offenders are not employed prior to being incarcerated because they were living in the crimi nal lifestyle. Individuals who suffer socio-economic disadvantages, experience a disjunction in regards to their socially inspired goals and the legitimate means to achieve these goals (Westherburn & Schnepel, 2015). If an individual does not obtain the skill set while incarcer ated that is needed to be successful once reintegrating back into the community, they will achieve their needs criminally. About 700,000 prisoners are released annually from federal and state prisons (Cook, Kang, Braga, 2015). Roughly two-thirds of these offenders are rearrested, and half are re-incarcerated within a 3-year period. Research ers have described a three-phase approach to reentry, which will help reintegration into the community for of fenders. The three phases include the institutional phase, structured reentry phase and the community reintegration phase (Holliday, Heilbrun, Fretz, 2012). The first phase of the institutional phase begins while the offender is incarcerated, where a treatment plan is developed. Two issues related to assessment are impor tant for reentry programs: the process of selection and the identification of risk, need and responsivity characteris tics (Listwan, Cullen, Latessa, 2006). Key criminogenic factors or needs such as attitudes and beliefs, criminal as sociates, family dysfunction, addictions, employment and education should be targeted. The second phase, which is the structured reentry phase, begins six months prior to the release and ends 1-month post release; it focuses on a service plan and the development of community

connections. The final phase of this plan is the community reintegration, and this begins two months post release; it may include community supervision and after care components. Reentry services are important, as they equip offend ers with needed resources and skills which they need to thrive in a community setting, such as vocational or substance abuse services (Holliday, Heilbrun, Fretz, 2012). Not only do reentry programs help the offender, but they also help communities by reducing homelessness and unemployment and improve health conditions in the community. The Federal Government has recognized the crisis surrounding reentry through several initiatives, such as The Serious and Violent Reentry Initiative and the Fed eral Second Chance Act (Listwan, Cullen, Latessa, 2006).

Not only do reentry programs help the offender, but they also help communities by reducing homelessness and unemployment and improve health conditions in the community.

The offenders experience of psychological distress and substance abuse may have influenced their readiness to change (Killian et al., 2018). Youth that are released from jail face two critical transformations: one from critical to a productive lifestyle, and the other from adolescence to adulthood (Lisante & Navon, 2000). Youth who have made a poor choice are at a crossroads when they reenter society, and they are able to be molded by their peers. This may be the second chance they receive when being released, and they need to be given the resources to suc ceed in society. The most challenging time for an ex-offender is the immediate hours post-release; this is when they are more likely to recidivate due to financial, housing, employment and familial barriers (Skinner-Osei & Stepteau-Watson, 2018). Social factors also come into account when an

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