THE GREATER RESPONSE TO REENTRY
Alameda County Reentry Network
Presentation Overview
Reentry in Alameda County
Responding to Reentry
Role of the Reentry Network
Outlook, Opportunities and Expectations
UNDERSTANDING THE REENTRY POPULATION
• POPULATION SIZE•GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
• DEMOGRAPHICS •SERVICE NEEDS
Reentry in Alameda County
Reentry Continuum
Incarceration – period while incarcerated before pre-release planning has begun
Pre-Release – planning phase leading up to release
Reentry – establish long- term solutions for health, housing, employment etc.
Release - Released from institution and transition to community, ideally in accordance with pre-release plan
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Understanding Reentry
“The reality of mass incarceration translates into the reality of reentry” - Jeremy Travis, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Over 90% of people who are incarcerated are released
There are now 2.3 million people in U.S. prisons and jails, a fourfold increase in the incarceration rate since 1980.
An estimated 700,000 people in the US are released from incarceration each year
Impact of Reentry on Communities
A University of California, Berkeley study attributes most of the black-white difference in AIDS infection to racial disparities in incarceration.
Among children born since 1990, 4 percent of whites and 25 percent of blacks will witness their father being sent to prison by their fourteenth birthday.
Reentry in Alameda County
In 2007 Alameda County had ___ people return from State prisons _____ people return from County Jail
As of June 2007 Alameda County had 20,092 adults under criminal justice supervision
1 in 100 persons in Alameda County are currently under criminal justice supervision
Reentry Population Demographics
Alameda County parolee population is:Overwhelmingly male (91%)
Under 50 years old (97%) with the largest proportion in the 30-40 age range
People of color (84%) with African Americans comprising the largest ethnic group constituting 67% of the parolee population
Reentry Population Service Needs
Income & Employment: sufficient income to handle the transitional period between release and a first pay check.
Education: access to education including GED, basic literacy skills and other needed education.
Health Care: continuity of care from incarceration to community especially for persons with chronic conditions.
Substance Abuse: treatment, support groups and other substance abuse services
Reentry Population Service Needs
Housing: a safe and sober place to live that adheres to the terms of release.
Social Services: access to and information concerning available public benefits for which a person may qualify.
Family Services: access to services to help with family reunification, parenting, spousal relationships, etc.
Case Management: case manager to identify potential services and to facilitate service delivery.
Legal services: information and services concerning rights, record cleaning/expungement, restitution and child support payments, etc.
Reentry
The need to address reentry has been widely recognized and funding for programming and improved community corrections collaboration has been increasing (e.g. 2nd Chance Act)
Reentry programs make our streets safer, our communities more vibrant and our cities more livable and appealing to economic development
Successful models of county wide systems for addressing reentry are scarce
ALAMEDA COUNTY REENTRY NETWORK:
A NEEDED RESPONSE TO A RISING DEMAND
Responding to Reentry
How are we responding to Reentry?
Alameda County and its cities have recognized the need to address reentry and are currently: Increasing police presence Funding services and programs Addressing policy barriers
Planning, cooperation and coordination has been noticeably absent from our response to reentry
“We aren’t out numbered, we are out organized” – Arnold Perkins, former Alameda County Public Health Director
A County Wide Response
The Alameda County Reentry Network brings Reentry stakeholders from across the county together to address Reentry as the county wide problem that it is
Enables county wide planning, data collection, resource development and collaboration
Theoretical Foundation of Reentry Network
Desired Outcome
Recidivism is the result of…
Method to address recidivism
Reduce recidivism in order to increase public safety
Ineffective service and support systems to manage pre-release planning and reentry
Develop a manage a system to ensure/track supply services and to evaluate outcomes of services
Lack of connection to social networks capable of providing support
Establish connections to community social networks prior to release
Lack of a healthy values system prior to, during and after incarceration
Programming during incarceration that promotes healthy values
Inadequate human capital
Increase education and job training during incarceration including a plan for employment and training after release
What is the Reentry Network?
A network of committees, task forces and forums that address the full spectrum of reentry Stakeholders
Reentry Network only created 2 new committees the others were built from the meetings and groups that were already meeting around these issues
ALAMEDA COUNTY REENTRY NETWORK
Decision Makers Committee
Composed of elected officials, city/county agency heads, correctional administrators and foundation leadership
Approves the Annual Plan for the upcoming year and then six months later to receives a Mid-Year Review from Coordinating Council
Works with Coordinating Council to take policy action and allocate resources based on Annual Plan
Coordinating Council
Representative of Reentry Network and Reentry stakeholders
Hub of the Reentry Network through which new information is disseminated
Coordinates various components of the Reentry Network to ensure a cohesive vision
Implementation Committee
Brings together staff from current reentry initiatives
Works to expand effective initiative-level reentry efforts
Composed of service providers and city/county agency staff working on initiatives (e.g. Measure Y)
Networking and Professional Development
Composed of servicer providers and community organizations
Provides regular professional development activities to meeting the needs of reentry service providers
Offers opportunities for networking and sharing of best practices between reentry service providers
HOW DOES THE REENTRY NETWORK FUNCTION AND WHAT DOES IT PROVIDE?
The Role of Reentry Network
The Reentry Network Provides S.A.F.E.T.Y.
StrategyAdvocacyFactsEfficiencyTeamworkYardstick
Strategy
A comprehensive county wide plan for providing effective services to the formerly incarcerated
Forum for new programs to learn about current work in Alameda County and identify where they would best support the work already happening
Coordinating Council provides birds eye view to ensure ongoing planning across Reentry Network
Advocacy
Develop policy, services and funding recommendations that will benefit Alameda County’s reentry population and their families
Include recommendations in Annual Plan and Mid-Year Report
Reentry Network works with members and county/city leadership to be efficient in advocacy activities
Facts
Current data and information on best practices and tools that inform policy makers, providers, the police and the general public
Data is posted on website and sent out throughout the Network to ensure accessibility
Collaborative works as a whole to obtain data reducing the burden on city, county and state agencies to fulfill multiple data requests
Efficiency
A county wide collaborative in place and prepared to address reentry related issues as they arise
A county wide collaborative capable of responding to potential funding opportunities that require a quick turnaround
Establishes a clear system for communication among reentry stakeholders to keep one another informed of important events, opportunities and issues
Teamwork
Collaboration, cooperation and coordination between reentry programs, initiatives and providers
Creates networking opportunities for identifying new partnerships and generating new ideas
Mechanism for connects wide range of stakeholders with one another to develop new partnerships and opportunities
Yardstick
A county wide set of measures to evaluate outcomes
Regularly updates progress in Annual Plan and Mid-Year Report
Provides new programs, funders, policy makers and others with an understanding of the various measures that impact Reentry
Reentry Network is a Promoter
Vehicle for promoting what works
Gives Alameda County a more cohesive voice to ensure that the needs of the formerly incarcerated are prioritized
THE FUTURE OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY REENTRY NETWORK
Outlook, Opportunities and Expectations
