Housing Ex-Offenders: Identifying Barriers and Proposing Solutions

Angela LeeODRC Reentry and Family Program Administrator

TopicsTopics ODRC Statistics/Offender Population ODRC Statistics/Offender Population

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Urban Institutes, Urban Institutes, Returning Home Study, Returning Home Study,

FindingsFindings Sex OffendersSex Offenders Housing InitiativesHousing Initiatives How Does It All Fit Together?How Does It All Fit Together?

ODRC Statistics and Offender CharacteristicsODRC Statistics and Offender Characteristics

Currently there are 49,488 incarcerated Currently there are 49,488 incarcerated offendersoffenders Capacity is 37,610Capacity is 37,610 All time record highAll time record high Expected to reach Expected to reach 55,54355,543 offenders by July offenders by July

20092009 Female population is the fastest growing Female population is the fastest growing

populationpopulation

Of those offenders admitted, 60% serve less than one year-55% of them serve less than six months.

In FY2006 28,448 offenders were released to the community. 13,904 (less than half) were released to community supervision

Average age: Male: 35.2 years Female 35 years

F4 & F5 felonies comprise 57.3% of committed crimes.

Four major crimes: Drug Possession Drug Trafficking Burglary Theft

The national average cost of confining an offender is $22,000 In Ohio the cost is

$25,000

Urban Institute, Returning Home StudyKey Findings in Ohio

Urban Institute, Returning Home StudyKey Findings in Ohio

Housing instability is high; 63% of men studied lived in more than one place during

the year after release; Nearly 1/3 moved several times within first year; 46% considered living arrangement temporary; Men studied felt their housing situation could be

jeopardizing their prospects for successful reintegration; Housing and Financial Support is a critical need for

successful reentry.

Urban Institute-Returning Home Policy Brief-April 2007Christy Visher and Shannon Courtney, Research Associates

Predictors of Re-Incarceration One Year After Release

Predictors of Re-Incarceration One Year After Release

Those who had… Secured long-term stable housing in the first

month, Secured a job six months after release, and Maintained a positive attitude and had family

support……were less likely to be Re-Incarcerated.were less likely to be Re-Incarcerated.

Urban Institute-Returning Home Study-April 2007

Urban Institute-Returning Home: Post-Release Surveys Preparation for Reentry

Nearly all men Nearly all men participated in some participated in some type of programtype of program

64% in Ohio’s 64% in Ohio’s ReleaseRelease

Preparation Preparation Program Program

87% in other 87% in other programsprograms

23% earned a GED23% earned a GED

In-Prison Programs & Services

44

38

34

32

28

27

26

24

17

13

3

0 10 20 30 40 50

Substance abuse

GED/basic education

Anger management

Employment readiness

RSAT

Counseling

Job training

Other

Life skills

Parenting skills

ESL

Percent

Urban Institute-Returning Home: Post-Release Surveys

Community

Post-Release Prisoner Residence

Post-Release Prisoner Residence

Urban Institute-Returning Home: Post-Release Surveys

Housing

21% lived with former prisoner and 16% lived with substance user

4 out of 5 men relied on family for housing

Almost half viewed housing as temporary

21% lived with former prisoner and 16% lived with substance user

4 out of 5 men relied on family for housing

Almost half viewed housing as temporary

23%

27%

33%

38%

34%

20%18%

46%

28%

25%26%

11%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Prior toincarceration

1 month after release

6 monthsafter release

12+ monthsafter release

Spouse/Intimate Partner Parent Sibling

Those with long-term housing were less likely to return to prison

Living Arrangements at 1, 6, and 12 Months After Release

The Importance of Community Participation

Myth

Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers…

Ohio FactsOhio Facts• 87% of child victims know their offender

with almost half being a family member• 76% of adult women were raped by a

current or former husband, live-in-partner, or date.

• Office of Criminal Justice Services, Report to the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission-January 2006

Myth

Most child sexual abusers use physical force or threat to gain compliance from their victims…

FactFact…In most cases, abusers gain

access through grooming, deception, and enticement.

Myth Most child sexual abusers

find their victims by frequenting such places as schoolyard and playgrounds.

FactFactMost Abusers offend against children Most Abusers offend against children

they know and have established a they know and have established a relationship.relationship.

MythSex Offender have a high

recidivism rate…

FactFact…In Ohio only 8% of convicted sex

offenders recidivate by committing a new sex offense, 14.3% recidivate committing a non-sex related offense…Research has shown that sex offenders recidivate at a lower rate than other offenders…

- Office of Criminal Justice Services, Report to the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission-January 2006

Housing InitiativesODRC & Community Partners

Housing InitiativesODRC & Community Partners

Independent Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing

Reentry Centers Halfway Houses

Collaborative PracticesCollaborative Practices

Collaborative Practices

Collaborations and partnerships are

great but developing best

practices is even greater.

Service ProvidersService Providers

Service Providers are an essential element in the reintegration process of ex-offenders. The Community provides a network of support for victims and offenders. Getting involved helps prevent crime, victimization, and reduce recidivism.

Service Providers

Service Providers

OffendersOffendersOffenders are provided with the tools necessary to become tax-payers not tax burdens, become active members in their communities and family while still being held accountable for their behaviors.

Criminal Justice ProfessionalsCriminal Justice Professionals

Justice professionals assist in providing a

balanced approach to justice. Support

legislative opportunities essential in promoting offender

reentry and safer communities.

Safer Ohio CommunitiesSafer Ohio Communities

CollaborativePractices

Service Providers

OFFENDERSOFFENDERSOFFENDERS

JUSTICEJUSTICEJUSTICE

PROFESSIONALSPROFESSIONALPROFESSIONALS

Safer Ohio

Communities

TTogether we can ogether we can break the cycle of break the cycle of incarceration now incarceration now and for generations and for generations to come...to come...

TTogether we can ogether we can break the cycle of break the cycle of incarceration now incarceration now and for generations and for generations to come...to come...