“Pennsylvania’s Community Corrections

RESET”

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Barriers Approach While we predicate our system on risks/needs, this verbiage

was not resonating with our staff. We pivoted the messaging to BARRIERS:

We assess inmates in order to identify the barriers that could prevent them from being good citizens.

We provide programming to remove those barriers. Our Community Corrections system should be built

around barriers that remain at the time of release. This led to our system reset.

Driver’s License and Personal Identification Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections (DOC) and the

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) have developed a program to provide all inmates with a valid Photo Identification Card or Driver’s License prior to their release from a correctional institution.

Re-entry coordinators at state prisons work with transportation officials on a regular basis to identify and verify driver’s license and identification card numbers for incarcerated individuals.

DOC provides the inmate’s name, number, birth date, and Social Security number.

PennDOT provides driver’s license number, record type and status, expiration date, photo ID indicator, and other information.

Driver’s License and Personal Identification (Continued) Re-entry coordinators at state prisons are able to print the

necessary requirement letters for inmates to renew licenses or state identification.

Within two years of an inmate’s anticipated release date, DOC will provide his or her photo and electronic signature, along with an application card to PennDOT for an ID card/license or replacement.

Fees are paid by DOC. Should an offender be released from prison to Community

Corrections Center without obtaining his or her identification or license, facility staff will help to guide them through normal procedure.

Our Community Corrections Continuum –Residential Services

Community Corrections Centers, also known as halfway houses, provide a transitional process by allowing residents to have contact with jobs and educational opportunities while still being monitored.

The facilities house State Intermediate Punishment (SIP) inmates and offenders granted parole by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP).

In addition to state-run facilities, the department also contracts with private vendors to provide specialized treatment and supervision service, many in the area of substance abuse programming.

Non-Residential Services – Housing Assistance Helping the offender (and dependents when necessary) to

attain independent living by securing safe and affordable housing that complies with DOC and PBPP policy

Monthly contact with offenders once they are in housing in order to assist with re-entry and independent living

Engaging with local Public Housing Authorities to assist with securing public housing and exploring other avenues for securing approved, independent housing

Housing (Continued) Funding for security deposits and rent directly to the

landlord in order to secure housing Funding for up to six months of housing subsidies in order

to cover a portion of offender rent and utilities Rent not to exceed HUD-established Fair Market Rents and

30 to 40 percent of total household income Offenders are responsible for 30 percent of rent (may be

waived by DOC) Assisting offenders with obtaining necessary items

to furnish housing through community resources

Sex Offender Programming

Comprehensive sex offender assessment, including the use of standardized sex offender risk assessment tools

Formulation of an individualized treatment plan Individual and group counseling (e.g., cognitive restructuring,

behavior modification, psycho-sexual education, victim impact awareness, and relapse prevention)

One sexual history polygraph (within the first six months)

Sex Offender Programming (Continued) Case conferences with DOC and PBPP treatment team

members not less than once per month. Access to psychiatric evaluation and medication

prescription services, when applicable, to be paid by offender/third party.

Referral to other specialized services provided by Community Corrections for offenders with other special needs (such as substance abuse, mental illness, mental retardation)

Day Reporting Services Orientation, initial assessment, and development and

implementation of an individualized treatment plan detailing required weekly/daily programs to assist offenders with re-entry

Case management and attendance verification Structured cognitive-based substance abuse programming Drug test, including urinalysis Cognitive behavioral therapy Offender workforce development Pro-social activities Provided weekdays 8 am to 10 pm, Saturdays 8 am

to 4 pm

Mentoring Provides a pro-social support designed to model positive

behavior and to provide guidance through learned knowledge

Assists with enhancing the offender’s sense of self-worth by supporting the offender through various re-entry challenges

Works with offender to identify a positive role-model in the offender’s life to serve as a mentor, or identifies a potential volunteer if no such person is identified

Offers peer support groups and monthly pro-social events

Workforce Development Individualized, structured support and services, ranging

from 6 to 12 months in duration, to assist each offender according to their individual employment/vocational needs

Services may include: Assessment: Determine needs, strengths, skills, and

interests of offender to influence individualized employment plans

Case planning and Management: Goal setting and planning, career counseling, job coaching

Workforce Development (Continued) Job search, placement, and retention assistance by:

Connecting offender to community workforce development resources, job matching, employment application assistance

Serving as intermediary for offender to discuss concerns about employer

Employer outreach to identify and engage employers of offenders Education and vocational training opportunities: Coordinate

referral to opportunities for educational advancement (e.g., GED classes) and vocational improvement (e.g., trade training classes)

Utilization of Labor Market information available through various resources

Family Reunification Family reunification services in a non-clinical setting that

helps to address the impact of an offender’s incarceration on the family

Programming will address areas including, but not limited to, effective communication strategies, identification of reasonable expectations, establishing pro-social goals, and breaking the cycle of incarceration through: Assessment to determine risks, needs, strengths, and

levels of motivation Parent education classes: Evidence based parent training

program designed for criminal justice-involved parents

Family Re-Unification (Continued) Parent support groups: Safe places where parents can

discuss and learn about daily difficulties of child rearing Spousal/Significant Other Support Group: Safe place

where couples can discuss and learn about daily difficulties of the relationship dynamic

Coordination with the office of Children and Youth Referral to other services as needed

Outpatient Treatment for Alcohol and Other Drugs

Six to 12 months of licensed outpatient services to offenders with recent history of problematic alcohol or drug use where outpatient treatment is appropriate

Programming will focus on Comprehensive Assessment and Group and Individual Counseling that is based upon Cognitive Behavioral and/or Motivational Enhancement Therapies

Provided weekdays 8 am to 10 pm, Saturdays 8 am to 4 pm Services will include:

Assessment/Identification of offender needs and risk factors

Development of treatment plans and goals

Outpatient Treatment for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Continued)

Individual and group sessions with varying levels of intensity based on an offender’s assessed treatment needs:

Intensive counseling (four group/sessions per week) Intermediate counseling (two to three sessions per week) Regular counseling (one session per week) Gender-specific programming Referral to county and community resources Aftercare planning and relapse prevention

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Group cognitive-behavior therapy provided to high- and

moderate-risk offenders that address anti-social attitude, values, beliefs, thinking, and/or other criminal cognitions

Services provided will include: Open-ended cognitive behavioral programming to those who

have previously participated in CBI Cognitive behavioral-based programming, which provides

additional reinforcement of pro-social skills taught, practiced, and learned while in CBI or community programming. These includeNational Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s)Thinking for a Change, or National Curricula and Training Institute’s Cognitive Based Life Skills, or other curricula as approved by the DOC and the PBPP

Funding will not exceed one year in duration without the approval of the DOC and PBPP

Mental Health Services Comprehensive and individualized case management Assessment conducted within seven days of referral Develop appropriate treatment plan Mental health education/guidance for psychiatric diagnosis Medication compliance/medication adjustment Individual counseling Group therapy Develop problem solving and coping skills Permanent and/or temporary employment disability due to mental

health-related issues Develop short-term and long-term goals Medications shall be checked on monthly basis by licensed

psychiatrist or certified registered nurse practitioner All support staff shall be trained in Mental Health First

Aid

Reentry & Employment: Philadelphia Laborers Collaboration between PADOC, PBPP, PennDOT, L&I, and

Philadelphia Laborers’ District Council Laborers’ Training Facility

Students reside on full-service campus during week Receive 6-8 weeks of skills training Upon training completion, receive union card

Cohorts of up to 45 ex-offenders returning to Southeast Pennsylvania

Align to Correctional Education training, including NCCER certification Minimal requirements: drivers license and GED/High school

diploma Timing is right: Transportation Package to increase job

opportunities in Construction Trades Job development is key!

Interactive Re-entry Map An interactive re-entry map, on the DOC’s public website, offers

an easily accessible directory of services. By simply identifying one of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, a

directory of available services and information immediately appears.

A click on the appropriate item helps the user find what is available in that county for a number of services, such as housing, employment, clothing, or food, as well as domestic abuse, drug and alcohol treatment, veterans’ services, and legal services.

Another click on the specific need results in a snapshot of available services, including an address, phone number, and web address.

Located at http://reentrymap.cor.state.pa.us/

Interactive Re-Entry Map: Examples of Services Agency on Aging Drug and Alcohol Housing Veteran Services Food/Clothing Community Corrections

Center County Courthouse Probation Office

Domestic Violence and Victim Rights

Transportation One-Stop Shop Physical and Mental

Health Family Services Legal Concerns Identification Documents Social Security