Reentry

NEW
Author: Leonard Engel
2008

This report is a ‘call to action’ for Massachusetts state leaders to implement a systemic approach to offender reentry, one that involves traditional as well as non-traditional agencies and collaborates with community leaders and service providers. A collaborative approach is necessary to overcome the inherent limitations of changing criminal justice policy.

Authors: Claire Kaplan and Len Engel
A Workforce and Public Safety Imperative
2007

The Crime and Justice Institute and the Boston Foundation convened a Task Force in June 2006, consisting of 14 leaders from the nonprofit, law enforcement, academic and business communities to kindle discussion and debate the barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records. Co-chaired by Betsy Pattullo, President and CEO of Beacon Health Strategies and Bob Gittens, Vice President of Public Affairs at Northeastern University, the task force went well beyond its original objective to identify opportunities that increase access to employment in the health and human service field for low-risk, qualified applicants with CORI, while continuing to protect vulnerable populations. This report makes a series of recommendations designed to improve criminal justice outcomes for the benefit of ex-offenders, communities, employers and to expand the skilled workforce in the Commonwealth.

Author: John J. Larivee
2001

Rising numbers of inmates, coupled with declining pre-release training and outside supervision, foreshadow an unanticipated and generally unanswered breakdown in the continuum of community safety, particularly in inner cities. New innovations in the prisoner reentry field, both within the Massachusetts correction system and in local communities, hold some promise but these approaches are limited and address only a fraction of the thousands of inmates released each year. This report assesses the current situation in MA and makes recommendations.

Authors: Katharine H. Bradley, R.B. Michael Oliver, Noel C. Richardson, Elspeth M. Slayter
2001

For the prisoner who is reentering society, the search for sustainable, permanent housing is a challenge that portends success or failure for the entire reintegration process. Housing facilitates continuity in substance abuse and/or mental health treatment. Employment is often contingent upon stable housing. This report assesses the housing options for ex-prisoners - from the private market to public housing to homelessness. A snapshot survey of women and men preparing for reentry as well as policy recommendations are included.

Authors: Lore Joplin, Brad Bogue, Nancy Campbell, Mark Carey, Elyse Clawson, Dot Faust, Kate Florio, Bill Wasson, and William Woodward
What Works and Why: Effective Approaches to Reentry
2005

This essay presents an integrated implementation model that encourages corrections leaders to focus equally on evidence-based practices, organizational development, and collaboration.