Re-entry/Reintegration: Survey Summary

• NCJ Number: 205166
• Journal: Corrections Compendium Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2004 Pages: 8-26
• Author(s): Cece Hill
• Editor(s): Susan L. Clayton M.S.
• Date Published: March 2004
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the results of a survey on re-entry or reintegration programs among correctional systems within Federal and State correctional systems in the United States and Canadian correctional systems.

Abstract

As evidenced in this survey, many correctional systems across the North American continent found value in re-entry/reintegration programs that prepare inmates for release back into their communities. This survey found that among the 45 United States correctional systems that responded to this Corrections Compendium survey only New Jersey did not have a formal re-entry program in place for released inmates. Within Canada, Newfoundland was the only jurisdiction that did not report having a re-entry program. Report highlights include: (1) attendance in planned programs was required in 27 percent of the United States reporting systems and in none of the Canadian reporting systems; (2) 19 of the United States reporting systems indicated that their planned programs were created to last at least 6 months; (3) classes offered in United States reporting systems included: education, job-readiness, community resources, substance abuse, housing, rules of post supervision, family reunification, and cognitive behavior; (4) all 4 Canadian reporting systems assigns staff specifically to the re-entry program with 91 percent of the United States reporting systems doing so; (5) separate units or transition detention within facilities are provided to those preparing for re-entry in 18 percent of the United States reporting systems while the Canadian reporting systems do not offer transition detention; (6) the types of personal effects provided to exiting inmates were itemized by 42 of the reporting systems including the 4 Canadian systems; and (7) 11 United States reporting systems and 1 Canadian reporting system did not conduct any formal follow-up on released offenders.