NCJ Number
206961
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 66 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 16,30
Date Published
August 2004
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article outlines a National Institute of Corrections model for inmate transition to the community.
Abstract
As record numbers of offenders are released back into their communities, reductions in funding have cut offender programs that prepare inmates for this transition. As such, the current correctional system does little to prepare inmates for life outside of prison; most reenter their communities with the same problems they had prior to incarceration. In 2001, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), in partnership with Abt Associates, developed a model for inmate transition to the community. The Transition From Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI) Model is designed to restructure State’s transition practices toward a focus on public safety, victimization reduction, and effective use of correctional resources. In 2002, the TPCI Model was tested in Missouri and Oregon; in 2003, Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, and Rhode Island joined the initiative and in 2004, the District of Columbia, Georgia, and New York were added. Underpinning the TPCI Model is the use of validated risk-assessment tools to identify offenders’ criminogenic needs, thus reducing the risk posed to the community by the offender. Under the TPCI Model, transition plans would be developed by offenders soon after being admitted to prison. Each jurisdiction is expected to implement the TPCI Model through multi-agency partnerships; a site coordinator in each jurisdiction maintains contact with State officials and advises them on the initiative’s progress. The successful reentry of the Nation’s prisoners back into their communities requires a fundamental shift in the mission of correctional agencies, as well as in their priorities, procedures, and staffing and management practices.