State of New York __________________________________________________________________________________

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State of New York________________________________
__________________________________________________
___________C R I M E S T A T

• A Report on Offender Reentry
• May 20, 2003

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What is reentry?
The return of offenders to the community from
prison.
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Multiple aspects of reentry
non-prison dispositions
arrest
conviction
sentencing
offender information
prison
reparation
reentry
risk/needs assessment
planning preparation
supervision services
post-discharge support
need based programs
opportunities for early release
preparation
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How were inmates released?
(3,000)
(2,600)
(14,000)
(7,000)
(1,800)
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Who are the 2002 releasees to parole? offenses

• 26 current VFO
• 7 other coercive offenses
• 46 drug offenses
• 17 property
• 3 YO JO
• (11 sex offense history-arrest/conv.)
• 46 prior VFO conviction
• 57 prior felony conviction

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Who are the 2002 releasees to parole? -
characteristics

• 91 male
• 80 25 or older
• 74 substance abuse history
• 58 below 9th grade in reading
• 73 below 9th grade in math
• 12 mental health problems

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Where are they going? 2002 releases to parole by
region
(528)
(2,072)
(3,960)
(708)
(760)
(NYC total 14,405)
(1,420)
(891)
(4,157)
(1,306)
(1,537)
(3,987)
(337)
(1,964)
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Why are we concerned?2 yr followupall 2000
releases (N28,475)

• 11 arrested for 1 or more VFO
• 15 arrested for 1 or more drug felony
• 34 arrested for 1 or more felony any type
• 24 1 or more returns to prison on technical
  violation
• 33 1 or more returns to prison for technical
  violation or new sentence

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Who is contributing to recidivism? (2 year
follow-up)
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What contributes to recidivism?
Unchangeable Risk Factors

• age
• criminal history
• pro-criminal attitude
• poor employment pattern
• inadequate income
• housing instability
• drug use

• gender
• alcohol use
• pro-criminal companions
• low academic/ vocational skills
• non-supportive family relations

Changeable Risk Factors
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What are the risk factors?
INCREASING RISK
NOT AFFECTING RISK

• VFO history
• Young releasee
• RPV commitment
• ME release
• CR to DOP release

• Release jurisdiction
• Release MH level
• Math score
• Language score

New VFO arrest w/in 2 years for all releases in
2000
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How can we impact recidivism?

• prison education
• prison work
• transitional services
• release planning
• supervision
• sustainable income
• stable housing
• substance abuse treatment

• family support
• access to public support services
• medication
• mental health services
• parole discharge planning

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How will we measure success?

• reduction in returns to DOCS
• rule returns
• new felony returns

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Community Centered Supervision and Services
Reentry Model
Goal Creation of an offender reentry
strategy supportive of community supervision, in
the interests of enhancing public
safety ensuring victim rights reducing
recidivism managing public costs, and promoting
offender success in the community.
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Reentry model phases (1)

• Pre-sentence
• foundation of offender information
• Reception/classification
• initial assessments
• Initial general confinement facility
• risk needs for both DOCS Parole
• Program/risk needs updates
• regularly scheduled

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Reentry model phases (2)

• Services/transitional planning
• begin arrangements preparation 6 mo.
• Supervision and program planning
• specific plans initiated at 2 to 5 months
• Release decisions risk-needs update
• results shared
• Community reentry implementation
• all arrangements from day one
• Discharge Plan with community linkages
• Post-supervision preparation

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Recommendations employment

• Review barriers to ex-offender employment.
• Offer DOL 30-day curriculum pre-release.
• Implement triage system to match greatest need
  offenders to DOP contracted slots.
• Aggressively market WOTC to employers
• Encourage Empire Development Zone employers to
  hire offenders.
• Provide DOL computerized job information services
  at Parole Offices.
• Align prison training with market needs.

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Recommendationshousing

• On a continuing basis, assess housing stability,
  the quality of living arrangements and
  homelessness in relation to recidivism.
• Develop a statewide inventory of transitional
  housing for use by DOCS and Parole.
• Explore the waiver issue in Section 8 housing for
  criminal justice populations.
• Expand the stock of transitional housing.

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General Recommendations (1)

• Implement a law enforcement guidance and
  notification system regarding MEs.
• Replicate Queensboro Medicaid pre-release
  qualification process statewide.
• Institute a continuing risk and needs assessment
  process.
• Incorporate risk/needs assessments in DOCS and
  Parole program planning.
• Expand Parole graduated sanction options for
  responding to non-compliance, including the
  possibility of short-term jail.

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GeneralRecommendations (2)

• Review statutes limiting the sharing of offender
  mental health and other medical information.
• Integrate DOCS and Parole discharge planning
  early in the prison term.
• Pursue a continuum of services between DOCS and
  the community.
• Review temporary release options for some
  currently excluded offender groups.
• Engage counties in the Reentry process by
  encouraging local ownership of responsibility and
  coordination of services through local committees
  and report cards.