FY 2011 Second Chance Act Adult Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects: Evaluability Assessment of the Missouri Department of Corrections Second Chance in Action (SCIA) Program

• NCJ Number: 243985
• Author(s): Janeen Buck Willison; Colleen Owens; Kelle Barrick; Kelly Walsh
• Date Published: September 2012
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2012-R2-CX-0032
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This study conducted an evaluability assessment (determination of whether a project is a candidate for meaningful evaluation) of the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) Second Chance in Action (SCIA) program, a FY 2011 Second Chance Act (SCA) demonstration site, whose grant-mandated goals are to increase reentry programming for returning prisoners and their families; reduce recidivism of program participants by 50 percent over 5 years, reduce parole violations, and improve reintegration outcomes.

Abstract

Missouri's SCIA program is an innovative approach to community-based reentry services for female offenders released from incarceration into rural communities. It uses video conferencing in case management, assistance with basic needs, and a collaborative staffing structure that pairs parole officers with case managers and employment specialists to supervise and engage clients in needed services and supports. Although the program's participant numbers are low (approximately 80 women are expected to be served by the end of the grant) and the program has assessment (EA) team concludes that process and outcome evaluations will likely produce actionable information for practitioners, program developers, and policymakers; however, the program's leaders reported that funding for the program ends in September 2013, and there has been no indication that additional funding would be available. Consequently, the program will cease recruitment at the end of February 2013 so as to ensure that all newly enrolled participants will be released by May 31, 2013, thus allowing them to access a full 120 days of post-release support prior to the grant's termination in September 2013. The EA team did not receive any indication the program will continue any of its components after the funding ends; however, the program will continue as is if grant funding is provided. 3 exhibits, 3 references, and appended SCA logic models