NCJ Number
209484
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 67 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 72-74,76,77
Date Published
April 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article illustrates the principles and characteristics of effective reentry programs in corrections through research on 38 residential programs in Ohio serving offenders on post-release.
Abstract
In reviewing the number of offenders incarcerated or under some form of correctional supervision, it’s alarmingly clear that the return of offenders back to the community is ever increasing. Reentry programs have many redeeming qualities and show significant promise. They provide an opportunity to shape an offender’s behavior while transitioning back to their community, they offer the ability to proactively deal with violations of post-release supervision and reduce prison populations, and they facilitate a successful reentry. This article presents research on 38 residential programs that serve parolees and offenders on post-release control in Ohio and have the potential to serve as a blueprint in the development or redesign of reentry programs. The article begins by discussing the concept of evidence-based practice (EBP); a decisionmaking process that requires a practitioner to make decisions based on empirical evidence. The practitioner looks at what has been done and what has been effective. This is followed by a discussion on the core principles of effective correctional interventions. These principles and characteristics are identified as important to correctional interventions and are seen to be applicable and important to programs that serve parolees upon reentry. Research also concluded that implementation and other issues captured by measures of program integrity were strongly related to program effectiveness with offenders during the reentry phase. Endnotes, references