NCJ Number
221096
Date Published
April 2006
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This paper briefly describes enrollment issues in the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) programs as outlined by RTI International and the Urban Institute.
Abstract
Two most frequently reported barriers to enrollment in the SVORI programs were stringent eligibility criteria and offenders being identified too late to complete postrelease programming. In addition, other structural problems hindering or limiting enrollment is the lack of information such as release dates or postrelease plans because it precludes the identification of the target population earlier in the process. Not knowing for certain that a participant is going to be released is particularly problematic. In addition, the reluctance of the parole board to grant parole has been an ongoing issue. In 2003, several Federal agencies funded 69 grantees to implement reentry programs for prisoners. The SVORI funding supports 89 programs nationwide which are currently being evaluated by RTI International and the Urban Institute with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ). This report presents findings on this evaluation based on data gathered from a June 2005 survey of the SVORI program directors for the 89 SVORI programs. 2 exhibits