NCJ Number
206863
Date Published
2004
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This brief provides findings from a comprehensive goal assessment of the Kairos Horizon program, a faith-based residential rehabilitation program to effect positive prisoner reintegration into the community.
Abstract
Today, prisoner reentry poses formidable challenges for corrections planners and policymakers. This issue is highlighted with the over 600,000 ex-prisoners returning to communities each year. The President's Faith-Based Initiative (FBO) identifies individuals transitioning from prison to home as a special needs population. As part of the FBO, the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) was created to increase the scale and effectiveness of both faith- and community-based organizations through research and more. Currently, CCF is conducting an evaluation of the Kairos Horizon program, a faith-based residential rehabilitation program to increase personal and family responsibility and employability among prisoners and ex-prisoners. This brief summarizes findings of a comprehensive goals assessment of the Kairos Horizon program, to determine what relevant priorities Federal, State, and local agencies or institutions have for returning prisoners. In addition, the assessment sought to establish how the program stakeholders define successful reintegration, and whether sufficient services are available to ensure success. It is concluded that the program is an invaluable partner in achieving successful prisoner reentry. The assessment highlights that corrections professionals, faith practitioners, and others share common objectives of promoting public safety and achieving self-sufficiency among returning prisoners. In addition, it revealed that successfully reintegrating returning prisoners involves engaging the faith community in collaborative community corrections partnerships to build social capital and construct collective efficacy. References