NCJ Number
227187
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2009 Pages: 154-169
Date Published
June 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of prisoner reentry efforts through the exploration of factors associated with program failure among participants enrolled in a Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) funded program.
Abstract
The results of the study indicate that those individuals who were unable to secure employment, who did not reside with a family member, and who were higher risks were more likely to fail the program. Employment and housing were two of the most immediate issues facing inmates paroling into the community. The findings were consistent with previous research that finds that employment and family support were important predictors of program retention. The findings also suggest that reentry programs pay closer attention to the ways in which individuals of different statuses and backgrounds respond to treatment. Findings should be used to develop policies to enhance opportunities for employment, family support, and treatment matched to the individual's risks and needs. Planning for the transition back into the community for approximately 650,000 prisoners each year is critical. Traditional supervision-focused parole services have a limited ability to adequately address all of the ex-offenders needs and issues. In 2003, the Federal Government established the Serious and Violent Offender Initiative (SVORI) which provides States with Federal funding to develop or enhance existing reentry services for inmates being released on parole. This study sought to examine factors associated with program failure for both the institutional and community phases of a SVORI-funded reentry program, specifically the Going Home Prepared (GHP) program. Tables, notes, and references