This webinar, held on July 11, 2012, focused on developing optimal individual reentry plans. Kathleen Gnall, criminal justice consultant, discussed organizational considerations that can greatly influence how offender risk and needs are measured and addressed, and system considerations including the extent of planning and collaboration with other government and community organizations that is needed to improve the likelihood that a person will succeed after release from prison and jail. To download a PDF of the PowerPoint slides used in this presentation, click here. To watch an arrived recording of the webinar, click here.
Webinar Offered by the National Reentry Resource Center
Presented by: Kathleen Gnall
Scheduled for July 11, 2012
1 hour for presentation with ½ hour of participant questions
Overview: During this webinar, the presenter will:
1. Provide a summary of research findings on the factors which influence an offender’s reintegration including:
- Receiving appropriate cognitive-behavioral treatment interventions addressing assessed criminogenic needs;
- Addressing life skills issues such as financial literacy; interacting with potential employers as well as peers in a non-confrontational, pro-social way;
- Addressing basic education and vocational training deficits;
- Measuring and capitalizing on an offender’s strengths, thinking through family and community dynamics and how they may influence outcomes;
- Attending to practical considerations such as leaving incarceration with appropriate identification, identifying a safe place to live, securing any benefits to which an offender is entitled so as to ensure continuity of care;
- Ensuring that the step-down to community living is well-thought out and smooth as the first days are the most critical for success; e.g. how will the offender leave the institution and get to the area he/she will live? Where will he/she go immediately after release? Does the offender have suitable clothing and resources for food and other necessities?
- Thinking through establishing pro-social “hooks” for a given offender such as links with mentors, community organizations, employers who will assist the ex-offender in focusing on being a productive community member and avoiding falling back on anti-social habits. needs in treatment and the order in which treatment programs are offered;
- Selecting appropriate supervision conditions and establishing contacts; considerations for updating plans and changing strategy based on observed behavior.
While the focus of this webinar will be on developing optimal individual reentry plans, this work is done, and thus must be placed in the broader context of where it occurs, mainly jails and prisons. The presenter will discuss organizational and system considerations which greatly influence if and how offender risk and needs are measured and addressed and the extent of planning and collaboration with other government and community organizations around offender reentry. Attention will be given to resource limitations, staff training, and the availability of supports and services within communities.
