RISTORe Second Chance Project (RSCP)

Damascus House Community Development Corporation (DHCDC) will implement the RISTORe Second Chance Program (RSCP) to deliver transitional services for reentering citizens who are: aged 18 years or older; residents of Prince George’s County; reentering the community after incarceration in the Prince George’s County Maryland (DOC) jail, a Maryland state (DPSCS) correctional facility, or a federal correctional facility. RSCP will target candidates assessed as moderate or high criminogenic risk; who are able to provide written consent to participate in the program; not a registered sex offender and/or an arsonist; and not having any detainers, warrants, or holds that would jeopardize participation in the program. The RSCP will serve a total of 250 persons over the three-year performance period-200 males; 50 females; 90% Black and 10% Latinx.  

The State of Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections; and the Bridge Center, a local interagency collaborative, will refer eligible inmates to the DHCDC. DHCDC will partner with the referring agencies  to conduct criminogenic and behavioral risk assessments, transition planning and reentry service three to six months prior to an inmate’s release. Post-release, RSCP participants will receive evidence-based, culturally  and linguistically competent cognitive behavioral, trauma-informed and gender-responsive therapies; psychiatric rehab services; substance use disorder treatment; intensive, post-release case-management services; transitional and supportive housing; transportation services; job training and placement;  linkage to primary care; legal aid; and other wraparound supportive services through DHCDC and its community-based nonprofit partners.

Priority Areas [proposal page]

1(A) By serving only Black and Latinx persons, the RSCP will  contribute to greater access to reentry services these historically underserved and marginalized groups. [16)

1(B) The DHCDC is an African-American owned and led organization with a multidisciplinary staff comprised entirely of racial/ethnic minorities, most of whom are reentered citizens [18]

2(A) The RSCP will implement only evidence-based interventions demonstrated effective in facilitating the successful reentry. [6-9]

2(B) The RSCP will conduct an independent evaluation using a randomized treatment control design. [9,18,19]

The RSCP’s  desired outcomes are:  a reduction in the participant recidivism rate by 10% annually; and a minimum of  80% of participants reporting for six (6) months or longer post disenrollment from the RSCP: sobriety;  stable housing;  a safe and reliable means of transportation;  and healthy life style practices, defined as consuming the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables and engaging 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise daily.