Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $540,000)
The Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) is designed to provide funding to state units of government to develop and implement institutional and community corrections-based offender reentry programs. The PRI strengthens urban communities characterized by large numbers of returning offenders. The PRI is designed to reduce recidivism by helping returning offenders find work and assess other critical services in their communities. The PRI supports strategies to deliver pre- and post-release assessments and services, and to develop transition plans in collaboration with other justice and community-based agencies and providers for supervised and non-supervised offenders.
In FY 2008, BJA will again coordinate the PRI Program with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections will utilize fiscal year 2008 Prisoner Reentry Initiative funding to support enhanced substance abuse education and treatment with the ultimate goal of successfully transitioning adult offenders into productive, proactive members of society upon their return to the Shreveport area following release.
To ensure goals are achieved, new standards that include the development of institutional substance abuse treatment certification guidelines that place emphasis on discharge planning, transition practices, and successful linkages to community providers for continuity of care will be established. Community services will entail outpatient treatment, education, employment, and social service opportunities.
The pre-release program will begin approximately six-months prior to release with assigned Department Case Managers responsible for activities provided. A report will be generated monthly to identify non-sexual offenders returning to the Shreveport area including those housed in local jail facilities in the target area (Caddo and Bossier Parishes). Qualified candidates will have their needs and risk assessed. The Department will continue to use its established dynamic needs and risk assessments (LARNA II).
Post-release services will be offered through the community organization One Church One Offender. The Department will work together with One Church One Offender to begin the mentoring process with participants 60 days prior to their release. The participants will meet with their assigned Probation and Parole Officer from Caddo and Bossier parishes prior to their release in order to establish the expectations of supervision, explain responsibilities while under supervision and the role and responsibilities of Probation and Parole in supporting their successful reentry into the community.
It is anticipated that a minimum of 200 offenders will participate each year, with a total of 400 completing the program by the end of the federally funded project period.
The Department will employ a Grant Coordinator who will function as a liaison between the advisory group, the FBCO and Case Managers regarding referrals and program development. The Grant Coordinator will be responsible for gathering information regarding monthly referrals and submit a report to the Grant Administrator for reporting in the performance metrics. The Advisory Group, Grant Coordinator and Case Managers will meet monthly to discuss and evaluate program objectives and deliverables.
CA/NCF