Department of Community and Human Services
Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division
March 2011
Offender Reentry Plan March 2011
Page 2 of 28
Table of Contents
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Population Needs ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Offender Reentry ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Reentry Plan …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Offender Reentry Task Force …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Population of Focus ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Offender Reentry Plan Mission Statement …………………………………………………………………………. 9
Proposed Policy Goals and Objectives ……………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Implementation Schedule ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Goal 1: Housing …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Goal 2: Employment ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Goal 3: Mental Health and Chemical Dependency …………………………………………………………….. 14
Goal 4: Assistance Programs …………………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Appendix A: Jail Population …………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
Appendix B: King County Criminal Justice Initiative ………………………………………………………….. 17
Appendix C: Seattle-King County Public Health Jail Health Services ……………………………………. 18
Appendix D: King County Community Corrections ……………………………………………………………. 19
Appendix E: Trauma-Informed Care ……………………………………………………………………………….. 22
Appendix F: Community Services Division Offender Reentry Programs ………………………………. 24
Appendix G: Offender Reentry Resources ……………………………………………………………………….. 26
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Offender Reentry Plan March 2011
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Executive Summary
Problem
Each day, over one hundred individuals return to our community from jails throughout King County. Many of these individuals face the same problems leaving jail as they did entering, including poverty, unemployment, unstable housing or homelessness, mental illness and/or chemical dependency. Such difficulties may contribute to involvement in the criminal justice system, while, if addressed, the likelihood that a released individual will re-offend may be reduced. Unfortunately, as governments at all levels reduce funding for services in the face of budget crises, the number of individuals in our community and in our criminal justice system facing these difficulties may increase. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, national data on local jail inmates portrays a distressed and vulnerable population cycling in and out of the corrections system. The most recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice (2011) shows that over two-thirds of jail inmates are repeat offenders (a rate that has been consistent for decades), having been admitted and released from jail at least once before. This high rate of recidivism suggests that new or improved services are needed to successfully reintegrate offenders into mainstream community living. Reduced recidivism through successful community reentry improves public safety. Solution
To address this problem, King County, in collaboration with system partners, is developing a plan for offender reentry. The plan creates a framework to guide comprehensive and coordinated policies and services for individuals transitioning from jail to community, including individuals released directly to the community and individuals who participate in community corrections programs, with the general outcome goals of reducing recidivism, improving public safety, and assisting individuals with successfully integrating into their communities. The County will also convene a reentry task force to oversee the implementation of the strategic plan. Guided by the common vision outlined in the plan, regional stakeholders will seek opportunities and funding to implement new programs and services.
Modeled after the federal offender reentry initiative, the approach in this reentry plan provides King County and its regional partners with an opportunity to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars and make our community safer. The King County Offender Reentry Plan outlines evidence-based and best practice reentry strategies that are designed to improve public safety and enhance the community. Proposed Goals
The King County Offender Reentry Plan is intended to serve as a resource and starting point for stakeholders involved in offender reentry. The plan provides an overview of the local jail population and discusses common areas of need, proposing initial goals, objectives and strategies for addressing these needs. The proposed goals are: