Disconnect from Resources
Many jail inmates are resource poor and living near or below the poverty line. Accordingly, many of them receive or are eligible for assistance from government programs, including social security, supplemental security income, workers compensation and veteran benefits. However, these benefits are terminated for inmates depending upon their length of incarceration. This drop in financial aid support puts individuals at increased risk for homelessness and financial desperation, in addition to a strain on relationships and alienation from families and community support systems. Loss of treatment and loss of access to medication increases an offender’s likelihood of mental health or chemical dependency relapse (Urban Institute, 2008). Re-activating benefits and restoring eligibility can take several months.
After release from jail, these problems still exist and can be complicated by disrupting employment or services. Aside from high school equivalency education, inmates in jail have limited access to educational opportunities. A criminal arrest or a period of incarceration may
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cost an inmate his/her job. Even if an inmate is allowed to keep his/her job after incarceration, his/her inability to work during that period results in a loss of income. For unemployed individuals, incarceration and criminal history further limit employment options. The resulting loss of income decreases the housing stability of a person with low income. Lastly, the stress and trauma of the jail setting may worsen symptoms of mental illness and substance-abusing behavior (Center for Mental Health Services, 2007; Neller, Denney, Pietz & Thomlinson, 2006). By assisting released inmates in overcoming these obstacles, a coordinated and organized reentry service system will help individuals achieve stability and end a cycle of criminal re-offending. Reduced recidivism means an increase in public safety, decrease in jail overcrowding, and lowered taxpayer burden. Offender Reentry
‘Reentry’ refers to the process of transition from jail to the community for individuals leaving incarceration. Successful reintegration into the community from jail requires that the released individual obtains stable housing and employment; receives services for and works toward mental health and/or chemical dependency recovery; and chooses not to engage in criminal behavior. Reentry programs typically direct resources at one or more of these specific areas of need (Council of State Governments, 2005).
Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations has been a priority in King County over many years. The result is that King County has a strong foundation upon which a comprehensive and well-coordinated reentry system can be built. (See the appendices for an array of existing programs.) For example, the Adult Justice Operational Master Plan (Phase I AJOMP) was approved by the King County Council in July 2002 in order to reduce the use of the King County Jail by restricting utilization to higher risk populations: 1) offenders who are a public safety or flight risk, and 2) offenders who have failed other intermediate sanctions. Outcomes of this phase of the AJOMP included the creation of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s Community Corrections Division (CCD) and the Community and Human Services Division’s Criminal Justice Initiative. Established in 2002, CCD operates a range of programs, including Work Education Release, Electronic Home Detention, Community Center for Alternative Programs (CCAP), Community Work Program, and Helping Hands Program. See Appendix D for more information on CCD. In 2003 King County implemented a range of programs and services to help people in the criminal justice system with unmet mental health or substance abuse needs connect to treatment services, stable housing, and other supports as alternatives to incarceration. The Criminal Justice Initiatives (CJI) Project was created and County funding dedicated through the closure of two county operated substance abuse residential treatment programs. Cost savings from these closures was appropriated to the Department of Community and Human Services/Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division (MHCADSD) to manage the CJI beginning in 2003 with the following goals:
• Reduce offender-client involvement in the criminal justice system while preserving public safety; and