Topic: Everything Education / Reentry practices, concerns

I am convinced that, without effective pre-release planning, including the development of a survival skills re-entry plan that addresses employment barriers, most offenders, juvenile and adult, will continue to fail at an alarming rate.

Topic: Everything Education / Need to measure success of offender programs?

After the program has been funded, the commitment has been made, and the staff has bought into it, good offender programs begin with good assessment, accurately assessing the barriers, attitudes, and realistic goals of potential participants. The most effective programs are those that address key areas of risk in the offender’s life, those that seek to strengthen the personal, that contribute to healthy development, those that provide adequate support, and those that offer long-term stake in the community.

Topic: A Broader View / Should jails implement more rehabilitation programs?

As corrections professionals, we should be careful not to become cynical. To be sure, the first hand observation of inmate failures, year after year, is enough to convince some that rehabilitation is no longer a viable goal. We’ve heard it all before, the promises to go straight, take care of family, work hard to live a legitimate life, blah, blah, blah! The fact is, making a transition from prison to the cmmunity is an up hill battle, against long odds in most cases, as parolees usually are low income, few resources and limited education.

Yes, the inmate must want to change, and must be held accountable, just as we must be held accountable. When, if we reach a point where total pessmism dictates our conduct toward those we supervise, we probably have reached a burnout and need a career change.