County Co-Chair: Katie Cusano, Deputy Commissioner Broome County Mental Health Department DOCCS Co-Chair: Janice Smith, Bureau Chief NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Re-entry Coordinator: Jeffrey Pryor, MSW Broome County Mental Health Department & Southern Tier AIDS Program

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TOWARD SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

NYS Re-entry Webinar Series Broome County Re-entry Task Force Best Practices “Insight and Suggestions to Make the Process Work from Start to Finish” November 29, 2012 OFFICE OF PROBATION AND CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES DCJS Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives

 “This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they can’t find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison…. America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” --President George W. Bush, 2004 State of the Union Address

Affects Everyone Public Safety. Economic Revitalization. The Well-Being of Families and Neighborhoods.

The Broome County Mental Health Department is our LGU and is headed by the Commissioner of Mental Health. Oversees the ABLE Re-entry Program. Community support is vital to our success.

Individuals returning from a correctional facility often find themselves facing the same pressures and temptations that landed them in jail/prison in the first place. KEEP IN MIND…

The Vision of Prisoner Re-entry is to reduce crime by implementing a seamless plan of services and supervision developed with each offender, delivered through state and local collaboration, from the time of their entry to prison through their transition, reintegration and aftercare in the community.

The Mission of Prisoner Re-entry is to significantly reduce crime and enhance public safety by implementing a seamless system of services for offenders from the time of their entry to prison through their transition, community reintegration and aftercare in their communities.

 Identify Gaps in Services.  Collaborate to Coordinated Services. Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Facility Officers, Field Parole, Probation, local police departments. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers. Employers. Social Services & Human Service Agencies. Faith Based Organizations.

 Enhance Public Safety.  Assist returning individuals with obtaining training skills or employment.  Enhance self-sufficiency.  Improve access to service programs.  Reduce number of new crimes.

1.Identify transitional housing. 2.Find and keep employment. 3.Receive mentoring. 3 Key Elements of Successful Re-entry: Addressing stabilization needs of individuals who are released from prison may reduce the likelihood of being rearrested?

Nationally 650,000 Men and Women are being Released from Prison Each Year. 7.5% of the adult population, in the U.S., have been convicted of a felony. 97% of the Men and Women Currently Incarcerated will be Released from Prison.

8 States Nationwide 19 NYS Counties

 Provided Grant Money to Establish County Reentry Task Forces (CRTF).  Counties were offered the opportunity to apply for funding ~ Amount of money awarded is based upon the total percentage of returning individuals to that community.

Case Conference Committee. Housing. Mental Health / Substance Use. Employment & Education. Faith Based & Community Outreach.

Committee members include representatives from the following agencies:  Binghamton Police Department.  Department of Social Services.  Center for Employment Opportunities.  NYS certified substance abuse service providers.  Volunteer’s of America - Homeless Shelter.  YWCA.  Contracted LCSW-R Program Instructor.  Faith-Based Partners.

Electronic case conferencing meetings are held bi-weekly via and phone. 1.Electronic meetings save money, time and minimizes time away from the office. 2.Allows each agency to access own computer database to identify and locate relevant information, which will be used during the orientation and intake process.

1.DOCCS Co-Chair receives weekly active community prep cases uploaded by Central Office. 2.Parole Officers submit cases for consideration not initially identified. (Ex: Alternatives to Incarceration). 3.Other correctional facilities statewide. 4.Willard Drug Treatment Campus. 5.Word-of-mouth among parolees. 6.Self and family member referrals.

Attendees include: Identified Participants. DOCCS Co-Chair & CRTF Coordinator. DSS Supervising Service Examiner. Housing Agencies: VOA (houses men, women & families). YWCA (women). Homeless Coalition Outreach Coordinator. CEO Representative. LCSW-R Social Worker - Facilitates AM and DV classes. MSW Intern - Facilitates Structured Downtime Class.

The Broome County ABLE Reentry Program contracts with a Licensed Social Worker (LCSW-R) to facilitate programming in: a.Anger Management. b.Domestic Violence. c.Structured Downtime/Leisure Education. d.Women’s Education The facilitator teaches psycho-dynamically by introducing Cognitive and Criminogenic Behavioral Restructuring. Although she does not provide counseling or therapy, appropriate referrals are made when necessary.

 Social Services.  Drug / Alcohol Treatment.  Mental Health / Health Care.  Vocational & Job Training.  Transitional Employment.  Children / Families / & Crime Victims.  Family & Personal Responsibilities.

 The Women’s Education program is facilitated by a CASAC with EGALA (Equine Growth and Learning) certification and she teaches from both the offender and victim perspectives.  Two MSW Interns co-facilitate the Mentoring Program with prior successful program graduates.  Thinking for a Change.

Nationally, 60% of the individuals released from a state correctional facility will return within 36 months. Costing ~ $50,000 Per Year.

 Baseline for Broome County ◦ 450 individuals are released from incarceration annually.  Based on current NYS averages: ◦ 180 succeed (40%)$ 9,000,000 ◦ 270 fail (60%) $13,500,000

The Broome County Re-Entry Program has an established 24 month success rate of 86%.

 Baseline for Broome County. ◦ 450 individuals released annually. ◦ 225 accepted into re-entry programming.  Based on current BC Re-entry averages: ◦ 194 succeed (86%) $ 9,700,000 Savings. ◦ 31 fail (14%) $ 1,550,000.

The DOCCS Co-Chair, Field Parole Officers, and CRTF Coordinator have developed this working relationship over the past 2 ½ years. Consistency, honesty, and dependability are core elements allowing for this cohesive working environment to take place. The Field Parole Officers have the final say in any case-management decisions.

Every individual is treated as an individual with: RespectDignityValue

County Co-Chair: Katie Cusano, Deputy Commissioner Broome County Mental Health Department DOCCS Co-Chair: Janice Smith, Bureau Chief NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Re-entry Coordinator: Jeffrey Pryor, MSW Broome County Mental Health Department & Southern Tier AIDS Program