Over 75% of released prisoners return to live with families. Families, the natural support system, assist returning offenders meet basic needs (i.e. housing, financial support, etc.). However, these families often have limited resources and the returning offender creates new challenges. Without intervention, many families are not able to make the transition.
Yet, positive family support is critical for release success and a key variable to reduce recidivism. Research shows that family focused re-entry programs help to preserve and strengthen family ties and increase the likelihood of rehabilitation and release success.
Program Description
Project PREP offenders and their families are referred to Families in Crisis, Inc. to participate in a Family Education Session that explains the challenges families are likely to face when an offender returns home. Members are encouraged to mutually assess their strengths and challenges and create a realistic reentry plan. Additional family counseling and support services (family counseling, parent education, support groups) are provided as necessary. In addition, offenders are encouraged to participate in weekly mentoring groups that address key issues to positive community re-entry (i.e. work habits, communication, conflict resolution, positive peer relations. etc.)
Key Features
- Family education sessions provided immediately upon release
- Family wellness assessment and individualized treatment planning
- Weekly case management plans with all collaborative partners
- Community-based service delivery
- Offender families are educated to the issues surrounding family re-entry and mutually plan expectations and goals
- Offenders who have positive family relations are less likely to re-offend
- Offenders are positive members of their families and communities
- With family support, offenders are more likely to acquire and maintain legitimate living wage employment
