Program Profile: Milwaukee Safe Streets Prisoner Release Initiative (PRI)

This program combines enhanced employment opportunities and wraparound services for incarcerated persons before and after release from prison. The program is rated Promising. There was a statistically significant reduction in likelihood of rearrests for program group participants, compared with the control group. There was also a lower rate of reimprisonment for program participants than nonparticipants; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

A Promising rating implies that implementing the program may result in the intended outcome(s).

This program's rating is based on evidence that includes at least one high-quality randomized controlled trial.

Program Goals

The Milwaukee Safe Streets Prisoner Release Initiative (PRI) provides comprehensive, wraparound services for incarcerated persons released from correctional facilities in Wisconsin. The goal of the program is to reduce recidivism by providing participants with services that assist them with employment in addition to treatment for drug addiction, family dysfunction, debts, gang connections, and lack of interpersonal skills.

Eligibility

Incarcerated persons are eligible to participate in the program if they meet the following criteria: 1) are 35 years or younger and male, 2) are scheduled for release with at least 6 months of community supervision, and 3) have a history of violence or gang involvement. Persons convicted of a sex offense are not eligible for the program.

Program Components/Services Provided

The program provides “reach-in” services to assist incarcerated persons with the challenges faced prior to and after release from prison. PRI provides six months of services prior to release, which include a comprehensive and individualized plan to assist convicted persons with their reintegration into the community.

Incarcerated persons meet regularly with social workers who provide case management by assessing needs, risk, child support, and credit and personal documentation such as driver’s licenses and social security numbers. Incarcerated persons are also supported by a coordinated care team that includes a social worker, job coach, and others. The coordinated care team meets with incarcerated persons 30 days prior to release to ensure there are adequate plans for housing, transportation, and job searches. The team also meets with the incarcerated persons monthly following release.

Postrelease services include a voucher program, intensive case management, and a close working relationship with prosecutors, law enforcement, and faith-based and community-based organizations. Additionally, postrelease services include the following:

• Vocational Skills Assessment
• Restorative Justice Circles, which involve a pre-meeting and the circle itself. During the pre-meeting, law enforcement officials, police, and community prosecutors meet with convicted persons as a group to tell them what will happen during the circle. The convicted persons then meet with victims, who are given a chance to discuss the suffering caused by the crime.
• Breaking Barriers, which is a life-skills and cognitive–behavioral change program. The program is workshop-oriented and presented by trained facilitators using group and individual exercises. It is designed to increase self-efficacy, goal achievement, and personal accountability.
• Community Corrections Employment Program (CCEP), which offers work experience, training, and education vouchers for parolees. Additionally, to encourage employers to hire its clients, CCEP also provides tax-credit certification of eligible persons to employers, and bonding when necessary.
• WIser Choice, which addresses alcohol and other drug abuse problems.
• Remedial Education
• Work Release

Study

Cook and colleagues (2015) used a randomized controlled trial to study the effects of the Milwaukee Safe Streets Prisoner Release Initiative (PRI) on measures of recidivism after a 1-year follow-up period. The program was limited to male offenders in Milwaukee, 35 years or younger, with a history of violent offenses or gang membership.

The WIDOC recruited the sample through a “trickle-in” process from January to August 2009. Prisoners were told that they had a one-in-three chance of being selected for the treatment program. Upon acceptance into the treatment group, prisoners received a call from the prison social worker. After selection, prisoners had to give consent for their willing participation in the study. Prisoners were randomly assigned based on their WIDOC prison number: every third number was selected for treatment. After selection, PRI inmates were transferred to Racine, Wisconsin, to participate in the program 6 months prior to their scheduled release. Prisoners were housed in the Racine Correctional Institute or Sturtevant Transitional Facility in Racine.

The sample for the study consisted of 236 high-risk male offenders in a Milwaukee prison. The treatment group included 106 prisoners who received numerous social services, including those for employment, substance abuse, and interpersonal skills, and the restorative justice circles. The treatment group was 84 percent Black, 15 percent white, and 1 percent other racial/ethnic minority. Prisoners in the treatment group had a mean age of 28 years at release. The control group consisted of 130 prisoners who did not receive any pre- or post-release services. Although participants in the control group were eligible for the same services, they were not guaranteed these services unless the services were available. The control group was 86 percent Black, 11 percent white, and 2 percent other racial/ethnic minority. Data was missing for the remaining 1 percent. Prisoners in the control group had a mean age of 27 years at release. On average, the control group had 2.7 prior felonies, and the treatment group had an average of 2.2 prior felonies. Also, 66 percent of the control group had prior gang affiliation, compared with 58 percent of the treatment group. No statistically significant differences were found between groups on baseline characteristics.

Administrative, government data sources that covered the period from January 2009 through the end of 2011 were used to conduct the analysis. Post-prison recidivism data was collected through administrative records from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WIDOC). The study used an intent-to-treat analysis. No subgroup analyses were conducted.

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

Following are CrimeSolutions-rated programs that are related to this practice:

Adult Reentry Programs

This practice involves correctional programs that focus on the transition of individuals from prison into the community. Reentry programs involve treatment or services that have been initiated while the individual is in custody and a follow-up component after the individual is released. The practice is rated Promising for reducing recidivism.

Evidence Ratings for Outcomes

Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types

Rehabilitation Programs for Adults Convicted of a Crime

This practice includes programs that are designed to reduce recidivism among adults by improving their behaviors, skills, mental health, social functioning, and access to education and employment. They may become participants in rehabilitation programs during multiple points in their involvement with the criminal justice system. This practice is rated Promising for reducing recidivism among adults who have been convicted of an offense.

Evidence Ratings for Outcomes

Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types

Why might a practice's outcome ratings differ from the ratings of specific programs encompassed by that practice?