Program Goals/Target Population
The San Diego Prisoner Reentry Program was designed to provide case management, education, and rehabilitative services to incarcerated individuals convicted of nonviolent drug and property offenses so that they could successfully complete the conditions of their parole following release from prison. The voluntary program was established by Senate Bill 618 (SB 618). The target population was individuals who had been convicted of nonviolent felony offenses and were released to parole supervision in San Diego County. The law was one of several efforts in California designed to reduce recidivism and increase the odds of successful reentry by developing a multiagency plan for individuals who had committed nonviolent felony offenses.
Key Personnel
The program used the following personnel to support education and rehabilitation of participants: a Prison Case Manager (PCM), a Community Case Manager (CCM), a Parole Agent, and a Reentry Employment Coordinator (REC). The program relied on the use of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), who included staff from Probation, the PCM, and a representative from the University of California, San Diego’s Department of Psychiatry. In addition, the program used a Community Roundtable, which included the CCM, REC, Parole Agent, and other individuals identified by the participants who could help to ensure successful reentry.
Program Components
Program participants’ needs were assessed before they began their prison sentences. Four standardized tools were used to determine a participant’s level of risk of recidivism and the need for substance-use treatment or other services such as life skills or basic education. The MDT worked with the participant to create and execute a life plan, which was a formal and dynamic document that outlined participants’ needs and set goals for progress, from the needs assessment through program completion. The life plan was created with input from the program participants and individuals who were directly involved in their reentry.
The PCM and CCM provided advocacy and support both in prison and after release. The PCM met with participants of the program to ensure support and access to educational, vocational, and substance-use treatment programs. Meetings between the program participant and PCM were more frequent at the beginning and end of the intervention. The CCMs supported individuals as they were preparing for release back into the community. They reviewed the participant’s life plan and discussed steps for reentry. The PCM and CCM met as needed during the final months of incarceration to discuss programming and staff issues and to troubleshoot resolutions.
Upon a participant’s release from prison, the Community Roundtable met regularly to ensure reintegration challenges were addressed. Intensive case management was provided in the first 3 days after release to ensure stable housing and treatment-oriented services.
Services were individualized to address participants’ specific needs and risks. Needs included drug treatment, vocational training and education, and addressing physical and mental health needs. Staff employed motivational interviewing techniques to try to maximize participants’ retention and facilitate their entry into substance-use treatment.
Additional Information
SB618 became effective as of January, 2006. On June 30, 2012, state funding for SB 618 was discontinued, and the program ended.
