"Working to
Build A Better Community"
"The
probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not deter us from the
support of a cause we believe to be just."
~ Abraham Lincoln
EX-OFFENDER HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
THE BIG PICTURE: REALITY IN THE U.S.
THE REALITY IN MASSACHUSETTS
Current
Re-entry Programs
Sample Re-entry Pathways
Recidivism
Homelessness
Social/Legal
Barriers
Personal Barriers
THE LAW IN MASSACHUSETTS
COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN
MASSACHUSETTS
PROGRAMS IN OTHER STATES
CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS
▼DOC'S
Re-ENTRY UNIT /
▼PRE-RELEASE
PLANNING /
▼PARTNERSHIPS
WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES /
▼LOW-SECURITY
PROGRAMS /
▼RE-ENTRY
HOUSING PROGRAM /
▼COMMUNITY
ROLE /
GLOSSARY
Although the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC) and local county corrections facilities undertake re-entry efforts, there are several factors that limit the overall effectiveness of existing programs. Strict sentencing impedes a “step down” approach to transitioning inmates back into society. Also, a lack of pre-release and work-release centers, lack of coordination within the corrections department and between corrections and community organizations, the exclusion of reformed ex-offenders from re-entry initiatives and the sheer lack of capacity within existing programs to accommodate the housing and other needs of thousands of ex-offenders released each year, undermine existing DOC re-entry efforts.
According to the Massachusetts DOC, over 3,000 inmates are released from DOC facilities per year. Thousands more are released from county correctional facilities. Some ex-offenders have a family home to which they can return; but the majority do not have a stable or welcoming place awaiting them upon release. For inmates who do not have a place to go, the DOC, as well as County correctional facilities provide referrals to various housing options. These services are not necessarily used by all inmates or may not be available to all who need them. Traditionally, the DOC has addressed re-entry by providing programs during incarceration such as educational and vocational programs, sex-offender treatment programs, anger management programs, cognitive behavioral programs and an array of other services targeted at preparing the offender for release. Although the focused Re-Entry Unit is relatively new, many programs aimed at release planning have been ongoing in DOC.
DOC'S RE-ENTRY UNIT
The DOC’s Department of Re-entry has been
fully staffed for approximately one and a half years; 21 staff members came
to the newly created department from facilities closed by the DOC between
2001 and 2002. The DOC’s Re-Entry Unit’s services include:
Pre-release Planning
DOC provides release planning to all
inmates one year prior to release (determined one year before the end of the
sentence term for those inmates who complete their terms and upon receiving
a favorable decision from the parole board for those inmates who are
eligible for parole.) The DOC assigns a re-entry case manager to each
facility to assist inmates in planning for their individual needs
post-release, including housing, employment and community programs. DOC
strives to match each inmate with those programs that best meet that
individual’s needs. While the release rate varies for each facility, the
DOC releases roughly 250 inmates per month through sentence wrap-up or
parole.
There are those in the DOC Re-Entry Unit and in the advocacy community who would like to see the DOC start to think about re-entry at the time of incarceration. Among these advocates there is consensus that front-end assessments of offenders are critical to determine what a particular offender needs in order to better ensure that he or she will not re-offend. While the DOC cannot force an inmate to participate in programs, the DOC does offer “good time” to offenders, providing an incentive to participate in educational, treatment, and other programs.
In addition, the DOC offers an optional Transition Workshop, which is conducted by one of its vendors, Spectrum Health Systems. The five-day workshop is designed to get the inmate to start thinking about life outside, and addresses topics such as health care, financial planning, family support, recreation, crisis planning and housing.
Partnerships with
Local Law Enforcement Agencies
While there is typically no post-release
supervision for ex-offenders who complete their terms, the DOC has forged
re-entry partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. One example is
the Lowell Re-Entry Initiative partnership, which is one of eight national
pilot programs initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice in the early
‘90’s. This initiative is focused on any ex-offender released from DOC who
will live in the city of Lowell, whether he or she is on parole or has
“wrapped”.
Information on the ex-offender is provided to Lowell’s crime analysis unit. This information includes both classification and programs data (e.g., programs the ex-offender participated in as an inmate) and intelligence data (e.g., known gang affiliations). From this information, the crime analysis unit creates a one-page “poster” which is distributed internally to all members of the police department.
Approximately two to three weeks prior to the inmate’s release, he or she meets with a designated officer from the Lowell Police Department, the re-entry case manager from the facility in which the inmate is currently housed, and a representative from the Lowell Community Resource Center. The purpose of the initiative is two-fold: first, to convey to the soon-to-be-released ex-offender that the DOC and local law enforcement want to see the ex-offender succeed and second, to inform the ex-offender that future criminal activity will not be tolerated. During the meeting, those present will address particular pitfalls or past problems the ex-offender has faced and encourage the soon-to-be-released ex-offender to get involved in appropriate community programs.
Low-security Programs
The DOC offers other pre-release
programs, such as work-release. Only inmates who are in pre-release
facilities may take advantage of the work-release program. Statutory
provisions prevent some inmates, such as sex-offenders, from attaining
low-security status. Similarly, while inmates with mandatory drug sentences
might reach a low-security facility, they are nevertheless ineligible for
work-release.
Re-entry Housing Program
The DOC has a contract with the South
Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) to assist soon-to-be-released
ex-offenders who are at risk of homelessness. This program began offering
services in July 2003. Inmates at risk are referred to the Re-Entry Unit
six months prior to release. If the inmate is deemed an appropriate
candidate, he or she will be referred to one of SMOC’s five housing
specialists. In accordance with SMOC’s contract, they will work with the
ex-offender for six months after release, offering stabilization services in
an effort to ensure that the ex-offender’s housing situation will be
sustained for the long-term.
The SMOC has extensive knowledge of available housing for ex-offenders and also possesses housing of its own. SMOC has expertise in the appeals process for state and federal housing regulations and will provide appeals process assistance for the ex-offender by showing that the ex-offender participated in educational or treatment programs while incarcerated. The DOC also has an agreement with the Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) for accessing Publicly Accessible Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Reports (PubAcc Reports) for the purpose of facilitating re-entry. These reports are shorter versions of the full CORI reports and list only convictions. SMOC can access CORI information if the ex-offender signs a release for such access.
The DOC also has a loan program, funded by DOC and administered by SMOC. While there may be great need, not all ex-offenders will receive a loan. Because repayment of the loan is essential for sustaining the program and providing aid to future ex-offenders, only those who meet the loan program criteria will receive loans.
Community Role
While these pre- and post-release
programs and services are highly valuable and may prove beneficial to many
ex-offenders, it is important to note, as Lisa Jackson of DOC observes, “the
majority of ex-offenders are released with no post-release supervision,
underscoring the need for communities to accept and support an ex-offender’s
re-entry by providing needed services.” This points to the importance of
partnerships and alliances between the DOC and community organizations. Both
are central to the work of re-entry.