International Association of Reentry: Mission and Future, The

Journal of Correctional Education, Jun 2005 by Wilkinson, Reginald A, Rhine, Edward E

Abstract

There is a growing national movement in corrections embracing offender reentry. In a very brief period of time, innovative and ambitious initiatives have been launched at all levels of government and by untold groups and community organizations to build more effective responses to the myriad of challenges presented by reentry. The International Association of Reentry (IAR) was formed to contribute to this redirection in focus in the field of corrections. Given the scale and breadth of what is covered under the canopy of reentry, IAR is designed to provide a professional association and a niche for the individuals who are committed to "moving the reentry agenda forward." This article reviews the mission, current status and future goals of IAR.

The Reentry Movement in Corrections

There is a growing national movement in corrections embracing offender reentry. Remarkably, in a relatively short span of time, an impressive array of efforts have been launched at all levels of government and by untold groups and community organizations to build more effective and innovative responses to the myriad of challenges presented by reentry. These efforts demonstrate that reentry is not a fad. It is here to stay!

Since the late 1990s, the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., has hosted a series of Reentry Roundtables to assess the state of knowledge and to publish specialized reports on this topic (LaVigne, et. al. 2003; Travis, 2000). Leaders in the field, academicians, policymakers, and many others have gathered periodically to debate and share what is known about the challenges and issues that must be addressed to ensure successful reentry transitions for offenders.

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice and a broad consortium of federal agencies forged a unique, path breaking partnership by providing a total of $100 million in grant funding spread across all fifty states to address reentry planning and programming for serious, violent, felony offenders. Known as the "Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative," its continuing importance to the field has been reinforced by additional funding for a comprehensive, multi-year, multi-site evaluation of selected states' systems of reentry.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has also launched a significant "Transition from Prison to Community Initiative" project to offer technical assistance and support to a select number of states relative to transforming their systems governing reentry. NIC, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, is well regarded within the field of corrections. It has always been, and continues to be supportive of decision-making informed by credible evidence and sound practice.

In his 2004 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush urged Congress to allocate $300 million over four years to support the reentry transition of offenders. His reentry initiative calls for support for job training and placement services, transitional housing, and community and faith-based services, especially in mentoring offenders as they return home. President Bush's recitation that "America is the land of second chances" will resonate with corrections professionals for years to come.

In mid-September 2004, Cleveland, Ohio was the site of the first annual "National Conference on Offender Reentry" sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice and the other federal agencies involved in the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. Then Attorney General Ashcroft gave an opening keynote address. Over 1,400 attendees participated in the conference.

The Re-Entry Policy Council recently released a landmark report that offers a comprehensive set of bipartisan, consensus-based recommendations for policymakers and practitioners interested in improving the likelihood that adults released from prison or jail will avoid crime, and become productive and healthy members of both their families and community (Re-Entry Policy Council, 2004). To coordinate the Policy Council, the Council of State Governments partnered with ten other national organizations including the Association of State Correctional Administrators.

This unprecedented project which brought together nearly one hundred leaders representing a wide spectrum of systems relating to prisoner reentry received the support of three federal agencies: the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services. The report comprises hundreds of recommendations and research findings related to employment, public safety, housing, health, families, community and faith-based initiatives, and victims.

More recently, in April 2005, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it would be awarding grants under the President's Prisoner Reentry Initiative offering $19.8 million in funding for faith-based and community organizations. The goal of this endeavor is to strengthen thirty urban communities that experience a disproportionate concentration of offenders being incarcerated and returning home through the provision of employment-centered programs. These programs are expected to target mentoring, job training, and other transitional services. A total of thirty communities will be selected for participation. Subsequent funding for pre-release services, housing assistance, and substance abuse and mental health treatment are also likely to follow tied to the communities that are selected.