Reentry in Ohio Corrections: A Catalyst for Change

Journal of Correctional Education, Jun 2005 by Wilkinson, Reginald A, Rhine, Edward E, Henderson-Hurley, Martha

Community Linkage Program. The challenges faced by returning offenders are magnified when the offender has been diagnosed with a mental illness. Continuity in care is mandatory for such offenders to successfully make the transition home. In 1995, DRC implemented the Community Linkage program. The Community Linkage program reflects a partnership between DRC and the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) forged to provide a continuum of care for offenders with mental illness entering prison and returning to the community. Ten Community Linkage Social Workers work within prisons to link offenders to the community mental health system upon release. The social worker prepares a community linkage packet 30-90 days prior to release containing mental health information, including diagnosis, medications, medication compliance, treatment regimen, and response to treatment and forwards this to the Community Mental Health Center. The social worker then arranges an appointment for the offender at the local Mental Health Center in the city where the inmate is expected to return two weeks before release. In addition, on the day of release a 14-day supply of medication is provided along with a reminder of the appointment at the Community Mental Health Center. Transportation to the Community Mental Health Center may also be provided by DRC in select cases.

Community-Based Reentry Initiatives

For reentry programming to be effective, efforts begun in prison must be reinforced through community-based initiatives. The community-based programs utilize existing resources and services in the community. Each initiative seeks to promote collaborative partnerships that enhance service delivery within the community. DRC's community-based initiatives are designed to provide structure, accountability and support to offenders released back into the community.

Reentry Courts Partnership. Ohio was selected as one of nine states to implement a reentry court program. The reentry court is a collaborative effort between the Richland County Common Pleas Court, DRC and the Adult Parole Authority and was implemented on January 1, 2001. The reentry court concept is based on the model for drug courts and entails intensive supervision and close case management. The court is designed to manage the return of the offender to the community, using the authority of the judge to apply graduated sanctions and positive reinforcement and to garner resources to support the prisoner's reintegration (Maruna & LeBel, 2003; Petersilia, 2003). This is a yearlong program that is based upon a reentry contract. The contract lists the conditions the offender must follow. It requires that the participant appear in court once a month before a reentry court team consisting of the judge, parole board-hearing officer, probation or parole officers, and community treatment providers. The judge and parole board hearing officer monitor the offender's progress and enforce the conditions of the contract through the use of graduated sanctions for failure to comply.