NCDPS celebrates National Reentry Week

As criminal justice and corrections agencies across the country observe April 24-30, 2016 as National Reentry Week, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is highlighting efforts in North Carolina to help ex-offenders succeed in society after their release from prison.

“About 95 percent of all inmates will one day be released from prison and return to our communities,” said Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry.  “We must do all we can to help ensure that they are successful and do not re-offend.”

Preparation for reentry begins the day an inmate enters prison.  The admission and diagnostic process assesses the specific needs of each inmate in several areas including medical, mental health, substance abuse and education.  A case plan is crafted which lays out programs that will aid in the inmate’s treatment and rehabilitation and meet their individual needs.  

During an inmate’s time in prison they participate in basic educational programs if they do not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency.  Specialty skills and trades can be learned through a wide variety of vocational programs offered in conjunction with the North Carolina Community College system.  Work programs allow inmates to occupy their time in a productive manner, learn a skill or trade, earn a wage, develop a positive work ethic and learn soft skills that will help them in a future workplace after prison. 

“As we continue with improvements through a process of re-missioning our 56 state prisons, reentry is a significant and important part of the conversation,” said W. David Guice, Commissioner of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.  “More than a dozen of our minimum and medium custody prison facilities will have reentry as their designated mission.”  Those prions will be the places where inmates are prepared for release and then released back into society when their sentence is complete.

At these reentry facilities, case managers will help inmates prepare for release in a variety of ways.   They will help inmates develop a transition plan, and make sure each inmate has essential documents like photo ID, a social security card and educational certificates from their prison learning.  Institutional probation/parole officers working from offices in the prison will connect releasing inmates to needed services and resources in the community where they will live, and to the probation/parole officer who will supervise them after release.

The Department of Public Safety is focused on developing a seamless transition from prison to the community for all inmates, especially those with mental illness by ensuring the continuity of care and treatment is maintained upon release. Currently, probation/parole officers assist returning citizens with many areas of need such as housing, treatment and employment. A more comprehensive handoff through the sharing of information will increase the likelihood of success in the community.

Local reentry councils (LRCs) have been established in many parts of the state to coordinate and develop resources available in those regions to assist ex-offenders in areas like employment, housing, treatment, transportation and counseling.  Local reentry councils will identify service gaps; develop a network of resources and service providers; educate the public to change perception about returning citizens; and identify potential funding to support local reentry initiatives.

Local reentry councils are now operating in these areas:

• Buncombe County
• Mecklenburg County
• Hoke/Scotland/Robeson counties
• Nash/Edgecombe/Wilson counties
• Pitt County
• McDowell County

Many of these local reentry councils and other organizations have special events planned for National Reentry Week.  A schedule highlighting some of those events follows, along with contact information.  Contacts for Local Reentry Councils and other local agencies working in reentry are available from the NCDPS Communications Office.

Keith Acree
NCDPS Communications Office
919-733-5027
keith.acree@ncdps.gov