Why Reentry Management Systems?

Sat Dec 09, 2017 2:57 pm

Why Reentry Management Systems?

Without intervention from organizations trained and poised to make a difference in the opportunities for successful reentry by the incoming ex-offender, the vicious cycles of relapse, recidivism and re-offending will continue ad infinitum

Theory of Change:

It should be a well known fact and has been documented over and over again that California has one of the largest prison industries in the country and one of the highest recidivism rates. There have been reports that the industry here in California is already planning the number of prisons it will need by the time our third and fourth graders reach adulthood, and, the plan is for housing them. When we speak of them, we are speaking of people of color, primarily Blacks and Latinos. This is a sad commentary for what is supposed to be the most advanced and wealthiest civilization on earth.

Overview of Riverside County’s need for Re-entry Systems and Advocacy

Approximately 160 to 200 prisoners are released into Riverside County per month, and according to the Department of Parole there is no private agency that is currently dedicated exclusively to Re-entry Advocacy work. An extensive search through the phone book and the internet did not find any Re-entry Agencies in the county of Riverside. There are, of course, many agencies that do many things on behalf of ex-offenders, but none of them specialize in the Intensive Case Management, Mentoring, Advocacy, and other follow-through services that go a long way toward causing long term change in lives and recidivism rates. The United Way in the city of Hemet (city with the highest crime rate in Riverside County) indicated that some years ago there was an organization, but, that it closed.

One public agency is the Sheriff Departments Re-entry Services Center. This center specializes in employment for ex-offenders. We hope to partner with them to provide case management and mentoring services.

The County of Riverside has 17 thousand parolees come back to it (according to a count from earlier this decade), making Riverside county the 7th highest county with returning parolees in the nation. Riverside County’s homeless population has been estimated at 10,000 even though the county has faced difficulties in getting an accurate count.

We propose to target 3 specific areas in Riverside County, based on their level of need. Please click on the link or links that effect your concerns.