After Care, Reentry, and Work Ready Programs

The purpose of higher education inside the prison is to rehabilitate and re-direct the inmates for a successful reentry into society, thereby reducing the rate of crime and of  recidivism. The high rate of recidivism (the return of ex-prisoners to incarceration) results from many factors, but studies consistently show that the primary cause is unemployment. The Social Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Business Institute (SETBI) aims to increase employment and to assist in social reintegration among the released prisoners. Achieving these objectives will generate a sustainable public safety that overcomes the long-term negative consequences of criminal punishment, promotes the economic improvement of poor communities, and generates law abiding citizens. Further, preparing the individual holistically for reentry requires a multi faceted reentry program. 

 

The first challenge to today’s penal system is the problem of rehabilitating and preparing prisoners for reentry. When inmates are released from prison, returning overwhelmingly to inner city neighborhoods of concentrated poverty where jobs are scarce, crime rates are high, and social stigma for former inmates exists; they have a hard time being accepted in society. Under these conditions, the consequences for impoverished families and communities of former inmates are large. Today’s prisons are about incarceration and punishment, not about rehabilitation. Former inmates themselves are poorly equipped, not reformed or rehabilitated, to lead productive lives. The majority of inmates were jobless and had a history of heavy drug or alcohol use at the time of their incarceration; furthermore, many inmates have very little job experience, even compared to others with similar schooling. The prisoner reentry program offers training for transitional jobs bundled with other supportive services including value formation education. Good resources for educational and other rehabilitative programming in prison means that released prisoners will be better prepared for the labor market than they were in the past.

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After returning home inmates have a very hard time getting a job. Prison or jail time may impede successful reintegration into society because they carry a prison record with them. Study shows 9 out of 10 incarcerated citizens will leave prison; sadly though, 45% will become re-offenders and return to prison within three years. Also, incarceration is associated with reduced earning and employment rates and an increased rate of divorce and separation. Recidivism rates, however, indicate most vividly failure after release from prison.

 

The After Care, Reentry, & Work Ready program seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

• Prepare DPL to be ready to reenter society

• Realize  that the majority of prisoners had very little successful
  educational experience, and therefore now have many educational needs

• Demonstrate that education in prison helps to develop the whole person
  bearing in mind his or her social, economic, spiritual, and cultural identity

• Teach them an alternative lifestyle

• Reduce violence

• Provide personal development for social and economic development

• Strengthen families and communities 

• Affect positively children whose parents are in prison

• Enhance peace building

• Demonstrate the higher the education degree, the lower the recidivism rate 

• Increase employment after release from the prison 

• Insure long term cost efficiency and save tax payer money

• Teach inmates to become productive citizens 

 

After Care, Reentry, & Work Ready Program Components
 

The components include:

• The Bachelor Degree in
  Computer Science or Information Technology, Agribusiness, Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development, Hospitality and Management, Social Work 

• Senior High Degree

• G.E.D. Education Equivalency Diploma

• Vocational training

• Life skills development

• Substance abuse classes 

• Anger management

• Weekly sessions for rehabilitation, a Steps Recovery program 

• Languages courses 

• Computers skills 

• Health care courses   

• Open learning /distance learning 

• Sports and Music 

 

Partnerships

A key component of the program is partnerships with community organizations, institutions, NGOs, and businesses to facilitate the ex-offenders reentry.

 

Ongoing Follow Up

 

As part of the program, those released are required to participate in a tailored plan including a weekly study forum, steps recovery classes outside the prison, mentoring with designated mentors, and frequent drug, job, and life choices assessment. 

 

The College Education Behind Bars’ After Care, Reentry, & Work Ready program is intended to break destructive cycles by providing inmates with opportunities to develop the skills required to succeed in the workplace and in their communities through college courses, technical training, rehabilitation and recovery classes, and personal development of life skills and values.