This document summarizes Project Re-entry, a community-based prisoner reentry program in North Carolina. It was established in 2001 through partnerships between criminal justice, vocational, and social services organizations. The program aims to coordinate pre- and post-release services for offenders to improve reintegration, reduce costs, and increase public safety. Key components include pre-release programming in prisons, assistance with job readiness, placement and retention after release through case management and referrals to community resources. In later years, the program expanded its partnership with Project Safe Neighborhoods to provide additional pre-release notification and post-release support focused on reducing recidivism among chronic and violent offenders.
1. Community-Based Prisoner Re-entry
Solutions That Work
Project Re-entry is made possible through a partnership between the
Criminal Justice Department of
Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
&
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc
&
ReDirections of Rockingham County, Inc
&
Tri County Industries
2. What is Project Re-entry?
Our Mission:
To establish a coordinated system of pre- and post-
release services for offenders between the NC Dept. of
Correction, community resource agencies, the One
Stop systems, faith-based initiatives, employers,
community residents and formerly
incarcerated persons to improve
reintegration for formerly incarcerated
persons, reduce criminal justice costs
and increase public safety.
5. What is Project Re-entry?
2001 – Originated as a community – DOC partnership
2003 - NC Governor’s Crime Commission
Project Re-entry became the first and
remains the only pre- and post-release
prisoner reentry program in North Carolina.
Fill gaps that community resources have
historically had when providing services to
formerly incarcerated persons.
6. Key to our Success………Partnerships
Linking Resources One Stop System (JobLink)
Local Substance Abuse & Mental Health
Providers
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Social Services
Employment Security Commission
Volunteers
Local Law Enforcement
Workforce Development
Public Transportation
Transitional Housing
7. It’s Not Just Another Program
Division of Community Correction
Community Residents
Division of Prisons
Formerly Incarcerated Persons
Community College System
Child Support Enforcement
Health Department
Family Services
Community Resource Councils
Churches and Faith Based Initiatives
Goodwill Industries of NW NC
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)
Uniting Efforts
9. Community Outreach…….Inside
Transition Realities
Attitude in Reintegration
Job Search & Readiness Skills
Accessing Resources
Coping with Societal Changes
Self Esteem
Pre-Release Networking
Up to 18 months before release
10. Stop Getting in Your Own Way
Attitude
No Pity Parties
Being Accountable
Working Against the “System”
Face the consequences of the choices that you
made
Meeting Your Responsibilities
Supervision requirements
Child support
11. Post-Release Services
Immediate Engagement – Referrals from the Community
Case Management Support - 1 year or more post release
Job Readiness & Job Retention Classes
Interview Techniques
Resume’ Development
Drug Screening
Assisted Job Search/Placement
Vocational/Educational Services
Counseling Services
Personal Assistance Services
Single Portal of Entry
13. Meeting the needs of all involved
in a unified approach
PSN Project Re-entry
14. Both Projects have similar goals which include:
Improve the reintegration for formerly incarcerated persons
Increase public safety
Both Projects work with the same people, except:
Over 80% of NC releases are not supervised
Many who may qualify to be notified, are not eligible because
they are not on supervision
Why Combine Efforts?
15. Established a PSN-Reentry Subcommittee
Applied the David Kennedy’s violence reduction
focused deterrence model
Used nine sites within the PSN Middle District of NC since
1998 including High Point
Focused on chronic offenders, gangs and youth group related
robberies to reduce violence in drug markets (Drug
Market Intervention (DMI))
Integrate with Project Re-entry Programming
Established pre-release programming in pilot prison facility
since 2003
Earned immediate post-release services from both programs
How We Did It
16. PSN-Reentry Inside Notification
Criteria for selection:
Felon Charges not convictions
Ages 18-30 - Anything above the age of 30 would be on a case-by-case basis
Violent Crime Charge - With robbery as the key charge
Gun charge/or use - If a gun was used somewhere in their criminal charge history
Gang Association/Security Threat – If they are or not
Up to 18 months prior to release
Being released to a county that has a PSN and Project Re-entry presence