Saturday, October 6, 2018

Seven Elements Of Effective Prisoner Reentry Programs

By Deborah Clark


An individual that has been locked up in prison undergoes numerous changes. The changes may, later on, limit their ability to effectively assimilate back into the society after they have been freed. The hard times faced can have serious mental health consequences. Reentry programs nonetheless assist such individuals to get back on their feet. They should be successful for one to enroll. This article outlines the seven features of successful prisoner reentry programs.

The initiation ought to start early. It is important to prioritize on this characteristic when evaluating such programs. In many instances, the ones that succeed are the kinds which identify and start working with offenders even before their freedom is granted. It is largely due to the fact that one can easily be assisted to adjust to life when they have not been released and the effects will manifest once freedom is granted.

Offenders are handled like clients. The manner in which offenders are treated always affects the success of a program. It is crucial for them to handle the ex-prisoners as clients who are then taught to easily assimilate back into the society. This is opposed to them treating them as offenders in general and using similar tactics for all of them. They ought to be dealt with on an individual basis because each person has their own unique issues.

The schedules need to have various reassessment frameworks. It is very essential for a reentry program to have its keen focus being the provision of the best frameworks. Key to this is constant reassessment which entails having to ensure that the offenders are assisted to better shape their lives. Since recidivism can have negative effects it is very important for the program to ensure that it does not have any. Only constant reassessment can ensure this.

The program should place a huge priority in seeking evidence. It is vital to ensure this aspect since it indicates that a program values the impact it has. This in the main entails having to focus on getting the evidence that their methods have a positive impact on those they deal with. Assumptions are as such avoided and the methods used will be those that have been proven to have a high success rate.

Positive support offered without a focus on punishments. Recidivism is encouraged by programs that focus on punishments. The harsh and punitive approach leads to the offenders being encouraged onto the negative path. This is opposite of what the major goal of the rehabilitation program is, and therefore one should look for those that prioritize on positive motivation. It helps the ex-offenders want to change permanently.

Partnerships are always beneficial and so are collaborations. The undertakings that have vast links especially with diverse types of organizations are the best. This is important as one can then be sure that more help is accessible with their networks. Recidivism is always evident via various facets and its effects can never be handled fully by one organization.

The benefits are best when they are long-term. A keen focus on long term goals is always essential as offenders need to be assisted to live a better life. They should be encouraged to make decisions that are more impactful over a long period.




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