And They All Come Home

Shawshank Redemption

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtwXlIwozog

Tippecanoe County Reentry Court

• Problems with the current system• History and definition of Problem solving

courts• How a Reentry Court Works• The Benefits of a Reentry court

Problems with the Current System

• “$75-and-a-bus-ticket-home” model• Lack of social support• Insufficient housing• Mental health issues• Poor educational background• Employment problems• High-risk for recidivism

Problems (cont.)• Lack of Social Support

– 46% have incarcerated relatives– 31% of parents are addicted

• Insufficient Housing– 78% are homeless

• Mental Health Issues– 50% have mental health issues

• 68% rearrested within three years

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

Problems (cont.)

• Poor Educational Background• Employment Problems

Daily Expenditures

• $62.05 per day per inmate nationwide• $22,650 per year per inmate• 2,000,000 inmates in the U.S.• Approx. 25% of incarcerated people in the

world are in U.S. Prisons• Annual cost in the U.S. = $45.3 Billion

History and Definition of Problem solving courts

Miami-Dade, FL Courthouse

1989- site of first U.S. drug court as a response to growing drug problem

TYPES OF PROBLEM SOLVING COURTS

•Drug Courts

•Forensic Diversion Courts

•Re-entry Courts

COMMON GOALS•Reduce recidivism•Help offenders become successful members of society•Benefit offender and society

Tippecanoe County Problem Solving Courts

•2003—Adult Drug Court •Feb, 2005—Forensic Diversion Court

•Oct, 2005—Reentry Court

•1997--State judicial system given control of drug courts

How The Court Works

• The Team• The Tests• The Phases• Sanctions

Reentry Court Team• Judge• Prosecutor• Defense Attorney• Law Enforcement Officials• Probation Officer• Housing Coordinator• Faith Based Representative• Learning Through Literature Facilitator• LARA• Purdue Professors and Researchers

Level of Service Inventory (Revised) Assessment Test

• 54-Question Interview• Explores criminal’s background, drug use, attitude• Results show risk of criminal behavior• Accurately predicts recidivism of participants

4 Phases of Reentry• Phase 1: Engage in Rehabilitative Process

• Phase 2: Gain tools for a Constructive Lifestyle

• Phase 3: Commit to a Law Abiding Lifestyle

• Phase 4: Establish Rightful Place in Society Taken from the Reentry Court Participant Agreement

Sanctions and Rewards• System of punishment and rewards within the

Reentry Court

• Punishment level based on severity of violation

• Rewards based on progression through the Reentry Court program

The Benefits of Reentry Court

• Housing• Employment• Monetary• Recidivism reduction

Housing

• Housing provided for each participant for 1 year – Weed & Seed Grant

• Structure through curfews, attendance at court and meetings

• End result: Responsible resident in the community

Employment for Reentry Court Participants

o “ABC” Job Programo Any Jobo Better Job

• Career Job

Monetary Benefits to Society

• Participants pay for:– Drug testing– Court Services– Counseling– Other necessary expenses

• $947,409 saved over a twelve-month-period by Allen County Reentry Court

• $175,000 contributed to New York by supervised offenders

• $2.5 million saved over two years with 440 participants in Multnomah County, Oregon

Reasons for Lower Recidivism Rates within Reentry Courts

• Live in an apartment in the community

• Have jobs in the community

• Learn how to budget• Pass frequent drug tests• Get educated about

effects of drugs/alcohol• Change in attitude brings

change in behavior

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens”- J.R.R. Tolkien