GEORGIA

In 2002, 6.8 percent of the adult population in Georgia was under correctional supervision. This, coupled with high recidivism rates, has made improving prisoner reentry a priority within the State. The key issues surrounding reentry in Georgia include the following:

• Offenders who "max out" with no supervision to follow (30 percent of releases).
• Offenders' housing needs.
• Mental health capacity, especially for women and juveniles.
• Front end assessment.
• Transition from incarceration back to the community.
• Linkages with family and community ("capable guardians").
• Substance abuse treatment capacity.
• Job placement and job retention.
• Capacity of faith based organizations.
• Funding for electronic monitoring.

Related Links:

• State Project Update

• Prisoner Reentry in Georgia. (pdf) A report commissioned by NGA and produced by The Urban Institute that highlights state trends in reentry including maps of what reentry looks like in the state.

GEORGIA
Impact Case Study: Reentry Project Update

This document was prepared by members of Georgia's Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy team. It represents their current course of action, but should not be viewed as a final plan. Rather, this document is designed to highlight where Georgia is in an ongoing strategic planning process.

Since the NGA Academy meeting was held in May, efforts to develop more effective policies in the area of reentry have continued. A list of "reentry priorities" (see below) was submitted to the Governor's Office for review and consideration.

Reentry Priorities:

1. Removing barriers to success. Identify the barriers to success.
2. Recruiting additional faith based organizations as mentors for offenders. Need BIG effort.
3. Media blitz regarding need for reentry initiatives in the state. Have Governor Perdue visit Atlanta DRC and bring churches into the mix.
4. Legislation to allow drug offenders to have a driver's license after conviction. Other legislative efforts as needed. Find a champion in both houses of the legislature.
5. Have a business leader advisory council (small and large) to review vocation training programs in place in the prisons--determine if fit needs to business community.
6. Question inmates at intake regarding strengths and needs. Develop safety plans, i.e. contracts, with inmates to help them meet their reentry needs while incarcerated. What are the inmates' strengths; don't focus on weaknesses.
7. Conduct "customer satisfaction" surveys with inmates at exit to determine needs and "free world" support.
8. Outcome indicators related to recidivism.
9. Develop a marketing strategy to promote reentry.
10. Work on bringing in public health; have clinic on-site, or close by to have testing, check ups for offenders and immediate family members.
11. Allow offenders to leverage education, training for early release. Number of safe months, no DRs, etc.
12. Possible SAC project of combining DFACS, DOC, P&P, DJJ data to determine where persons receive multiple forms of government assistance.
13. Look at RI DRC model of forming a 501 (c) 3 rather than being with government entity.
14. Develop action item list for Governor possibly leading to Executive Order and/or legislation.
15. Engage local Housing Authorities into planning mix for DRC/Reentry sites.
16. Need to better frame the issue in terms of prison cost avoidance/return on investment. This can parlay in "real" terms for the legislature and the public.

In addition, the state was recently selected to participate in the National Institute of Correction's Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI), which is being spearheaded by the Governor's Office.

Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) was selected to serve as the research partner for the Georgia Impact project, which is closely tied to the NGA Academy Initiative. AASU has begun conducting community need assessments in each of the target communities for the Georgia Impact project. This data will in turn be used by the NGA team to formulate policy recommendations that will be provided to the Governor.

At the local level, work continues by the local reentry steering committees (RSCs) to plan their Reentry programs to operate in the manner most efficient for the community. Each of the local RSCs is composed of community advocates, law enforcement, correctional, faith based and other interested persons.

On the state level, work continues with the NGA team to amend/develop policies for implementation regarding prison reentry efforts. Our state-level team is comprised of leadership from across state government, including:

• Department of Corrections
• Department of Human Resources
• Department of Juvenile Justice
• Department of Labor
• Department of Technical and Adult Education
• Genesis Prevention Coalition
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Georgia Workforce Investment Board
• State Board of Pardons and Paroles

The key issues surrounding offender reentry in Georgia are as follows:

• Offenders who "max out" with no supervision to follow (30% of releases).
• Meeting offenders' housing needs.
• Expanding the mental health capacity, especially for women and juveniles.
• Need for a better front end assessment.
• Implementing a seamless transition from incarceration back to the community.oCementing linkages with family and community; "capable guardians."
• Increasing substance abuse treatment capacity.
• Job placement and job retention.
• Expanding the capacity of faith based organizations.
• Additional funds for electronic monitoring.

The goals of the Georgia Offender Reentry Initiative are:

1. Prevent Reoffending
2. Enhance Public Safety
3. Redeploy and Leverage Existing Community Resources
4. Assist the Offender to Avoid Crime, Engage in Pro-social Community Activities and Meet Family Responsibilities
5. Ensure Program Sustainability

July 2004