Description:

Each month an average of 490 adult offenders are released from Kansas Prisons.  They are often released back onto the same streets where the crime they committed occurred.  Upon release many have little or no money, no place to live, no job or ability to achieve sustained employment and no social support.  In addition, many labor under the burden of lifelong patterns of anti-social influences and thinking. The result is that nearly 50% of those released return to prison within 6 months. Through the Shawnee County Reentry Program (SCRP), we now have the opportunity to help make our communities safer by improving offenders’ chances of a successful return home.  SCRP implements a comprehensive program to prepare and assist individuals transitioning back into the community.  Eligible program participants are identified from throughout Kansas prisons and must meet the following criteria; be scheduled for release to Shawnee County, have 12-18 months left on their sentence to complete, have committed a serious or violent crime and/or be considered at high risk for re-offending. Using a risk/needs assessment, case manager advocates work with participants to identify and address these risks and needs.  With the guidance of SCRP staff, participants select and attend informational classes.  These classes are facilitated by volunteers and are designed to provide skills needed upon release i.e. money management, resume writing, work ethics, relapse prevention, and goal setting to name a few. Program participants may also receive a mentor who provides added support and guidance.

History:
Shawnee County Reentry is administered by the Kansas Department of Corrections and is part of a national initiative to establish research-based, effective reentry models and practices in communities all over the country, called the Serious and Violent Offenders Reentry Initiative (SVORI), administered by the United states Department of Justice in partnership with other federal agencies, including the departments of Labor, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).  The program includes many community partners; corrections, law enforcement, employers, neighborhoods, political representatives, landlords, mental and medical health providers, victim services, ex-offenders, faith and community based organizations.

Volunteer Opportunities:

SCRP is in need of individuals to provide informational workshops and classes in the facility. Classes generally meet one hour a week, once a week for 6-8 weeks and hours are flexible. There is also a need for individuals to mentor.  Mentors agree to meet weekly with a participant to review class material, set goals and steps to achieve them, provide guidance and support.  The mentor relationship begins 6 months pre-release and continues 6 months post-release.

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