Sunday, 7 October 2018

Seven Elements Of Effective Prisoner Reentry Programs

By Deborah Clark


The experience of being imprisoned can change an individual, which then means that their re-integration into the society, later on, will be hard. A prisoner gets a difficult period trying to assimilate into the society after they have been released, especially due to the hardships faced in prison. Re-integration programs can assist such individuals but only if they are effective. Below are the indicators of top-notch prisoner reentry programs.

Early initiation. This is an aspect that ought to be prioritized when categorizing a prisoner reentry program. There are numerous issues that ex-offenders deal with and the help they get should start even before they are released. This ensures that one can easily be helped to adjust to the society by the time they are released. They will be assisted to adjust their mentalities towards life as well as easily secure jobs when they come out of prison.

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.

Reassessment frameworks should always be available. This is another critical aspect that one should never forget to check. All those schedules that help to shape the lives of ex-offenders for the better mainly focus on identifying and eradicating any side effects they may elicit. Such include the negative aspects that can be associated with the program and may impact a program making its influence limited for an ex-prisoner. Verifying this is therefore essential.

The focus on evidence in the handling of issues. It is critically important to ensure this characteristic at any period that one selects a rehabilitation program. Those which insist on the availability of concrete evidence to prove the success of any work they do is the best. They need to avoid an approach of flying blind where they have no clue as to what makes any program for rehabilitation achieve its objectives.

The avoidance of punishments on the program. A positive program always goes a long way in helping to enhance change for an individual who has been released from jail. They should be encouraged more to change rather than being punished. This includes them being motivated from day to day such that their re-integration is easier and more effective. Methods that focus on punishments have failed to work in the past.

Partnerships ought to be available since they provide a strong framework. This critical aspect is also essential for one to verify and as such one should check it with keenness. Mainly, it entails having to verify that a program is linked with numerous other beneficial organizations. Issues are easily handled in such a manner that may be too difficult for one organization to handle.

Focus on the long-term benefits. There is a huge need for ex-prisoners to be assisted to change their lives for the better. This includes them having to be helped with shaping up a vision and life goals.




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