This report aims to assist corrections agencies and their community partners in developing and improving their release planning procedures, but can also be used by jail administrators and staff. Eight fundamental needs confronting exiting prisoners, as well as the administrative challenges and opportunities facing corrections agencies in meeting these needs, are identified through a national survey of state correctional departments, a complementary scan of practice, and a literature review on the topic of release planning.
Acknowledgments
Executive Summary
Introduction
What Is Release
Planning?
How Does Release Planning Fit into
the Broader Process of Reentry Planning?
Who Is Responsible for Release
Planning?
How and When Does Release Planning
Occur?
What Are the Key
Components of a Release Plan?
Basic Needs
Transportation
Clothing and Food
Financial Resources
Identification and Important
Documents
Housing
Employment and Education
Health Care
Physical Illness
Mental Illness
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Support Systems
What Are the
Opportunities and Challenges of Release Planning?
Engaging the Released Prisoner
Supervised Releasees
Those Released Directly from
Maximum Security
Unsupervised Releasees
Sex Offenders
Women
Gaining Cooperation from
Corrections Staff
Collaborating with Community and
Agency Partners
Funding
Revising Policies and Laws
Legislative Changes at the Federal
Level
Legislative Changes at the State
Level
Ensuring Quality and Accountability
Conclusion
References
Appendices
Appendix A: Case Studies
Obtaining Financial Resources:
Oregon’s Department of Corrections
Addressing Identification Needs:
The H.I.R.E. Network
Addressing Housing Needs: Idaho’s
Transition and Treatment Funding Program
Addressing Health Care Needs:
Massachusetts’ DOC / Mass Health Pilot Program
Managing Special Populations: Allegheny
County State Forensic Support Services
Collaborating with Community
Agencies: Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Network
Appendix B: 2007 UI Discharge
Planning Survey
Appendix C: Scan of Practice
URBAN INSTITUTE – Justice Policy Center
La Vigne, N., Davies, E., Palmer, T. & Halberstadt, R. (2008). Release Planning for Successful Reentry – A Guide for Corrections, Service Providers, and Community Groups. URBAN INSTITUTE – Justice Policy Center. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/32056/411767-Release-Planning-for-Successful-Reentry.PDF
