9
CIC | DC Corrections Information Council 2901 14 th Street, NW, Ground Floor, Washington DC 20009 | 202.478.9211 | [email protected] | www.cic.dc.gov September 7, 2016 To: Stefanie Skroch, Contracting Officer Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) From: DC Corrections Information Council RE: RFP-200-1270-ES for Residential Reentry Center and Home Confinement Services The CIC is an independent monitoring body mandated to inspect, monitor, and report on the conditions of confinement at facilities where DC residents are incarcerated. In November 2012, after hearing many concerns about Hope Village from District leaders, community members, and returning residents, the CIC conducted an inspection of the facility, and in May 2013 it published a report of its findings. The CIC continues to monitor Hope Village’s current practices and their impact on returning men through interviews with current and former residents and service providers who interact with the facility staff and residents. This summer, legal and undergraduate interns, under the supervision of Program Analyst Lashonia Thompson-El, conducted research, interviews, and site visits pertaining to FBOP’s recent request for proposals for a male residential reentry center (RRC) in the DC area. It is our hope that the information provided in this memorandum will assist BOP as it considers pending FBOP RRC proposals. Proposed Locations At present, Hope Village is the BOP-contracted male Residential Reentry Center (RRC-also known as a halfway house) in Washington, DC, with two contracts that expire in 2016 and 2017. 1 The FBOP issued a request for proposals from January 11, 2016 until April 26, 2016 for a male RRC provider with at least 300 beds and 150 spaces for home confinement. 2 Potential providers must agree to follow the 2015 Statement of Work (SOW) and meet the minimum guidelines set forth by the FBOP and take into account local concerns of constituents. Through community interaction the CIC learned about four 1 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information Council, 24 May 2013. Web. 18 July 2016 <http://cic.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/cic/publication/attachments/FINALCICHopeVillageReport052413.pdf> 2 See “Residential Reentry Center Services and Home Confinement Services within the counties of Prince Georges County and/or Montgomery County, Maryland; and/or Arlington County and/or Fairfax County, Virginia; and/or the District of Columbia (DC).” Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, Solicitation: RFP-200-1270-ES. Fed Biz Opps. 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 July 2016. <https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=630b96440b11bf2ca506503422a1c736&tab=core&_c view=1>

CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    2

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

CIC|DCCorrectionsInformationCouncil

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

September7,2016

To: StefanieSkroch,ContractingOfficerFederalBureauofPrisons(FBOP)

From: DCCorrectionsInformationCouncilRE: RFP-200-1270-ESforResidentialReentryCenterandHomeConfinementServices TheCICisanindependentmonitoringbodymandatedtoinspect,monitor,andreportontheconditionsofconfinementatfacilitieswhereDCresidentsareincarcerated.InNovember2012,afterhearingmanyconcernsaboutHopeVillagefromDistrictleaders,communitymembers,andreturningresidents,theCICconductedaninspectionofthefacility,andinMay2013itpublishedareportofitsfindings.TheCICcontinuestomonitorHopeVillage’scurrentpracticesandtheirimpactonreturningmenthroughinterviewswithcurrentandformerresidentsandserviceproviderswhointeractwiththefacilitystaffandresidents.Thissummer,legalandundergraduateinterns,underthesupervisionofProgramAnalystLashoniaThompson-El,conductedresearch,interviews,andsitevisitspertainingtoFBOP’srecentrequestforproposalsforamaleresidentialreentrycenter(RRC)intheDCarea.ItisourhopethattheinformationprovidedinthismemorandumwillassistBOPasitconsiderspendingFBOPRRCproposals.

ProposedLocations

Atpresent,HopeVillageistheBOP-contractedmaleResidentialReentryCenter(RRC-alsoknownasahalfwayhouse)inWashington,DC,withtwocontractsthatexpirein2016and2017.1TheFBOPissuedarequestforproposalsfromJanuary11,2016untilApril26,2016foramaleRRCproviderwithatleast300bedsand150spacesforhomeconfinement.2Potentialprovidersmustagreetofollowthe2015StatementofWork(SOW)andmeettheminimumguidelinessetforthbytheFBOPandtakeintoaccountlocalconcernsofconstituents.ThroughcommunityinteractiontheCIClearnedaboutfour

1 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information Council, 24 May 2013. Web. 18 July 2016 <http://cic.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/cic/publication/attachments/FINALCICHopeVillageReport052413.pdf> 2 See “Residential Reentry Center Services and Home Confinement Services within the counties of Prince Georges County and/or Montgomery County, Maryland; and/or Arlington County and/or Fairfax County, Virginia; and/or the District of Columbia (DC).” Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, Solicitation: RFP-200-1270-ES. Fed Biz Opps. 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 July 2016. <https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=630b96440b11bf2ca506503422a1c736&tab=core&_cview=1>

Page 2: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |2

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

proposalsfromvariouscorporationsincludingHopeVillage,whoareseekingtoobtainthecontractwiththeFBOPtoprovideRRCplacementfortheDistrict’sreturningmen.

475SchoolStreetSW

GEOReentry,Inc.hasproposedalocationat475SchoolStreetSW.3Thelocationcurrentlyfeaturesafive-floorofficebuilding.Thelocationis226feetfromtheWashingtonGlobalPublicCharterSchooland0.3milesfromtheFederalCenterSWmetrostation.

810PotomacAvenueSE

CoreDChasproposedalocationat810PotomacAvenueSE.4CICstaffspokewithasecurityguardondutythatconfirmedtheproposal.Thelocationis476feetfromtheEagleAcademyPublicCharterSchoolandclosetothe92and96busroutes.

*GoogleMaps

81014thStreetNE

Athirdproposedlocationislocatedat81014thStreetNE.Previously,thislocationservedasaRRCExtendedHouse.ThislocationisontheX1,X2,andX9busroutes.

*GoogleMaps

3 See “The Federal Bureau of Prisons has initiated a proposal to put in a 300 Bed Male Prison Halfway house 200ft. away from the Washington Global Middle School.” Prince of Petworth. Popville. 23 May 2016. Web. 18 July, 2016. <http://www.popville.com/2016/05/federal-bureau-of-prisons-sw-dc/> 4 See “Criticisms Abound for Plans for Halfway House in Lower Barracks Row.” Michelle Goldchain. DC Curbed. 23 May, 2016. Web. 18 July 2016. <http://dc.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11745848/halfway-house-barracks-row>

Page 3: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |3

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

2844LangstonPlaceS.E.

ThecurrentRRCprovider,HopeVillageisaproposedlocationforthenewmaleresidentialreentrycentercontract.HopeVillageislocatedinWard8incloseproximitytoCongressHeightsMetroStation.HopeVillageisalsonearTheMayor’sOfficeonReturningCitizenAffairsandUnityHealthCenter,bothofwhichprovidesubstantialsupportservicestoreturningmen

andwomen.HopeVillageisalsoinahighcrimearea.

CICstaffmemberscontinuetobeincontactwithHopeVillagestaff,residents,communityadvocates,andserviceproviders.TheCIChaslearnedoftheconstructionofaRocketshipElementarySchoolcampus36feetfromHopeVillage,whichissettoopenitsdoorsinFall2016.

DCMunicipalZoningRegulations

Under11DCMR§199,residentialhalfwayhouses,convalescenthomes,socialservicecenters,andother“residentialfacilitiesforpersonswithacommonneedfortreatment,rehabilitation,assistance,orsupervisionintheirdailyliving,”areconsideredcommunity-basedresidentialfacilities.

ThethreepotentialsitesarecommercialdistrictsinWard6andarezonedC-3-CorC-3-A.5Under11DCMR§741.5(c),community-basedresidentialfacilitiesshallbepermittedinaC-3districtasamatterofright.OverlayzonesintheareaareHStreetOverlayDistrict(HS-A)andEighthStreetSoutheastNeighborhoodCommercialOverlayDistricts(ES).6Neitheroverlayzoneexplicitlyforbidscommunity-basedresidentialfacilities.7

WhileplacementnearaneducationalinstitutionisnotforbiddenunderDCMunicipalRegulations,theMayormustgiveatleast60dayswrittennoticetotheDCBoardofEducationorthegoverningbodyofaprivateschooloftheproposedestablishmentofacorrectionalfacilityorhalfwayhousetobelocatedwithin400feetofaschoolinDC.8Additionally,theMayorisrequiredtogivegreatweighttowrittencommentsoftheDCBoardofEducationwithregardstotheestablishmentorcurrentoperationofacorrectionalfacilityorhalfwayhousewithin400feetofaDCpublicschool.9

5 See “D.C. Office of Zoning, Interactive D.C. Zoning Map” DC Office of Zoning. Web. 18 July 2016. <http://maps.dcoz.dc.gov/> 6 Ibid. 7 11 DCMR § 1309, 1320-26 8 DC Code §38-3201 9 Ibid.

Page 4: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |4

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

LocalConcernsCommunityoppositionincludesaletterwrittenonApril29,2016fromCouncilmanCharlesAllen(Ward6)toStephanieSkroch,theContractingOfficerfortheFederalBureauofPrisons,regardinghisdisapprovalofGEOReentry,Inc.’sproposalsubmissionforthepropertyat475SchoolStreet.10CouncilmanAllenstated,“Thisproposalisincompatiblewiththesurroundingneighborhood,anditsimmediateproximitytoWashingtonGlobalPublicCharterSchool...wouldbeparticularlyinconsistentwiththeneedsofthatlocation.”Hecontinuedtosaythat,“[I]tremainsunclearwhetherthisuseisallowedundercurrentDCZoningRegulations.”CouncilmanAllenisjoinedinoppositionwiththeANC6(AdvisoryNeighborhoodCommission)andMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentCommanderforthearea.Similarconcernshavealsobeenraisedagainstaproposalat810PotomacAvenueSEregardingitsproximitytoRichardWrightPublicCharterSchool,allowanceunderzoningregulations,andlackofsupportresources.11

StatementofWork(SOW)

TheFBOPrequirestheproposedhalfwayhousesitestocomplywiththecurrentStatementofWork(SOW)12.ThecurrentStatementofWorkwhichoutlinespoliciesandprocedureforRRCproviderscouldaddresssomeoftheconcernsmentionedinthe2013CICReportonHopeVillageandbymorerecentresidentsofHopeVillage13Currently,HopeVillageisnotgovernedbythisSOW;however,ifHopeVillageisawardedthependingRRCcontract,itwillbe.Below,theCICreportsoninformationobtainedfromresidentsandserviceprovidersaboutimportantissuesofconcerntocurrentRRCresidents.

CommunityRelations

TheStatementofWorkplacesanemphasisonCommunityRelationsstating,“itisextremelyimportantandvitaltodevelopandmaintainpositivecommunityrelations”.14Thefacilityisrequiredtoprovidewrittenpolicyandproceduresthatofferongoing,positivecommunicationbetweenthefacility,localcommunity,electedofficials,lawenforcement,andcitizens.ThefacilityisrequiredtodescribetheapproachtoeducatingthecommunityaboutthegoalsandmissionoftheRRC.Theyarealsoresponsibleformaintainingthesupportofthecommunity.TheRRCprovidertheFBOPchoosesshouldmakeitaprioritytoinformandengagethecommunityregardingitsactivities.

10 See “Opposition Letter CM Allen” Popville. Web. 18 July 2016.<http://www.popville.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/475School_Oppo_Ltr_CM_Allen_Final.pdf> 11 See “Rehab Center Proposes 300 Bed Facility for Lower Barracks Neighborhood.” Larry Janezich. Capitol Hill Corner. 22 May 2016. Web. 18 July 2016. <https://capitolhillcorner.org/page/2/> 12United States. Federal Bureau of Prisons. Residential Reentry Management Branch. Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work. Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected).13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information Council, 24 May 2013. Web. 18 July 2016 <http://cic.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/cic/publication/attachments/FINALCICHopeVillageReport052413.pdf> 14 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 9.

Page 5: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |5

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

StaffandProgramming

TheStatementofWorkalsohighlightstheimportanceoftheroleofstaffandprogramming.TheSOWstates,“ThecontractorwillclearlyidentifyintheIndividualizedProgramPlan(IPP)howtheywillprioritizeandassisttheoffenderinaddressingelementsoftheIPP,andincludespecificprogramactivitiesandatimetableforachievementofthesegoals.”15CurrentandformerHopeVillageresidentsmentionedthattheprogrammingwasnothelpful.AcurrentHopeVillageresidentstatedthathewasrequiredtocompletea12-hourlifeskillscoursebutthatthecoursewasneitherhelpfulnorinformative.Theonlybenefitofthecoursewasthat,aftercompletingthecourse,theresidentcouldbeginsearchingforemployment.Inthe2013reporttheCICrecommendedthatHopeVillageuseexpertconsultantstofacilitatejobreadiness,andtransitionalplanningcoursesinanefforttosupplementthelackofeffectiveprogramming.16ThecurrentHopeVillageresidentalsocommentedthatwhileHopeVillagedoeshaveaGEDclasstwiceaweek,onlyGEDstudentsmayusethecomputersonsite.TheGEDstudentsmayonlyusethecomputersforGEDpreparation.ComputerandInternetaccessarenotavailableatHopeVillageforresidentstoconductjobsearchesorusetheemail.ResidentsareinsteadreferredtotheSkylandWorkforceCenterforcomputeraccess.BeingforcedtousethecomputeroutsideofHopeVillageaddstothedigitaldivideforReturningCitizensandposesasabarriertoconnectingreturningresidentstocommunityresources.

ThecurrentresidentexpressedthathedidnotlearnaboutcommunityresourcesorreentrysupportservicesfromstaffatHopeVillage.Rather,helearnedfromanotherresidentaboutProjectEmpowerment17andservicesprovidedthroughtheMayor’sOfficeonReturningCitizenAffairs.TheresidentinterviewedalsostatedthattherewasonlyonestaffmemberatHopeVillagewithgoodconnectionstohelpresidentsfindjobs.

TheCICspokewithalocalserviceproviderwhoworkscloselywithintheHopeVillageaboutcommunicationbarriersbetweenserviceprovidersandHopeVillagestaff.ThetelephoneistheonlylineofcommunicationbecauseHopeVillagestaffmembersdonotprovideemailaddresses.PhonecallsmadebyserviceproviderstoHopeVillagestaffusuallygotovoicemail.Theprovidersharedanon-goingissueofHopeVillagestaffcallingserviceproviderstoconfirmappointments,notleavingamessage,sayingtheycouldnotreachtheprovider,andthendenyingresidents’passesbasedonthisgapincommunication.Theserviceproviderstatedthatcasemanagersandvocationalcounselorsneedemailaddressessothatinformationandcommunicationscanbecomemoreefficient.Thiswillalsoenablecorrespondencestobedocumented.

15 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 49. 16 "CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013." 17 “Project Empowerment is a transitional employment program that provides job readiness training, work experience, and job search assistance to District residents who face multiple barriers to employment”. (http://does.dc.gov/service/project-empowerment-program)

Page 6: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |6

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

Transportation

TheStatementofWorkstates,“Thecontractormustprovidetransportationorpublictransportationvoucherstoassistoffendersseekingemployment.”18Italsostates“thecontractorisrequiredtoensurealloffendershavetransportationtoallrequiredCommunityTreatmentService(CTS)appointments.”19CTSappointmentsinclude:drugoffender,mentalhealthandsexoffendertreatment.In2013theCICfoundthatitwasdifficultforHopeVillageresidentswhowereindigenttoobtaintransportationassistance.InJuneof2016theCICinterviewedacurrentHopeVillageresidentanddeterminedthatobtainingtransportationassistanceremainsaconcern.AccordingtoHopeVillage,tokensareprovidedtoindigentresidents.However,currentresidentsreportthattheydonothaveaccesstotokensevenwhentheyrepeatedlyrequesttokens.Theyfurtherstatethat“indigent”statusisdeterminedonacase-by-casebasisandisusuallydeniedifaresidenthasreceivedfundsfromfamilyorfriends.CommunityserviceprovidersalsostatethatHopeVillageclientshavedifficultywithcommutingtoandfromHopeVillagewhensearchingforjobs,obtainingidentification,andtravelingtohealthcarevisits.

DisciplinaryProcedure

AccordingtotheSOW,“Thecontractorwilldesignateandtraintwoormorestaffmemberstoholdformalhearings…ifcircumstancesdonotallowforthein-personhearing(e.g.,permissioncannotbeobtainedbytheholdingofficialortheoffenderisonescapestatus),theCDCwillconductthehearinginabsentiaandnotifytheResidentialReentryManagementBranch(RRM).”20AcurrentresidentstatedthatHopeVillageresidentsarenotreceivinghearingsfor300leveldisciplinaryinfractions21.Ifhearingsarebeingconducted,theyaredonesowithouttheresidentpresent.AserviceprovideralsotoldCICstaffthatshehasneverheardofanyonegettingahearingaboutanythingatHopeVillage.ThisserviceprovideralsoinformedCICstaffthatwhenanindividualisbeingsentfromHopeVillagetoPiedmontRegionalJailinVirginia,locatedover50milesaway,foraruleviolation,aUSMarshalwillshowup,puttheresidentinshackles,andtransfertheresidentwithoutahearing.CurrentHopeVillageresidentsbelievethatthehearingprocesscurrentlyinplacedoesnotallowsufficientopportunityforthemtodefendagainstallegationsofwrongdoing.

Subsistence

Subsistenceisafeethatresidentsmustpaytocovertheircostofconfinement.Thisfeeis25percentoftheirgrossincome,nottoexceedtheperdiemratefortheRRCcontract. TheCICpleasedtoreportthattheFBOPpolicychanges(ProgramStatement7320.01,HomeConfinementandProgramStatement7300.09,CommunityCorrectionsManual)setforthonAugust1,2016,discontinuethesubsistencerequirementforindividualsonhomeconfinement.22

18 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 54. 19 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 62. 20 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 80. 21 300 level infractions are considered moderate infractions such as being out of bounds, disobeying an order, or having contraband. (http://etikallc.com/disciplinary-matters-in-federal-prison-part-1/) 22 https://www.bop.gov/resources/news/20160803_policy_change.jsp

Page 7: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |7

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

ForresidentsstillhousedattheRRC,subsistencepaymentsarestillrequired,but“[subsistence]waiverswillbeconsideredonacase-by-casebasisafterconsideringtheoffender’sdebts,assets,employmentstatus,andspending.”23AHopeVillageresidentinterviewedbytheCICrequestedtohavehissubsistencewaivedbecausehewashomeless.Priortoobtainingthewaiver,theresidentreceivedastipendfromanemploymentprogramonadebitcard,forwhichnopaystubswereissued.UponhisreturnfromtheprogramtoHopeVillage,theresidentwasdeniedhissocialpassforfailuretopaysubsistenceorpresentpaystubsfortheemploymentprogramstipendpay.

AsecondresidentinformedCICstaffthathewasahomelessfatherwhoappliedforasubsistencewaiver.Hiscasemanagersaidhewouldhavenoproblemgettinghissubsistencepaymentwaived.OtherHopeVillagestaffmembers,however,toldhimthathewouldhavetopayhissubsistence,orhewouldlosehisweekendpassandnotbeabletovisitwithhischildren.Itappearsthattheprocessofobtainingasubsistencewaiverisflawedandthedrawbackforthosewhoapplyforasubsistencewaiverisreducedfamilyengagement,ahallmarkofsuccessfulreentry.

Safety

Currentandformerresidents,inadditiontocommunityserviceproviders,haveinformedtheCICthatindividualsdonotfeelsafetravelingtoandfromHopeVillage.Movementandmealshavebeenrestrictedfrequentlyduetocriminalactivityinthearea.MenhaveturneddowntheopportunitytobereleasedfromprisonearlytogotoHopeVillagebecauseofthesafetyconcerns.

TravelPasses

Atravelpassiswrittenpermissionforaresidenttoleavethefacilityforexternalappointmentsandsocialvisits.AresidenttoldCICstaffthatHopeVillagerandomlydeniespassesand/orlimitstimedespiteresidentsbeingincomplianceandhavinginitialapprovalfromcasemanagersorvocationalspecialists.AserviceprovideralsotoldCICthatHopeVillagefrontdeskstaffwilltellresidentsthattheyarenotallowedapasseventhoughfrontdeskstaffisnotauthorizedtodoso.Thesameprovideralsostatedthatthereisanongoingissueofpaperpassesbeingmisplaced.Residentsfilloutpassesandplacetheminacasemanager’smailbox.Thecasemanagersignsthepassesandgivesthemtothefrontdeskstafftohandouttoresidents.However,Frontdeskstafffrequentlytellresidentsthattheyneverreceivedpassesfromcasemanagers.

PromisingPractices

Inanefforttoremainsolution-focused,theCIChaslookedatafewpromisingpracticesthatcouldaddresssomeofthecurrentRRCconcernsandcreateamoreefficientenvironmentwithintheRRCthattheFBOPchoosesforthenewcontract.

RutgersUniversity,CenterforBehavioralHealthServices&CriminalJusticeResearch

23 Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work, page 59.

Page 8: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |8

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

TheCenterforBehavioralHealthServices&CriminalJusticeResearchatRutgersUniversityfacilitatedthreeroundtablediscussionsbetweenAugustof2012andNovemberof2012.Thepurposewasforresearchers,policy-makers,advocates,andpractitionerstodiscussissuesregardinghalfwayhousemodelsandoperations.Asaresultofthesediscussionsareportwasgeneratedentitled,HalfwayfromPrisontotheCommunity:FromCurrentPracticetoBestPractice.WhendiscussingideallocationsforRRCs,thereportemphasizesthatRRCsshouldbelocatedincommunitiesclosetowheretheirresidentswilleventuallylive,topublictransportation,andtooptionsforemployment.RRCsshouldbelocatedfarawayfromillegalactivitiesanddistractions,makingiteasierforformerlyincarceratedpeopletodrawonlocalsupportandcreatesuccessfulintegrationconnectionswiththecommunity.24Thereportalsonotesthatlow-riskoffendersshouldnotbehousedinRRCsbecausetherearemorecosteffectivealternatives,suchasGPSmonitoringortransitionalhouseswithcommunitysupervision.SeparatingindividualsbyrisklevelandfocusingthecapacityofRRCsonmediumandhigh-riskindividualsincreaseperformancewithinRRCs.

VolunteersofAmerica,Chesapeake

VolunteersofAmerica,Chesapeakeisanon-profit,faith-basedorganizationbasedinBaltimore,Marylandthathas,formorethan30years,helpedex-offenderscompletingthelastthreetosixmonthsoftheirsentencesintransitioningbackintothecommunity.VolunteersofAmericautilizetheProgramforReturningOffenderswithMentalIllnessSafelyandEffectively(PROMISE)toserveparoleeswithmentalillnesswhoaretransitioningoutofprison.25Theprogramoffershousing,medicalandmentalhealthcare,casemanagementservices,familyengagementinitiatives,accesstopublicbenefitsandotherhelpfulreentryservices.Theprogramhasserved303clientstodatewith138havingapositivedischargeand105livinginsupportivehousing.Also,asof2015,VolunteersofAmericaarepartneredwithover50communityorganizations.

Pre-ReleaseandReentryServices,MontgomeryCountyDepartmentofCorrectionandRehabilitation(RockvilleCenter)26

TheMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofCorrectionandRehabilitation,Pre-ReleaseandReentryServicesoverseethe171-bedMontgomeryCountyPre-ReleaseCenter(PRC).TheDivisionservespre-trialadultsandincarceratedadultstobereleasedwithin12monthsfromthecounty’stwodetentioncentersaswellasstateandfederalprisonswhoarereturningtoMontgomeryCountyorthelargerWashingtonmetropolitanarea.TheCICobservedanumberofpromisingpractices:

• PRCsellstokenstoindigentresidentsatadiscountedrate.Ifaresidentdoesnothavesufficientfundstopurchasetokens,tokensareprovidedonaloan,andthemonetaryamountiswithdrawnatalatertime.

24 See “Halfway From Prison to the Community: From Current Practice to Best Practice.” Rutgers. 25 Rutgers, “Halfway From Prison to the Community: From Current Practice to Best Practice” 26 Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, Pre-Release and Reentry Services, http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cor/prrs/index.html

Page 9: CIC | DC Corrections Information Council...Washington: Federal Bureau of Prisons, May 2015 (Corrected). 13 See “Final CIC Hope Village Report May 24, 2013.” DC Corrections Information

P a g e |9

290114thStreet,NW,GroundFloor,WashingtonDC20009|202.478.9211|[email protected]|www.cic.dc.gov

• Passesaresubmittedinwrittenformatoncarboncopydocuments.Residentssubmitthetopwhitesheettostaffmembersandkeeptheunderlyingyellowsheetasverificationofsubmission.

• Pre-GEDandGEDclassesareofferedforprogramparticipantsfournightsperweekandaretaughtthroughcollaborationwithMontgomeryCollege.

• TheJobReadinessandRetentionProgramisaone-weekworkshop.Residentsareprovideddiscussiontipsandaregiventheopportunitytodiscusstheircriminalbackgroundswithpotentialemployers.

• TheWelcomeHomeProgramisafaith-basedmentorshipprogramthatpairsacommunityvolunteerwitharesident.

• TheThinkingforaChange(T4C)programprovidesparticipantswiththeopportunitytoconsiderthethinkinganddecision-makingpatternsthatcontributedtotheircontactwiththecriminaljusticesystem.Allnewresidentsreceiveafive-hourintroductorymodule.

• FamilyandFriendsSupportProgramallowsfamiliestopartnerintheparticipants’reentryprocess,fromreentryplanning,tocommunityservicesreferralstohomeconfinementservices.

Conclusion

ResidentsandserviceproviderscontinuetopresentanegativepictureofcurrentRRCservices.ItistheCIC’shopethatwhentheFBOPmakesitsdecisionaboutthependingRRCcontract,notonlywillthechosenprovidermeetthe2015SOWrequirements,buttheproviderwillalsoseektoimplementsomeofthepromisingpracticesabove.ThesepracticeswillenabletheprovidertobemoreefficientandprovideamoreproductivetransitionalexperienceformenreturningfromincarcerationbacktotheDistrictofColumbia.ImprovingRRCoperationswillincreasepublicsafetyandincreasethelikelihoodofreentrysuccessforDCmenreturninghomefromincarceration.