Community1

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

In March 2017, New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon directed his staff to develop a process that would efficiently combat recidivism in New Hanover County. Over the next few months, several individuals collaborated on what would become “Community1” in May of 2017. The end result was a comprehensive network of assistance for released former offenders that included housing assistance, employment assistance, drug rehabilitation, connection to social services and community reintegration. By creating a hub for these resources, Community1 has already been able to assist 78 former offenders with only four counts of recidivism. These 74 individuals represent a savings of approximately $519,000 (an aggregate of days spent incarcerated over the last three years, barring any medical, dental, dietary or other incidental costs). Community1 started with only four organizations to assist them at the program’s inception. In less than a year, there are now over 50 partners from the community, and the goal for 2018 is 150 justice-involved individuals assisted.