Probation Reentry Initiative: Transitioning Offenders from Prison to the Community

About the Program

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

Year: 2011

There are over 8,000 prisoners in the Arizona Department of Corrections who will be returning to Maricopa County with a consecutive probation grant following their discharge from prison. In response to the increasing prison population with consecutive probation grants, a group consisting of interagency collaborators began identifying gaps within the system to address supervision issues such as inaccurate release dates, the lack of reentry planning and the large number of offenders who abscond prior to reporting to a probation office. The goal of the Probation Reentry Initiative is to reduce recidivism of individuals released from the ADC to probation, thereby increasing neighborhood safety and the efficiency of the criminal justice system.. To accomplish this goal, the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department (MCAPD) formed a specialized unit to provide reentry needs assessment, pre-release discharge planning, and immediate interventions to smooth the transition between prison and probation. After just one year, the program has dramatically improved the reentry process and demonstrated noteworthy reductions in recidivism.