Indiana has been participating in the National Institute of Corrections Transition from Prison to the Community (TPC) Initiative since 2003. The effort has been revitalized under the direction of Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue in 2005 under the title “Road to Reentry.” Commissioner Donahue has received leadership support from the Indiana Governor and a wide range of state agencies. The mission set out by these leaders is: “To enhance public safety through improving the successful transition of offenders to the community.
Team Leadership Structure
Partners in this initiative are leaders from: the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, the Attorney General’s Office, the Family and Social Services Administration, the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers Inc., the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
The work of the initiative is guided by a project Steering Committee consisting of representatives from the partnering agencies. The Steering Committee schedules meetings on a quarterly basis. Work teams are formed and meet as needed to carry out specific tasks need to accomplish the goals of the Road to Reentry Initiative.
Early Targets of Change
One distinctive aspect of the effort in Indiana is found at the Plainfield Reentry Educational Facility. In addition to the expected reentry activities of case planning, assessment, and programming, the institution has developed innovative partnerships with local community stakeholders. For example, offenders at Plainfield receive education on money management and modern banking tools. While incarcerated, offenders are provided with an ATM card to make purchases at the canteen snack bar. This allows offenders to experience the changes in banking and money management that have occurred in recent years.
Other early targets of the initiative included providing state identification cards for offenders leaving the prison system. ID cards are currently being issued at several DOC facilities with plans in place to expand to additional institutions. In addition, ensuring that veterans’ benefits are available to eligible offenders was an effort undertaken through the cooperation of Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment instruments currently used were developed specifically for the Indiana DOC. They include risk/needs assessments as well as assessments for mental illness, substance abuse and other areas. The Department is currently evaluating additional tools to be used throughout the process.
Survival Needs
The initiative has addressed identification needs as described above. Housing is being coordinated through the RAP (Reentry Accountability Plan) and through contact with local communities. The Department of Correction has signed a memorandum of agreement with Family and Social Services Administration to allow application for Medicaid benefits prior to release from prison. Family and other issues are particularly addressed at the Plainfield Reentry Educational Facility.
Pre-Release Planning
While Reentry is a focus throughout the Indiana Department of Correction, particular effort has been focused on the Plainfield Reentry Educational Facility. This institution was opened to create an institution primarily focused on reentry services to offenders returning to the greater Indianapolis area. This facility opened in 2006 and focuses on education and skill building during the last six to 24 months of incarceration.
Case Planning and Management
A single case management plan has been developed to move with the offender from arrival at a DOC facility, through their incarceration and supervision and out to the community. The case management plan is called the RAP (Reentry Accountability Plan)
Innovative Partnerships
The Road to Reentry initiative in Indiana has nurtured innovative partnerships to further its mission. One example is the partnership between the Department of Correction and the Department of Workforce Development. One benefit of this partnership is the permanent assignment of a job developer, from the staff of the Department of Workforce Development, to the Plainfield Reentry Educational Facility (PREF). Another important partnership—with local stakeholders--is the PREF Advisory Board. This Board, with more than two dozen members, has been drawn from local business, media, law enforcement, prosecution, the faith community, and non-profit service providers, as well as from correctional leadership. This provides a forum, both for informing the community as to PREF’s mission and activities, as well as for securing community input, involvement, and support. One example of this involvement and support was reported by the Plainfield Flyer in October of 2006, when “Nearly two dozen Central Indiana businesses were recently represented at the first Plainfield Re-Entry Educational Facility Opportunity Fair, which was more than twice as many as had been expected.”
Technical Assistance from NIC
Since Indiana’s participation in the TPC Initiative began, NIC has been providing technical assistance through its Cooperative Agreement Partner—the Center for Effective Public Policy. CEPP provides orientation on the TPC model, information, cross-site communication, periodic workshops for participating sites, and expert consultation from a site coordinator assigned to support Indiana’s “Road to Reentry.”