CHAPTER 49

SAFE COMMUNITY REENTRY

 

Sec.

4901.  Scope of chapter.

4902.  Definitions.

4903.  Safe Community Reentry Program.

4904.  Contract for services.

4905.  Rules and regulations.

 

Enactment.  Chapter 49 was added July 5, 2012, P.L.1050, No.122, effective in 60 days.

§ 4901.  Scope of chapter.

This chapter relates to the Safe Community Reentry Program.

§ 4902.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Community-based programs."  Programs which are administered and operated outside of a correctional institution.

"Community organization."  A community, faith-based or other private charitable organization which is organized as a nonprofit corporation or nonprofit unincorporated association under the laws of the United States or this Commonwealth which is authorized to do business in this Commonwealth as a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association under the laws of this Commonwealth.

"Institutional-based programs."  Programs which are administered and operated within a correctional institution.

"Offender."  An inmate in a correctional institution or a person released from incarceration. The term shall not include an inmate serving a sentence of life imprisonment or death.

"Program."  The Safe Community Reentry Program established in this chapter.

§ 4903.  Safe Community Reentry Program.

(a)  Program established.--The department and the board shall jointly establish a Safe Community Reentry Program to reduce recidivism and ensure the successful reentry of offenders into the community.

(b)  Assessment and plan.--

(1)  The department shall assess each offender entering into the State correctional system to determine which treatment services, programs and skills the offender needs to develop to be successful in the community following the offender's release.

(2)  The department or the board shall assist each offender in developing a reentry plan for the offender. The reentry plan shall include the offender's educational, employment, housing and treatment needs as appropriate and necessary to encourage the successful transition and reintegration of the offender into the community.

(3)  The department or the board shall endeavor to coordinate the specifics of the offender's reentry plan with the educational, vocational training and treatment services that will be provided to the offender during the offender's incarceration.

(c)  Transition and reintegration programs.--The department may identify a comprehensive network of transition and reintegration programs to address the needs of offenders released from incarceration.

(d)  Community organizations.--

(1)  The department and the board may use community organizations and other nonprofit and for-profit entities to assist the department and the board in meeting the needs of offenders reentering the community.

(2)  The department and the board may develop and maintain a list of community organizations and other nonprofit and for-profit entities available to provide services. Community organizations and other nonprofit and for-profit entities may provide services, including education, vocational training, treatment services, support with finding housing and employment and may help with family issues and other elements of life after incarceration.

(3)  The department and the board may refer offenders to community organizations and other nonprofit and for-profit entities on the list.

(e)  Sharing of information.--The department and the board may share information about offenders with the entities the department and the board contract with under section 4904 (relating to contract for services) and other agencies and providers of services as necessary to adequately assess and address the needs of each offender. The following shall apply:

(1)  No person having access to any report, record or other information prepared or assembled under this chapter shall disclose the report, record or information without the permission of the department or the board.

(2)  Nothing under this subsection shall be construed to permit the department or the board to disclose information where disclosure is prohibited under Federal or State law or regulations.

§ 4904.  Contract for services.

(a)  Authority.--The department and the board may contract with community organizations and other nonprofit or for-profit entities to provide programs and services under this chapter. The programs and services provided under these contracts may include:

(1)  Assisting in the development of each offender's reentry plan.

(2)  Coordinating the supervision and services provided to offenders in correctional institutions with any supervision and services provided to offenders who have been released from incarceration.

(3)  Providing offenders awaiting release with documents that are necessary after release, including identification papers, referrals to services, medical prescriptions, job training certificates, apprenticeship papers, information on obtaining public assistance and other documents useful in achieving a successful transition from a correctional institution to the community.

(4)  Involving county agencies whose programs and initiatives strengthen inmate reentry services for offenders who have been returned to the county of their jurisdiction.

(5)  Providing structured programs, post-release housing and transitional housing, including group homes for recovering substance abusers, through which offenders are provided supervision and services immediately following reentry into the community.

(6)  Assisting offenders in securing permanent housing upon release or following a stay in post-release or transitional housing.

(7)  Continuing to link offenders with health resources for health services that were provided to them when they were under the jurisdiction of the department, including mental health, substance abuse treatment, aftercare and treatment services for contagious diseases.

(8)  Providing education, job training, English as a second language programs, work experience programs, self-respect and life skills training and other skills needed to achieve self-sufficiency for a successful transition from incarceration.

(9)  Facilitating collaboration among corrections administrators, technical schools, community colleges and the work force development and employment service sectors so that there are efforts to:

(i)  Promote, where appropriate, the employment of offenders released from correctional institutions and facilitate the creation of job opportunities, including transitional jobs, for such offenders that will also benefit communities.

(ii)  Connect offenders to employment, including supportive employment and employment services, before their release from correctional institutions.

(iii)  Address barriers to employment, including obtaining a driver's license.

(10)  Assessing the literacy and educational needs of offenders and providing appropriate services to meet those needs, including follow-up assessments and long-term services.

(11)  Addressing systems under which family members of offenders are involved with facilitating the successful reentry of those offenders into the community, including removing obstacles to the maintenance of family relationships while the offender is in custody, strengthening the family's capacity to establish and maintain a stable living situation during the reentry process where appropriate and involving family members in the planning and implementation of the reentry process.

(12)  Facilitating visitation and maintenance of family relationships with respect to offenders by addressing obstacles such as travel, telephone costs, mail restrictions and restrictive visitation policies.

(13)  Addressing barriers to the visitation of children with an incarcerated parent and maintenance of the parent-child relationship, including, but not limited to, the location of facilities in remote areas, telephone costs, mail restrictions and visitation policies.

(14)  Creating mentoring programs designed to assist offenders in changing the offenders' pattern of behavior so that the offenders will not revictimize their victims or have new victims. Mentoring may occur inside the correctional institution and in the community once the offender is released. The mentor shall:

(i)  Act as a role model for the offender.

(ii)  Foster a caring and supportive relationship by creating an independence from and not a dependence upon the mentor or the system as a whole.

(iii)  Encourage positive self-concept.

(iv)  Teach and aid in goal setting.

(v)  Support other positive relationships within the community.

(vi)  Assist in linking the offender to community-based services.

(vii)  Promote appropriate, positive family relationships.

(viii)  Help develop personal accountability and personal responsibility.

(15)  Facilitating and encouraging timely and complete payment of restitution and fines by offenders to victims and the community.

(b)  Accountability.--To ensure accountability, any contract entered under this section shall contain specific performance measures that the department and the board shall use to evaluate compliance with the terms of the contract.

 

Cross References.  Section 4904 is referred to in section 4903 of this title.

§ 4905.  Rules and regulations.

The department and board may promulgate rules and regulations as deemed necessary to implement this chapter.