Offender Reentry Plan
Department of Community and Human Services
Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division
March 2011
Offender Reentry Plan
March 2011
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3
Population Needs ............................................................................................................................ 4
Offender Reentry ............................................................................................................................ 6
Reentry Plan .................................................................................................................................... 7
Offender Reentry Task Force ......................................................................................................... 8
Population of Focus ....................................................................................................................... 8
Offender Reentry Plan Mission Statement ..................................................................................... 9
Proposed Policy Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................ 9
Implementation Schedule ............................................................................................................ 10
Goal 1: Housing ............................................................................................................................. 12
Goal 2: Employment ..................................................................................................................... 13
Goal 3: Mental Health and Chemical Dependency ....................................................................... 14
Goal 4: Assistance Programs ......................................................................................................... 15
Appendix A: Jail Population ......................................................................................................... 16
Appendix B: King County Criminal Justice Initiative .................................................................... 17
Appendix C: Seattle-King County Public Health Jail Health Services ........................................... 18
Appendix D: King County Community Corrections ...................................................................... 19
Appendix E: Trauma-Informed Care ............................................................................................ 22
Appendix F: Community Services Division Offender Reentry Programs ..................................... 24
Appendix G: Offender Reentry Resources ................................................................................... 26
References .................................................................................................................................... 27
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Executive Summary
Problem
Each day, over one hundred individuals return to our community from jails throughout King
County. Many of these individuals face the same problems leaving jail as they did entering,
including poverty, unemployment, unstable housing or homelessness, mental illness and/or
chemical dependency. Such difficulties may contribute to involvement in the criminal justice
system, while, if addressed, the likelihood that a released individual will re-offend may be
reduced. Unfortunately, as governments at all levels reduce funding for services in the face of
budget crises, the number of individuals in our community and in our criminal justice system
facing these difficulties may increase.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, national data on local jail inmates portrays a
distressed and vulnerable population cycling in and out of the corrections system. The most
recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice (2011) shows that over two-thirds of jail
inmates are repeat offenders (a rate that has been consistent for decades), having been admitted
and released from jail at least once before. This high rate of recidivism suggests that new or
improved services are needed to successfully reintegrate offenders into mainstream community
living. Reduced recidivism through successful community reentry improves public safety.
Solution
To address this problem, King County, in collaboration with system partners, is developing a
plan for offender reentry. The plan creates a framework to guide comprehensive and coordinated
policies and services for individuals transitioning from jail to community, including individuals
released directly to the community and individuals who participate in community corrections
programs, with the general outcome goals of reducing recidivism, improving public safety, and
assisting individuals with successfully integrating into their communities. The County will also
convene a reentry task force to oversee the implementation of the strategic plan. Guided by the
common vision outlined in the plan, regional stakeholders will seek opportunities and funding to
implement new programs and services.
Modeled after the federal offender reentry initiative, the approach in this reentry plan provides
King County and its regional partners with an opportunity to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer
dollars and make our community safer. The King County Offender Reentry Plan outlines
evidence-based and best practice reentry strategies that are designed to improve public safety and
enhance the community.
Proposed Goals
The King County Offender Reentry Plan is intended to serve as a resource and starting point for
stakeholders involved in offender reentry. The plan provides an overview of the local jail
population and discusses common areas of need, proposing initial goals, objectives and strategies
for addressing these needs. The proposed goals are:
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Offender Reentry Plan
March 2011
•
Improve the housing status of individuals leaving jail.
•
Improve rates of self-sufficient employment for individuals leaving jail.
•
Provide access to effective mental health, chemical dependency, and primary care
treatment services for inmates before and after their release from jail
•
Sustain offenders’ access to government assistance programs.
•
Improve case management systems.
Increase reentering offenders’ connections to family and community.
•
Improve offender access to basic resources and services in the community after release.
Population Needs
In 2010, King County’s jails had approximately 43,000 bookings and housed on average each
day about 2,100 individuals. By the end of 2011, jails operated by cities in the county will house
an estimated 600 individuals each day (DAJD, 2010). Before entering jail, many of these
individuals faced serious difficulties that contributed to their involvement in the criminal justice
system. Some of the issues leading to criminal behavior and recidivism include: mental illness,
chemical dependency, low income, unemployment, limited education, and homelessness (Urban
Institute, 2008). As discussed in Table 1, these obstacles are indeed a problem for jail inmates.
Table 1: Common factors linked to criminal activity and recidivism faced by jail inmates
Mental
Illness
Nationally, 64% of jail inmates have a diagnosable mental illness and 16% have a
serious mental illness (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006; Morrissey et al., 2007). Inmates
in King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) who spend over 72 hours in jail average a
twelve day length of stay compared to individuals with mental illness, who spend an
average 158 days in jail (King County Dept. of Community and Human Services, 2007).
The 2011 charge per inmate in King County jails is $120 per day. This cost can triple if
special psychiatric housing is required. Moreover, national averages show that within 18
months of release 64% of former inmates with mental illness are rearrested compared to
only 30% of those without (Bazelon, 2009).
Histories of trauma follow many jail inmates. Fifty-five percent of female inmates have
suffered lifetime physical or sexual abuse, as have 13% of male inmates. Sixty-two
percent of female inmates experienced intimate partner violence, and 35% of all inmates
have been injured in an assault (US Department of Justice, 2004). It is well known that
histories of abuse and violence increase the likelihood of behavioral health problems.
See Appendix A for more information on trauma-informed care.
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Substance
Use Disorders
Employment
& Education
Homelessness
Equity and
Social Justice
The National Bureau of Justice Statistics (2006) estimates that 76% of jail inmates abuse
alcohol or drugs and 34% were using at the time of offense. Substance use disorders
among mentally ill individuals increase the likelihood of arrest by 500% (King County
Dept. of Community and Human Services, 2007). Chemically dependent individuals are
more likely to be homeless and to have histories of abuse and mental illness, which
compounds the probability of criminal behavior and re-offending (Urban Institute, 2008).
Fortunately, chemical dependency treatment has been shown to reduce recidivism
(Krebs, Strom, Koetse & Lattimore, 2009).
Employment and higher wages are both negatively associated with rates of recidivism
(Economic Policy Institute, 2000). Employment provides income for basic needs,
structures daily life, reduces the temptation to use drugs or engage in criminal activity,
and diminishes the pressure to earn money through illegal means (Freudenberg, 2006).
Nationally, only 66% of male and 25% of female inmates had formal income in the
month prior to arrest. Of those, less than 13% earned more than $2,000 per month (US
Department of Justice, 2004). When released, jail inmates face many obstacles to
obtaining legitimate and stable employment, including low levels of education, limited
work history, limited vocational skills, and prohibitions against hiring workers with
criminal histories (Holzer, Raphael, & Stoll, 2004).
Poor education is a major obstacle to employment. Sixty percent of jail inmates in the
U.S. lack a high school diploma or its equivalent, yet jails are only required to provide
basic education to those less than 18 years of age (Freudenberg, 2006). Nationally, 60%
of jail inmates held less than a high school diploma and only 3% held a college degree
(U.S. Department of Justice, 2004).
An estimated 8,800 King County residents are homeless each night. Mental illness,
chemical dependency, or both are common problems among these individuals. In 1998, a
study by King County estimated that homeless individuals enrolled in mental health
services were 400% more likely to be incarcerated than housed individuals receiving the
same services (King County Dept. of Community and Human Services, 2007). This
estimate does not include the many individuals not receiving services. Nationally, it is
estimated that 14% of jail inmates were homeless at the time of arrest (U.S. Department
of Justice, 2004). In addition, many offenders find it challenging to comply with
treatment when they do not have stable housing.
According to the national Dellums Report (2006), young men of color are
disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. The report found that
young men of color face many more social and institutional obstacles in American
society than any other demographic group. King County Council unanimously passed
Ordinance 2010-0509, "establishing definitions and directing implementation steps
related to the fair and just principle of the adopted 2010-2014 countywide strategic plan."
This ordinance provides guidance on moving our work on equity and social justice from
an initiative to integrating it into the fabric of our daily work at King County.
Specifically, the ordinance challenges us to: Raise and sustain the visibility of the
countywide strategic plan's fair and just principle.
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Disconnect
from
Resources
Many jail inmates are resource poor and living near or below the poverty line.
Accordingly, many of them receive or are eligible for assistance from government
programs, including social security, supplemental security income, workers
compensation and veteran benefits. However, these benefits are terminated for inmates
depending upon their length of incarceration. This drop in financial aid support puts
individuals at increased risk for homelessness and financial desperation, in addition to a
strain on relationships and alienation from families and community support systems.
Loss of treatment and loss of access to medication increases an offender’s likelihood of
mental health or chemical dependency relapse (Urban Institute, 2008). Re-activating
benefits and restoring eligibility can take several months.
After release from jail, these problems still exist and can be complicated by disrupting
employment or services. Aside from high school equivalency education, inmates in jail have
limited access to educational opportunities. A criminal arrest or a period of incarceration may
cost an inmate his/her job. Even if an inmate is allowed to keep his/her job after incarceration,
his/her inability to work during that period results in a loss of income. For unemployed
individuals, incarceration and criminal history further limit employment options. The resulting
loss of income decreases the housing stability of a person with low income. Lastly, the stress and
trauma of the jail setting may worsen symptoms of mental illness and substance-abusing
behavior (Center for Mental Health Services, 2007; Neller, Denney, Pietz & Thomlinson, 2006).
By assisting released inmates in overcoming these obstacles, a coordinated and organized reentry
service system will help individuals achieve stability and end a cycle of criminal re-offending.
Reduced recidivism means an increase in public safety, decrease in jail overcrowding, and
lowered taxpayer burden.
Offender Reentry
‘Reentry’ refers to the process of transition from jail to the community for individuals leaving
incarceration. Successful reintegration into the community from jail requires that the released
individual obtains stable housing and employment; receives services for and works toward
mental health and/or chemical dependency recovery; and chooses not to engage in criminal
behavior. Reentry programs typically direct resources at one or more of these specific areas of
need (Council of State Governments, 2005).
Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations has been a priority in King County over many
years. The result is that King County has a strong foundation upon which a comprehensive and
well-coordinated reentry system can be built. (See the appendices for an array of existing
programs.) For example, the Adult Justice Operational Master Plan (Phase I AJOMP) was
approved by the King County Council in July 2002 in order to reduce the use of the King County
Jail by restricting utilization to higher risk populations: 1) offenders who are a public safety or
flight risk, and 2) offenders who have failed other intermediate sanctions. Outcomes of this
phase of the AJOMP included the creation of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s
Community Corrections Division (CCD) and the Community and Human Services Division’s
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Criminal Justice Initiative. Established in 2002, CCD operates a range of programs, including
Work Education Release, Electronic Home Detention, Community Center for Alternative
Programs (CCAP), Community Work Program, and Helping Hands Program. See Appendix D
for more information on CCD.
In 2003 King County implemented a range of programs and services to help people in the
criminal justice system with unmet mental health or substance abuse needs connect to treatment
services, stable housing, and other supports as alternatives to incarceration. The Criminal Justice
Initiatives (CJI) Project was created and County funding dedicated through the closure of two
county operated substance abuse residential treatment programs. Cost savings from these
closures was appropriated to the Department of Community and Human Services/Mental Health,
Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division (MHCADSD) to manage the CJI beginning
in 2003 with the following goals:
• Reduce offender-client involvement in the criminal justice system while preserving public
safety; and
• Curtail the need to build a third King County Jail venue for adult detainees.
The CJI offers effective alternatives and reentry programs for indigent and low income adult
individuals with severe mental health and/or substance use disorders who may also be homeless.
Additionally, CJI programs provide housing access and support, assistance with obtaining
publicly funded benefits, and integrated treatment for offender-clients with co-occurring mental
health and substance use disorders.
The programs target individuals with severe mental illness who are “high-utilizers” of the KCCF
and municipal jails in King County, meaning individuals with high rates of recidivism that is
exacerbated by mental illness and/or COD. In its fourth year, 2008, the CJI served 638
individuals. The programs proved successful in reducing participants’ incidence of jail bookings.
Additionally, nearly half of the participants had positive clinical treatment dispositions.
Moreover, evaluations have found that modest reductions in recidivism offset the cost of
jailbased reentry programs. See Appendix B for an overview of CJI programs. Also included in
the appendices are overviews of current reentry activities underway and summaries of the local
jails in King County.
In 2010, King County approved the King County Strategic Plan which contains several
objectives and strategies supported by this reentry plan. Under the goal to, “promote
opportunities for all communities and individuals to realize their full potential.”, there is an
objective to, “ensure a network of integrated and effective health and human services is available
to people in need.” The first strategy within this objective is to, “facilitate access to programs
that reduce or prevent involvement in the criminal justice, crisis mental health, and emergency
medical systems.” In addition, under the goal to support safe communities, there are objectives
and strategies that promote a continuum of effective diversion and alternative programs. The
Offender Reentry Plan will assist in the achievement of these strategies and objectives.
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Reentry Plan
The purpose of the Offender Reentry Plan is to outline a framework for a coordinated and
effective reentry system; identify gaps in services and develop improvements to address these
gaps; coordinate services into a seamless continuum of care; inform future policy decisions; and
position the county to receive Second Chance Act and other grant funding.
In 2008, President Bush signed into law the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) which provides
$50- $100 million annually to local and state governments for the implementation of reentry
programs for released prison and jail inmates. The goal of the act is to provide offenders with
needed services in order to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.
Offender Reentry Task Force
The Offender Reentry Plan includes the implementation of a Reentry Task Force. The task force
would consist of a diverse group of agencies throughout the region, including representatives
from:
•
Law enforcement – King County Sheriff’s office and local police departments
•
Courts – Superior Court, District Court, and municipal courts
•
Probation – District Court and municipal courts
•
Mental health, chemical dependency and social service providers
•
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
•
Public defense agencies
•
Community corrections – King County and city jails
•
Jails –Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (jail) and city jails
•
Washington State Department of Corrections
•
Jail Health Services
•
Department of Judicial Administration
•
Department of Community and Human Services
•
Executive and Council – King County Executive Office, King County Council, and
corresponding city representatives
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•
Community stakeholders
King County will designate a reentry coordinator to identify gaps in service and provide
coordinated services to offenders who have a high risk of recidivism and have re-integration
needs, such as housing, employment, health care, and mental health and/or substance abuse
treatment, that can be difficult to address.
Population of Focus
The King County Offender Reentry Plan will initially focus on the locally sentenced offender
population and those individuals held in jail on pre-trial orders longer than 14 days and released
to the community. This population is prioritized due to the higher risk nature of these offenders.
Focusing the plan on those individuals more likely to re-offend will increase the likelihood of
having a measurable effect on reducing recidivism and documenting success. Another focus of
this plan will be services and supports for particularly vulnerable populations, including women,
veterans and homeless individuals.
Offender Reentry Plan Mission
A reentry plans should be a holistic and systematic approach that seeks to reduce the likelihood
of additional criminal behavior. Beginning at sentencing and extending beyond release, the
reentry plan will assess, identify and link offenders with services specific to their needs. This will
be accomplished through associations with community partners, families, criminal justice system
partners, and victims.
Reentry means going home to stay.
Policy Goals and Objectives
The following proposed goals and objectives address important areas of need: housing,
employment, mental health, chemical dependency, access to government assistance, and broad
community-based organization involvement and support. Goals are divided into suggested
objectives, strategies and activities.
1. Improve the housing status of individuals leaving jail.
a. Reduce the number of inmates leaving jail who become homeless or reliant
upon public shelters.
b. Increase stability for marginally housed individuals leaving jail.
c. Increase the number of inmates who retain existing housing during short-term
incarcerations.
2. Improve rates of self-sufficient employment for individuals leaving jail.
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a. Increase availability of evidence-based education, job training, and vocational
programs by expanding the current vocational trainings program.
b. Increase the abilities of reentering individuals to compete in the labor market
by expanding the King County Jobs Initiative.
c. Extend high school equivalency programs to all inmates and connect inmates
to service providers in the community who can offer continued educational
opportunities and/or connections to employment.
3. Provide access to effective mental health, chemical dependency, and primary care
treatment services for inmates before and after their release from jail.
a. Increase use of evidence-based mental health, chemical dependency, and
primary care screening, assessment and treatment services in the criminal
justice system.
b. Ensure access to effective community based mental health, chemical
dependency, and primary care treatment.
4. Sustain offenders’ access to government assistance programs.
a. Increase timeliness of enrollment in government assistance programs
b. Prevent or reduce disruption in benefits for inmates as they reenter the
community
5. Improve case management systems to record baseline data on the reentering
population; store information on offender risks and needs; identify returns to
jail/rearrests; and grant access to government and community service providers to
promote continuity of care and case management during incarceration, transition, and
postrelease.
a. Support the creation of a shared data management information system
b. Support the creation of mechanisms to share data across all jails, local law
enforcement in King County, and other county criminal justice agencies
6. Increase reentering offenders’ connections to family and community.
a. Promote access to mentoring services from secular community organizations
and faith-based groups
b. Create linkages to child support assistance programs, family counseling and
family reunification services
c. Provide access to parenting classes, anger management, and other life skills
classes
d. Involve family and/or community members in the release planning process
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7. Improve offender access to basic resources and services in the community after
release.
a. Provide exiting individuals with a written release plan
b. Promote access to education opportunities for offenders leaving jail
c. Provide access to transportation to mental health and substance/alcohol abuse
treatment (through actual transportation or transportation vouchers/bus passes)
d. Provide access to clothes for job interviews
e. Provide access to food vouchers, etc
Implementation Schedule
The execution of all of the proposed goals within the Offender Reentry Plan will create a
comprehensive and coordinated reentry system in King County. The degree and speed with
which this region can achieve this system will depend on funding availability. With the support
of the Offender Reentry Taskforce, King County will actively seek Second Chance Act funding
to implement components of the plan. It is important to note that many components of the plan
are expansions and/or enhancements, as this region has an existing infrastructure on which to
build this reentry initiative.
Conclusion
The King County Offender Reentry Plan was created by a large group of stakeholders under the
leadership of the King County Council and King County Executive through King County Motion
13279. A MOTION requesting the departments of community and human services and adult and
juvenile detention along with public health, superior court, district court, prosecuting attorney,
sheriff’s office, public defender and input from local jails and community stakeholders to
develop and submit for council acceptance, a strategic plan for offender reentry from jail
facilities and community corrections programs in King County.
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Goal 1 : Improve the housing status of individuals leaving jail.
Objectives
Strategies
Proposed Activities
Expand capacity of CJI housing voucher
program.
Develop admission and eviction policies for
public housing that consider individual
circumstances.
Eliminate blanket prohibitions in public
housing against individuals with criminal
histories.
Encourage government and nonprofit housing
programs to develop housing options
accessible to people leaving jail.
Coordinate with Public Housing Authority to
adopt more inclusive eligibility criteria for
Section 8.
Leverage funding for traditional public safety
to be used in development of supportive
transitional housing.
Adopt an evidence-based assessment to
determine level of need.
Seek funding for increased number of jail
intake personnel.
Provide workshops and literature on tenant
rights and appropriate housing services.
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Ensure transition planners are familiar with the
full range of available housing options.
Improve
housing-market
family counseling and support
optionsProvide
for
services.
former inmates.
Reduce the
number of inmates
leaving jail who
become homeless
or reliant upon
public shelters.
Increase stability
for marginally
housed individuals
leaving jail.
Increase the
number of
inmates who
retain existing
housing during
short-term
incarcerations.
Leverage
existing funding
to support
housing for
former jail
inmates.
Assess at intake
the individual
housing needs
of inmates.
Educate inmates
on strategies for
finding and
maintaining
housing.
Increase family
stability for
inmates who
plan to live with
their families.
Goal 2: Improve rates of self-sufficient employment for individuals leaving jail.
Objectives
Strategies
Proposed Activities
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Goal 3: Provide access to effective mental health, chemical dependency, and primary
care services for inmates before and after their release from jail.
Objectives
Strategies
Proposed Activities
Route inmates
with mental
Build capacity of mental health courts to direct
illnessmore
to the
individuals with mental illness from jail to
most appropriate
more appropriate interventions.
and effective
services.
Increase the use
evidence based mental
health, chemical
dependency, and
primary care
screening, assessment
and treatment services
in the criminal justice
system.
Assess individual mental health needs of
inmates using and evidence-based tool.
Increase
capacity of jailbasedCollaborate
mental with RSN* agencies to provide
individual
jail-based mental health treatment.
health treatment.
Provide on-going open-door therapeutic
groups for specific mental health issues.
Ensure that jails provide access to the most
appropriate and effective psychotropic
medication.
Ensure access to
effective community
based mental
health, chemical
dependency, and
primary care
treatment.
Provide
Encourage the use of trauma-informed
culturally
interventions
appropriate
and for current and former inmates.
holistic
community
treatment.
Educate community mental health providers to
understand the psychological effects of justicesystem involvement on mental health
treatment.
Provide
Ensure that criminal history does not impede
individualized
individuals’
access to community mental
support
to
health
or
RSN
services.
inmates with
mental illness as
they reenter the
community.
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Expand capacity of Forensic Assertive
Community Treatment teams to work with
high-need jail-utilizers.
Provide inmates who have mental health
prescriptions with a sufficient interim supply
upon release.
Goal 4: Sustain offenders’ use of government assistance programs.
Objectives
Strategies
Proposed Activities
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Appendix A: King County Jail Population
As seen in Table 3, the large majority of inmates in KCCF are male, comprising 87 percent of the
jail population. At 36 percent of the inmate population and only 6 percent of the general
population in King County, African-American individuals are vastly over-represented in KCCF.
Similarly, Native American individuals are present in jail at three times their rate in the general
public. This data suggests that improving systems to reduce recidivism is not just a financial
issue, but an issue of equity as well.
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Table 3: Percentage Average Daily Population by race and gender in KCCF and general county
population, 2008
Male
Female
Total
General
Population in
King County
White / Caucasian
Black / African American
Asian-American
Native American
48%
32%
5%
2%
7%
4%
1%
1%
55%
36%
6%
3%
75%
6%
13%
1%
Total
87%
13%
(King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention) (US Census Bureau, 2008)
*Data on percentage of Latina/o inmates not available from KC Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
The majority of the KCCF population is incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Sixty-five percent
of the population is being held for non-compliance, drugs, property crime or ‘other’ offense
(King County, 2008). Table 4 lists the offenses for which KCCF inmates are being held.
Table 4:
Average Daily Population by Offense Category, 2008
Non-Compliance
Drugs
Other
Property
Assault
Sex Crimes
DUI
Robbery
Domestic Violence
Homicide
Traffic (non-alcohol)
Criminal Trespass
Prostitution
Number
Percentage
463
460
388
356
304
125
126
110
91
82
46
17
9
18.0%
17.9%
15.1%
13.8%
11.8%
4.9%
4.9%
4.3%
3.5%
3.2%
1.8%
0.7%
0.3%
(King County Department of Adult and Juvenile
Detention)
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Appendix B: King County Criminal Justice Initiatives
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Appendix C: Seattle-King County Public Health Jail Health Services
King County Correctional Facility/ Maleng Regional Justice Center
Public Health Seattle-King County Jail Health Services Re-entry
and Release Planning Service
Jail Health Release Planning addresses the issues that keep a patient returning to jail and/ or
emergency facilities by connecting patients with priority conditions to necessary community
services. Release Planning focuses on patients that are high system utilizers who often have the
highest rates of recidivism.
Priority Conditions
Adolescence
Chemical Dependency
Emergent/Chronic Medical Concerns
Pregnancy
HIV positive
Frail or Elderly
Mental Illness (chronic/acute)
Developmental Disabilities
Once a release date is established, the Release Planner and patient collaborate on a plan for
reentry back into the community. This can include setting up benefits, medical appointments,
nursing care, crisis respite, coordinating mental health and chemical dependency treatment and
linkage to community re-entry case managers.
Release Planning utilizes a client centered approach that focuses on harm reduction while using
motivational techniques. Case loads permitting, Release Planners engage with inmates over
multiple jail stays. This acknowledges the long road to recovery and need for re-assessment and
modification of a treatment plan as a patient makes progress towards their commitment to change
and need for services.
A key component of re-entry is ensuring that patients have linkages to provider(s) in the
community. Whenever possible, a direct hand-off to a community provider is coordinated so the
patient has a direct linkage to services upon release. If time does not allow for extensive service
coordination, patients are given community resource information to address their needs. This
includes resource information for employment, emergency services and shelters, housing,
medical clinics, mental health agencies, benefits, chemical dependency treatment information,
and domestic violence perpetrator and survivor resources.
While in custody, the Release Planner completes a full psycho-social assessment to assist in
identifying areas that are in need of intervention. This assessment assists in identifying the level
of symptom severity, co-occurring disorders, commitment to treatment, decision-making
processes, social skill deficits, functioning levels, interpersonal difficulties, cognitions, and
behavior associated with criminal behavior.
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Many of our patients are involved with multiple systems, and successful re-entry back into the
community requires a high level of coordination among these agencies. Re-entry also requires
making appropriate community referrals that meet patient needs, levels of functioning, legal
requirements, and motivation for treatment. Jail Health Release Planning provides re-entry
services through accurate needs assessment, coordination of care, and linkage to community
services.
Appendix D: King County Community Corrections
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Community
Corrections Division
Background
Spring of 2002 - the King County Executive, Chair of the King County Council,
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, Presiding Judge of the District Court and
Prosecuting Attorney call for the implementation of a Community Corrections operation
Working group headed by Chief Deputy of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, submitted a
plan to the Criminal Justice Council
- Plan called for Community Corrections to continue Work and Education Release
(WER) and Electronic Home Detention (EHD), consolidate offender work crews
into the Community Work Program (CWP), and establish a Day Reporting Center
Criminal Justice (CJ) Council approved plan and submitted it to King County Council for
approval
- The working group was reconstituted as the CJ Implementation Group to oversee
the implementation of the plan; CJ Implementation groups meets every other
week
December 16, 2002 - County Council passed an Ordinance creating the Community
Corrections Division
Community Corrections Programs and Services:
Work-Education Release (WER)
Electronic Home Detention (EHD)
Intake Services Unit (ISU)
Community Work Program (CWP)
Community Center for Alternative
Programs (CCAP)
Re-licensing Programs & Services
Helping Hands Program (HHP)
Re-entry Programs & Services
The Learning Center (TLC)
Community Corrections Partners include, but are not limited to:
KC Superior Court
KC Department of Judicial Administration
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KC District Court
KC Department of Community and Human Services
KC Prosecutor’s Office
United Way of King County
The Public Defender’s Office & Defense
Agencies
County Council staff representing the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee
Mission
The Community Corrections Division (a division of the Department of Adult & Juvenile
Detention) provides the court system as well as the offender with pretrial and sentenced
alternatives to secure confinement aimed at reducing the jail population, decreasing the
offender’s failure to appear rate, increasing the offender’s accountability, and reducing the
offender’s rate of re-offense.
Electronic Home Detention (EHD)
Electronic monitoring system restricts pre-trial and sentenced offenders to their home, except to
go to work, school, treatment, employment searches, medical appointments, and Court hearings.
•
Participants wear electronic bracelet
•
Participants pay intake and equipment fees (sliding scale)
Work and Education Release (WER)
An alcohol & drug free residential program where pre-trial and sentenced offenders go to work,
school, conduct employment searches or treatment during the day/evening and return to a secure
building at night.
•
Participants can participate in limited programming such as AA/NA, religious groups and
Life Skills-to-Work at CCAP
•
Participants pay an intake fee and room and board (sliding scale)
Community Center for Alternative Programs (CCAP)
Day reporting center provides various treatment & educational programs and services.
•
Participants are monitored for drug and alcohol use
•
Participants are required to attend weekly itinerary of classes and treatment
•
Services are provided without cost to the participants
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Community Work Program (CWP)
A supervised manual labor program where sentenced individuals and re-licensing candidates are
assigned to work crews throughout the county.
•
Revenue supported program
•
CWP contracts with municipalities and other government agencies to provide
landscaping services
Re-entry & Education Programs and Services
•
Re-entry Case Management Services (RCMS) provides individuals exiting the institution
or an alternative program with linkages to health, housing, and social programs and
services in the community. RCMS is operated by Sound Mental Health in collaboration
with the division and King County DCHS/ Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and
Dependency Services Division.
•
The Learning Center (TLC) is a collaboration between the division and South Seattle
Community College, a higher education institution for the provision of adult education,
general education development (GED) preparation, math and science instruction,
literacy, life skills, and computer instruction.
•
King County Criminal Justice Workforce Development Initiative is a collaboration
between King County Department of Adult & Juvenile Division (DAJD) and Department
of Community & Human Services (DCHS) to develop an integrated system of vocational
training and employment services for the criminal justice population. Key partner
agencies include King County Jobs Initiative (KCJI) and WorkSource of Seattle-King
County.
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Appendix E: Trauma-informed Care
An important consideration when thinking about holistic recovery for criminal offenders is the
fact that most inmates have experienced traumatic events in their lives that may have created
long-term behavioral-health implications. The Diagnostic and Statistical manual (DSM-IV)
defines a traumatic event as one in which a person experiences, witnesses, or is confronted with
actual or threatened death or serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others.
This includes intense fear, helplessness and horror (APA, 2000). Table 2 shows the percentage of
jail inmates with lifetime and recent experiences of trauma. Over 90 percent of inmates had
experiences of trauma, abuse or both in their lifetimes and over 60 percent had traumatic
experiences in the twelve months prior to incarceration. These experiences do not affect each
individual in the same way. However, a study of mental health symptoms in jail inmates found
that 34 percent of inmates have clinically significant traumatic stress symptoms (Drapaski, et al.,
2009).
Table 2:Jail Inmates’ Experience of Trauma
% experiencing lifetime % experiencing in last 12 months*
Witness of Violence
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse
Any Trauma
Any Abuse
65%
55%
90%
94%
93%
32%
32%
65%
65%
61%
*for those experiencing trauma in lifetime (Steadman, 2010)
Another investigation published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found a similar
percentage of its sample of inmates reporting a history of trauma, 96 percent. Additionally, 67
percent of this sample reported committing a violent act in the past year. Researchers found that
individuals with a trauma history were twice as likely as those without to have been violent in the
previous year (Neller, et al., 2006). Addressing the impact of trauma in the lives of offenders will
move them closer to recovery and improve public safety.
Over the past decade, leaders in mental health have become increasingly aware of the high
prevalence and long-term impact of trauma, especially repeated traumas. Researchers have found
that 51-98 percent of all individuals with severe mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders
have a history of trauma. Moreover, it has been found that the impacts of trauma are cumulative
over time and if left unaddressed lead to health problems including heart disease, cancer and
liver disease, as well as social problems such as homelessness, prostitution, joblessness and
criminal behavior (Center for Mental Health Services, 2007).
During the same period of time, emerging best practices and evidence-based interventions have
been developed to assist individuals in overcoming personal issues related to past trauma
(National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, 2004). These interventions and
clinical perspectives hold great promise in helping meet the recovery goals of jail inmates with
mental health or chemical dependency needs.
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As this evidence suggests, trauma is a major factor exacerbating the difficulties and needs in the
lives of jail inmates. Trauma impacts all areas of need identified by this population and therefore
must be central to a plan for improving reintegration outcomes. A trauma-informed service
system would be “one in which all components of the service system have been reconsidered and
evaluated in the light of a basic understanding of the role that violence plays in the lives of
people seeking mental health and addiction services” (National Association of State Mental
Health Program Directors, 2004, p15).
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Appendix F: Community Services Division Offender Reentry Programs
Veterans Incarcerated Program
The Veterans Incarcerated Program (VIP) reduces veteran’s use of King County and suburban
jails by seeking veterans out in jail and advocating on behalf of incarcerated veterans. The
project provides support services to overcome circumstances that may lead to misdemeanor
activities, such as unemployment, homelessness, and/or substance abuse. VIP staff can advocate
for reduced sentencing and early release. The King County Veteran’s Program (KCVP) contracts
with the Washington State Veterans Administration (WDVA) for these services providing intake,
assessments, advocacy and case management to veterans in jail. Three outcomes are measured
for this project: 1) the number of veterans achieving early jail release; 2) the jail days saved due
to veteran’s early release; and 3) the number of released veterans that do not recidivate.
Veteran’s Levy funding allowed access to VIP services to 332 veterans in municipal jails since
2007. Over 18,000 jail days were saved through the work of this program and over 87 percent of
clients achieving early release did not recidivate within one year.
Work Training Program
Youth Programs
Work Training youth programs prioritize young adults ages 16-24 for education and employment
services who are involved with the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems. We have a staff
position located at YouthSource at WorkSource Renton that is the single point of contact for both
juvenile and adult referrals. This position is jointly funded by Superior Court Community Youth
Programs and CCAP. Depending on their needs, interests and age, they are served by either one
of our youth or adult programs. We receive state and federal grants to provide services and those
vary depending on the funders requirements. Our major youth focus is young adults who have
dropped out of high school and who need a GED and further education and training to begin a
career. We encourage post-secondary training and credentials in fields that will increase their
earning power to a self-sufficiency level.
Adult Programs
The King County Jobs Initiative exclusively serves customers involved in the criminal justice
system. Account executives provide services as part of the WorkSource one-stop employment
system at both WorkSource Renton and Downtown. Customers receive assistance with job
readiness and job search as well as training opportunities in fields like Brownfields certification
which increases earning towards self-sufficiency.
WorkSource Renton is managed by King County Work Training and has an Offender Services
Team that assists offenders re-entering the community from both the King County and state
facilities. Department of Corrections has a reporting office in the WorkSource Renton building at
500 SW 7th Street in Renton. Customers have access to a variety of education and employment
services through the 12 partner organizations at WorkSource Renton.
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Career Connections at WorkSource Renton serves offenders who are homeless as they re-enter
the community and need assistance in order to obtain housing and employment at a selfsufficient
level that will enable them to support their children. Assistance with employment and further
education and training is provided as well as connection to a variety of community resources.
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Appendix G: Offender Reentry Resources
Urban Institute: Jail Reentry Roundtable Initiative
http://www.urban.org/projects/reentry-roundtable/roundtable9.cfm
The National Reentry Resource Center
http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/
Reentry Policy Council
http://reentry.microportals.net/
National GAINS Center
http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/
US Department of Justice
http://www.reentry.gov/sar/welcome.html
Washington State
http://www.doc.wa.gov/goals/reentry.asp http://www.doc.wa.gov/docs/StrategicPlan2009-2015.pdf
Oregon State
http://oregonreentry.wikidot.com/
West Virginia
http://www.wvdoc.com/wvdoc/OffenderReEntry/tabid/118/Default.aspx
Oklahoma State http://www.ok.gov/re-entry/
Marion County, OR
http://oregonreentry.wikidot.com/marion:marion
Alameda County, CA
http://www.alamedareentryservices.org/
San Francisco Department of Public Health
http://sfreentry.com/
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(DSM IV-TR), fourth edition. Washington, DC: APA.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. (2001). For people with serious mental illness: Finding
the key to successful transition from jail to the community. Washington, DC: Bernstein, R.
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Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. (2009). Lifelines: Linking federal benefits for
people exiting corrections. Washington, DC: Koyanagi, C.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (September 6, 2006). Study finds more than half of all prison
and jail inmates have mental health problems. Press release. Retrieved from:
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/press/mhppjipr.cfm
Center for Mental Health Services. (2007). Trauma – The “common denominator.” Retrieved
from http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/NCTIC/The_Science_of_Trauma.pdf
Council of State Governments. (2005). Report of the re-entry policy council: Charting the safe
and successful return of prisoners to the community. New York.
Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention. (2010). DAJD, 2010 Scorecard.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/detention/DAJD_Stats.aspx
Drapaski, A. L., Youman, K., Stuewig, J., & Tangney, J. (2009). Gender differences in jail
inmates’ symptoms of mental illness, treatment history and treatment seeking. Criminal
Behaviour and Mental Health 19, 193-206.
Economic Policy Institute. (2000). Crime and work: What we can learn from the lowwage labor market. Washington, DC: Bernstein, J & Houston, E.
Freudenberg, N. (June 27, 2006) “Roundtable: Discussion paper title: Coming home from jail:
A review of health and social problems facing US jail populations and of opportunities
for reentry interventions.” Paper presented at the Urban Institute Jail Reentry
Roundtable. http://www.urban.org/reentryroundtable/inmate_challenges.pdf
Holzer, H., Raphael, S, & Stoll, M. (2004). Will employers fire former offenders? Employer
preferences, background checks and their determinants. In B. Western, M. Patillo & D.
Weiman (Eds), Imprisoning America: The social effects of mass incarceration. New
York: The Russell Sage Foundation.
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. (2006). A Way Out: Creating Partners for Our
Nation’s Prosperity by Expanding Life Paths of Young Men of Color (Dellums
Commission Report)
King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention. Jail Statistics [Data file]. Retrieved
from
http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/detention/administration/jail_stats.aspx
King County Department of Community and Human Services. (2007). Mental illness and Drug
Dependency Action Plan. Retrieved from
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/MHSA/MIDDPlan.aspx
Krebs, C. P., Strom, K. J., Koetse, W. H., & Lattimore, P. K. (2009). The impact of residential
and non residential drug treatment on recidivism among drug-involved probationers.
Crime Delinquency 55(3), 442-471.
Morrisey, J., Steadman, H., Dalton, K., et al. (2004). Medicaid enrollment and mental health
service use following release of jail detainees with severe mental illness. Psychiatric
Services 57(6), 809-815.
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. (2004). Models for developing
trauma-informed behavioral health systems and trauma specific service. Washington, DC: A.
Jennings.
Neller, D. J., Denney, R. L., Pietz, C. A., & Thomlinson, R. P. (2006). The relationship between
trauma and violence in a jail inmate sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 21,
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Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. (2008). Life after lockup: Improving Reentry from
jail to the community. Washington, DC: Amy L. Solomon, et al.
US Department of Justice. (2004), Bureau of Justice Statistics Special report: Profile of jail
inmates 2002 (NCJ 201932). Washington, DC. Retrieved from
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/pji02.pdf
US Department of Justice. (2011), Office of Justice Programs, Reentry. Washington, DC.
Retrieved from http://www.reentry.gov
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