Prisoner Reentry

The Prisoner Reentry program is a statewide initiative that helps participants successfully return to their communities by assisting with housing and employment. Their success allows them to make restitution to the community, volunteer for community projects, and pay any child support they may owe, which all adds up safer communities. Prisoner Reentry is an example of how policy changes in Lansing can make a difference to residents of Northwest Michigan, when they are locally governed and practiced.

Prisoner Reentry is a cooperative effort led by the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. The membership of the local steering team, which guides the program for ten counties in Northwest Michigan, includes prison and parole management, directors of local community agencies, and other community leaders. Their strategies deliver evidence-based programming to returning citizens in northern Michigan.

 

Our Vision

The vision of Prisoner Reentry is that every inmate released from prison will have the tools to succeed in the community. With encouragement and support from professionals and volunteers in our communities, successful Prisoner Reentry participants transform their lives by contributing to the lives of others.

 

Our Mission

The mission of the Prisoner Reentry is to keep communities safe by reducing the frequency and rate former prisoners return to prison. We do this by implementing a seamless plan of services and supervision developed with each prisoner - delivered through state and local collaboration - from the time of their entry to prison through their transition, reintegration, and aftercare in the community.

 

Our Goals

The goals of Prisoner Reentry are to: 1) Keep communities safe by reducing the threat of harm to persons and their property by former prisoners in the communities to which those offenders return; and 2) Increase success rates of former prisoners who transition from prison by fostering effective risk management and treatment programming, accountability, and community and victim participation.

 

Our Results

During the first five years, Prisoner Reentry has reduced the recidivism rate of Prisoner Reentry participants statewide. Before Prisoner Reentry, one out of two former prisoners returned to prison within the first three years after their release into the community. After Prisoner Reentry, that rate has dropped to one out of three.