Release plans

Sample Answer

A release plan (often called a reentry plan) is a formal, comprehensive strategy designed to assist an individual in transitioning from incarceration back into the community. It acts as a roadmap for the first several months post-release, addressing the critical barriers that often lead to recidivism, such as homelessness, unemployment, and lack of healthcare.

The Purpose of Release Plans

The primary goal of a release plan is successful reintegration and the reduction of recidivism. For the roughly 600,000 individuals released from U.S. prisons each year, the first 72 hours are often the most volatile. A release plan serves several specific functions:

Stabilization of Basic Needs: It ensures the individual has immediate access to food, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a place to sleep. Without these, the pressure to return to criminal activity for survival increases.

Continuity of Care: For inmates with chronic medical conditions, mental health issues, or substance use disorders, the plan bridges the gap between prison medical staff and community clinics.

Legal Compliance: It clarifies the terms of parole or probation, helping the individual avoid "technical violations" (like missing a meeting or failing to secure a job) that could send them back to prison.

Restoration of Identity: One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of a government-issued ID. Release plans often include steps taken before release to secure birth certificates or Social Security cards.

How Release Plans are Implemented

Implementation is a multi-phase process that ideally begins the day an inmate enters the system and intensifies as their release date approaches.

1. Assessment (Intake to Mid-Sentence)

Implementation begins with a criminogenic needs assessment. Case managers identify the specific "risk factors" an inmate faces—such as a lack of a high school diploma or a history of drug abuse. During this phase, inmates are encouraged to participate in vocational training, GED programs, or "Thinking for a Change" (T4C) cognitive-behavioral classes.