Maryland Reentry Roundtable Collaborative

Monday, September 16, 2019

Call to Order and Welcome Address (10:00 am to 10:30 am)

Overview: Participants will receive instructions about the day, hear greetings from the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) and other dignitaries, and hear an overview of the theme, purpose, and intended outcome of the event.

Keynote Address

Vision for Reentry in Maryland (10:30 am to 11:00 am)

Overview: Participants will hear remarks from Secretary Rob Green regarding his vision for reentry in Maryland.

Morning Plenary

Session 1, Preparation for Reentry Intake, Risk Assessment, and Data Sharing (11:00 am to 11:45 am)

Overview: Prisoners and returning citizens have a significant need for services that are often provided by local governments, non-correctional agencies, community organizations, and other informal networks. Therefore, these stakeholders must be part of the reentry strategy if each intends to seamlessly address the needs of impacted citizens. Creating and sustaining collaborative partnerships among correctional agencies and nontraditional partners at the state and local level, can improve access to the data needed to facilitate reentry. The panel discussion focuses on preparation for intake, risk assessment, and data sharing.

Issues:

• How are the risks and needs, plus educational and vocational assessments collected at intake used for reentry preparation inside Maryland correctional institutions?
• How can reentry organizations share data (prearranged by the zip code) about prisoners being released to their communities, and reentry providers, to better prepare and assist with reentry?
• How can reentry providers better communicate with prisoners and correctional personnel regarding the agreement to provide reentry services?

Afternoon Plenary

Session 2, Reentry Preparation for Prisoners (12:15 pm to 1:00 pm)

Overview: Traditionally, prisons see their primary role as safety and security behind the walls. As a result, correctional agencies are less concerned with prisoners after release. Parole or post- release supervision agencies see their role beginning once a person is released from incarceration, not before. Despite the distinct need for education, recovery, and employment-related services, funding for such has a low priority given the fiscal demands of incarceration and government generally. The panel discussion focuses on reentry preparation for prisoners.

Issues:

• Are rehabilitative services offered during incarceration sufficient to match the assessed needs of prisoners?
• How can Parole and Probation better assist in reentry preparation considering the assessed risks and needs?
• Considering the demographic trends of corrections in Maryland, how can reentry systems be improved or better designed?

3. Breakout Sessions

Session A, Nuts & Bolts: Designing an Individual Reentry Plan (1:15 pm to 2:00 pm)

Overview: Imagine exiting prison after 20 years finding the world different than once known. That is the experience of someone coming out of prison after serving a lengthy sentence. The session focuses on the composition of an individual reentry plan.

Issues:

• What is the composition of an individual reentry plan?
• What is included for youth, men, women?
• What is missing for the populations above?
• How can families, communities, and faith-based partners be better supported to help an individual during this stage of reentry?
• How can funding be provided at this stage of reentry?
• How has the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) made a difference at this stage of reentry; what parts of JRA still need to materialize?

Session B, Transitioning: How to Implement an Individual Reentry Plan (1:15 pm to 2:00 pm)

Overview: To develop and implement an individual plan, stakeholders must build formal partnerships with state and local agencies, non-profit and community organizations, and other stakeholders to sustain engagement and ownership. The benefits are evident for individuals with criminal backgrounds. Implementing a reentry plan makes communities safer, healthier, and economically viable. This session focuses on implementation.

Issues:

• What are the challenges obtaining feedback about an individual’s progress from other providers when many stakeholders are involved in the implementation?
• What has the experience been for youth, men, women?
• What are the specific challenges for the populations above?
• How can families, communities, and faith-based partners be better supported to help an individual during this stage of reentry?
• How can we provide funding at this stage of reentry?
• How has the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) made a difference at this stage of reentry; what parts of JRA still need to materialize?

4. Breakout Sessions

Session A, Measuring Success (2:15 pm to 3:00 pm)

Overview: Reentry practitioners may struggle with how to measure the results and impact of their initiatives. The expectation and obligation to funders and communities to measure performance are clear. Yet, finding the capacity and resources to measure outcomes may require support from other agencies and organizations. Measuring success allows program administrators and policymakers to gauge progress reaching goals but also areas for improvement. Program evaluation data ensures the sustainability of reentry initiatives. This session focuses on measuring success.

Issues:

• What are the appropriate metrics of success?
• How significant is the individual’s voice when evaluating progress (self-actualization)?
• How does success differ for men, women, and youth?
• How can families, communities, and faith-based partners be better supported to help an individual during this stage of reentry
• How do we provide fund at this stage in reentry?
• How has the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) made a difference at this stage of reentry; what parts of JRA still need to materialize?

Session B, Post Reentry (2:15 pm to 3:00 pm)

Overview: People reentering society after incarceration face a myriad of challenges, including limited education and job skills, employer bias, and limited social networks that can offer legitimate job opportunities. Citizens may return to communities with very few jobs available. Common sense presents the question: how can one expect a formerly incarcerated person to earn a living wage and participate as a productive member of society without second change opportunities? This session focuses on overcoming post-reentry challenges.

Issues:

• What are the collateral consequences and the impact of incarceration for women, men, and youth?
• What are the specific challenges as it relates to race and ethnicity?
• What is the significance of expungement and certificates of rehabilitation, and the experience in Maryland?
• How can families, communities, and faith-based partners be better supported to help an individual during this stage of reentry?
• How do we provide funding at this stage in reentry?
• How has the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) made a difference at this stage in reentry; what parts of JRA still need to materialize?

Wrap Up

Session 5, Report Out (3:00 pm to 3:30 pm)

Overview: Breakout session facilitators will brief the entire event on the insights and solutions developed in their respective sessions.

Issues:

• Nuts & Bolts: Designing an Individual Reentry Plan (Session 3a)
• Transitioning: How to Implement an Individual Reentry Plan (Session 3b)
• Measuring Success (Session 4a)
• Post Reentry (Session 4b)

Reporting Framework:

• What to change?
• What to change to, preferably?
• How to change?

Closing Remarks (3:30 pm to 4:00 pm)

Overview: Participants will hear final remarks and a call to action from the MAJR and take a brief survey to provide feedback about their experience at the Roundtable.