The Evidence for Prisoner Reentry

Shawnee County, Kansas, is a beautiful place to live. The home of gardens, art galleries, the state capitol, and a wealth of historical attractions, this plains region beckons for appreciation. If the national statistics hold true, though, the majority of offenders reentering the county from prison won’t have much time to enjoy it before a locked cell becomes home again. But, the success of the Shawnee County Reentry Program (SCRP) means that people leaving prison in this slice of Kansas have better chances than most.

The Shawnee County Reentry Program, a component of Kansas’s Offender Risk Reduction and Reentry (KOR3P) services, began in the spring of 2003 to help the highest risk offenders in the county reintegrate into their communities and avoid recidivism. Offenders voluntarily begin the program while still in prison. After being assessed for their specific risks and needs, they are assigned a reentry case manager who helps them create a reentry plan. Offenders take classes on topics such as job preparedness and money management while still behind bars and then receive the assistance of their case manager and a community accountability group for at least 6 months after release.

Evidence points to the reentry program’s ability to help offenders remain in Shawnee County’s neighborhoods. A 2007 Kansas University study reports that only 13% of those who completed SCRP returned to prison for crimes within a year of release compared to 22% of those in the county who did not enroll in the program. Two-thirds of people who completed SCRP found employment upon release while only 10% of those who did not finish the program found jobs. Additional numbers point to greater housing stability amongst SCRP completers. Crime-free lifestyles not only mean these people are free to enjoy the local attractions, but that the streets and shops are safer and better places for all community residents.

For more information, visit Justice Fellowship's Prisoner Reentry and Prisoner Reentry:  Barriers to Reentry issue page.