Re-entry ManualRe-entry Manual

A Guide for TexansA Guide for Texans

Reentry Task Force Meeting - April 20, 2010

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

We would like to thank everyone who We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback and guidance on provided feedback and guidance on this manual including Rep. this manual including Rep. McReynolds, Rep. Madden, Dee McReynolds, Rep. Madden, Dee Wilson, and Stuart Jenkins. Wilson, and Stuart Jenkins.

Fast FactsFast Facts Total TDCJ releases in 2009 (Prison, Total TDCJ releases in 2009 (Prison,

State Jail, SAFP) = State Jail, SAFP) = 72,21872,218

Of those released, Of those released, 32,70532,705 are on a flat are on a flat discharge and not under supervisiondischarge and not under supervision

54.1% 54.1% of individuals currently of individuals currently incarcerated have a sentence of 10 incarcerated have a sentence of 10 years or lessyears or less

Purpose of ManualPurpose of Manual

To aid individuals who are preparing To aid individuals who are preparing for release and those who have for release and those who have recently been released from a period recently been released from a period of incarceration with their adjustment of incarceration with their adjustment back to their communities by back to their communities by addressing such issues as housing, addressing such issues as housing, employment, community assistance, employment, community assistance, and adjustment and adjustment

Purpose of Manual, cont.Purpose of Manual, cont. Provide a comprehensive resource Provide a comprehensive resource

guide that addresses chief concerns of guide that addresses chief concerns of population including housing, population including housing, employment, and community employment, and community assistanceassistance

Focus on individuals released on a full Focus on individuals released on a full discharge who do not receive discharge who do not receive assistance from parole and who are assistance from parole and who are not being supervisednot being supervised

Layout of ManualLayout of Manual Two sections: Two sections:

Part One – Focuses on pre-releasePart One – Focuses on pre-release Part Two – Post-release resources and Part Two – Post-release resources and

informationinformation

Ten ChaptersTen Chapters Spotlight features on key successful Spotlight features on key successful

groups and programsgroups and programs Feedback FormFeedback Form

Chapter 1: Preparing for Chapter 1: Preparing for ReleaseRelease

Written by guest author Jorge Antonio RenaudWritten by guest author Jorge Antonio Renaud Formerly incarcerated individual; wanted to use his Formerly incarcerated individual; wanted to use his

experiences to speak directly to our targeted experiences to speak directly to our targeted audienceaudience

SectionsSections Reform Your Habits Before ReleaseReform Your Habits Before Release Practical Plans and GoalsPractical Plans and Goals Dealing With FamilyDealing With Family After You’re OutAfter You’re Out Asking For and Accepting HelpAsking For and Accepting Help HousingHousing Working With Your Community Supervision OfficerWorking With Your Community Supervision Officer

BackgroundBackground

Chapter 2: Getting OutChapter 2: Getting Out

Re-entry Related Legislative UpdatesRe-entry Related Legislative Updates Adjusting to the Free WorldAdjusting to the Free World Obtaining Identification DocumentsObtaining Identification Documents Child SupportChild Support Managing Money and Acquiring Managing Money and Acquiring

LoansLoans

Chapter 3: Community Chapter 3: Community OrganizationsOrganizations

Community resources include groups that provide Community resources include groups that provide direct assistance to individualsdirect assistance to individuals

May include food pantries, counseling services, May include food pantries, counseling services, rent and utility assistance, clothing, and morerent and utility assistance, clothing, and more

Resources are organized by region:Resources are organized by region: Central TexasCentral Texas Northeast TexasNortheast Texas South TexasSouth Texas West TexasWest Texas High PlainsHigh Plains

Texas RegionsTexas Regions Central TexasCentral Texas: Includes Austin, San Marcos, San : Includes Austin, San Marcos, San

Antonio, and surrounding citiesAntonio, and surrounding cities

Northeast TexasNortheast Texas: Includes Dallas/Ft. Worth, : Includes Dallas/Ft. Worth, Huntsville, Texarkana, and surrounding citiesHuntsville, Texarkana, and surrounding cities

South TexasSouth Texas: Includes Houston, Galveston, : Includes Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, South Padre, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi, South Padre, Brownsville, and surrounding citiessurrounding cities

West TexasWest Texas: Includes Big Spring, El Paso, San : Includes Big Spring, El Paso, San Angelo, and surrounding citiesAngelo, and surrounding cities

High PlainsHigh Plains: Includes Abilene, Amarillo, Wichita : Includes Abilene, Amarillo, Wichita Falls, and surrounding citiesFalls, and surrounding cities

Chapter 4: HousingChapter 4: Housing

Information about the Housing Information about the Housing Assistance Program Assistance Program (established through (established through passage of H.B. 3226)passage of H.B. 3226)

Information on public housing Information on public housing options for convicted felonsoptions for convicted felons

Regional ResourcesRegional Resources Housing resources specific to sex Housing resources specific to sex

offenders and individuals on offenders and individuals on electronic monitors electronic monitors

Chapter 5: Community Health Chapter 5: Community Health SupportSupport

Nearly all individuals released from Nearly all individuals released from prison and returning to communities prison and returning to communities across the United States have chronic across the United States have chronic health conditions that require on-health conditions that require on-going treatment. In fact, most have a going treatment. In fact, most have a combination of physical, mental combination of physical, mental health, and substance abuse health, and substance abuse conditions. conditions. (Urban Institute, “Health and Prisoner Reentry: How Physical, Mental, and (Urban Institute, “Health and Prisoner Reentry: How Physical, Mental, and Substance Abuse Conditions Shape the Process of Reintegration”, 2008, Substance Abuse Conditions Shape the Process of Reintegration”, 2008, Mallik-Kane, Kamala and Visher, Christy A) Mallik-Kane, Kamala and Visher, Christy A)

Community Health Support, Community Health Support, cont. cont.

Spotlight features on MHMR centers Spotlight features on MHMR centers throughout the state and TCOOMMIthroughout the state and TCOOMMI

Regional Resources include addiction Regional Resources include addiction recovery services, mental health recovery services, mental health services including counseling and services including counseling and therapy, low-income general health therapy, low-income general health clinics, dental clinics, HIV/AIDS case clinics, dental clinics, HIV/AIDS case management, and more management, and more

Chapter 6: Finding Chapter 6: Finding EmploymentEmployment

Your Rights Against Discrimination in the Your Rights Against Discrimination in the WorkplaceWorkplace

Workforce Development for Disabled IndividualsWorkforce Development for Disabled Individuals

The Job SearchThe Job Search

Getting the JobGetting the Job

Resumes and Cover LettersResumes and Cover Letters

Job Applications and InterviewsJob Applications and Interviews

Follow Up and Job RetentionFollow Up and Job Retention

Chapter 7: Benefits and Chapter 7: Benefits and AssistanceAssistance

Overview of available assistance:Overview of available assistance: Social Security / Disability BenefitsSocial Security / Disability Benefits

SNAP and TANFSNAP and TANF

Texas Department of Assistance and Texas Department of Assistance and Rehabilitative ServicesRehabilitative Services

Information for VeteransInformation for Veterans

Regional ResourcesRegional Resources

Chapter 8: EducationChapter 8: Education

GED preparation information and GED preparation information and resourcesresources

General financial aid eligibility General financial aid eligibility informationinformation

Regional Resources, including Regional Resources, including literacy programs, ESL courses, GED literacy programs, ESL courses, GED preparation, and morepreparation, and more

Chapter 9: Getting InvolvedChapter 9: Getting Involved Voting Information – Basic voting Voting Information – Basic voting

information including eligibilityinformation including eligibility

Civic Groups – Resources for organizations Civic Groups – Resources for organizations that encourage civic participationthat encourage civic participation

Community/Support Groups of formerly Community/Support Groups of formerly incarcerated individualsincarcerated individuals

Giving Back to Your CommunityGiving Back to Your Community

FeedbackFeedback

Includes a feedback form for Includes a feedback form for individuals who wish to make individuals who wish to make comments, changes, or share their comments, changes, or share their experiencesexperiences

Feedback is encourages as it is Feedback is encourages as it is crucial to the improvement of future crucial to the improvement of future editionseditions

ClosingClosing Questions/CommentsQuestions/Comments

For additional information, please contact For additional information, please contact Ana Yanez-Correa at (512) 441-8123 ext. Ana Yanez-Correa at (512) 441-8123 ext. 109 or 109 or acorrea@criminaljusticecoalition.orgacorrea@criminaljusticecoalition.org

You may also visit our website for You may also visit our website for additional information and updates:additional information and updates:

http://www.criminaljusticecoalition.orghttp://www.criminaljusticecoalition.org