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In our RSAT program, we work up with inmates transitional plans including referrals to provide for continuity of treatment in the community but parole the does its own assessment either duplicating what we have already done or contradicting it with less knowledge of the inmates and their needs. What can we do to get parole to work with us for the benefit of released inmates?

Some of the RSAT programs regularly sit down with parole officials as well as community treatment agencies to work out a reentry and continuing care in the community.  At the Barnstable House of Correction RSAT program, one of our host training sites, a community reentry council meets every two weeks to review cases of all inmates within 6 weeks of release.  Both parole and probation are on the council as some of the RSAT inmates will be on probation for concurrent or split sentences. For those inmates who will have neither upon release, the council can only recommend follow up in the community. Otherwise, the reentry plans are incorporated into the defendant’s continuing community supervision requirements.

~Andy Klein

From a leadership /systems perspective, the way to bridge this is to make the success of the parolee or probationer the responsibility of both the prison and parole.  Literally, make this a success factor of the system that is the facility and the community together.  Especially for treatment, when both inside and outside treatment work together, you get the best results. 

~ Jac Charlier