SVORI

SVORI Grantee: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
SVORI website	None
Data management system	SVORI participants can be flagged in PA DOC database. PA DOC, parole, and community corrections all have their own databases. Data transfer is not automated. Community-based service providers are responsible for collecting much of the service data on SVORI participants for PA DOC.
Local evaluation planned	No

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections	Erie, PA Reentry Project (EPRP)
TARGET POPULATION

Population type	Male and female adults
Number of targeted prisoners	201+
Inclusion criteria	Ages 18–35; eligible for parole or reparole (i.e., inmates completing maximum sentence not eligible); have a minimum release date or reparole date on or before August 31, 2005; individuals with highest LSI-R scores and repeat offenders given priority for selection
Exclusion criteria	None
Pre-release facilities	Statewide adult prisons; all participants transferred to Albion (males) or Cambridge Springs (females) secure correctional institutions prior to beginning SVORI programming
Post-release faclities	Erie County
Participation	Entry is voluntary. However, once offender agrees to participate and enrolls in program, program participation and completion become a special Condition of Release.
Legal release status	All participants are on parole or re-parole

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections	Erie, PA Reentry Project (EPRP)
PROGRAM ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES

Steering committee	Statewide Reentry Steering Committee and three formal subcommittees
Post-release reentry autority	Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP)
Number of phases	3

Phase 1: Institutional Phase

Duration:

3–6 months

Assessments:

LSI-R assesses needs and risk of reoffending; TABE assesses English, math, and reading skills; TCU assesses alcohol and/or drug abuse and dependence; PACT assesses institutional risk to determine the amount of management that will be needed for offender

Components/services offered within phase:

	Case management by Community Service Specialist (CSS) from sole-sourced community service provider, Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC)
	Integrated case management by Transition Team, which comprises the EPRP Project Director, the CSS, the Corrections Counselor, the Institutional Parole Representative, any pertinent program staff, and the Mentor, when designated
	Transition Team works with offender to develop an Individual Strategic Plan (release plan)
	Formal mentoring programming
	Reentry workbook for participant to track goals, services, and program completion
	Supervision and accountability monitoring by Corrections Counselor
	CSS engages offender's family in reentry planning process and links participant and family to community resources
	Community Orientation and Reintegration, a two-week course addressing employability, spirituality, alcohol and drugs, and money management
	Specific targeted services include, as needed, education, employment skills/vocational training, community work program, substance use treatment, mental health counseling, parenting and family counseling, support groups, medical services, sex offender treatment, batterer intervention, violence prevention, victim awareness, anger management, citizenship, character development, Thinking for a Change (cognitive therapy), religious services, and faith-based activities

Coordination of services:

	CSS, from community-based service provider, to coordinate services
	Institutional Transition Team to facilitate service coordination

Phase 2: Transition Phase

Duration:

Average is 60–90 days

Assessments:

Readministration of the LSI-R, as appropriate; random urinalysis and breath alcohol testing

Components/services offered within phase:

	Participant paroled to Community Corrections Center; CSS and Mentor transition with participant
	Primary case management by CSS; integrated case management by Transition Team (CSS, Center Counselor, Parole Agent, GECAC Project Director, and any pertinent program staff), who work with participant to develop Prescriptive Program Plan
	Intensive supervision and accountability and compliance monitoring by Community Corrections Center and Parole Agent
	Rewards for compliance include personal time away from the Center, later curfews, and furloughs to an approved site
	Continued use of reentry workbook
	Specific targeted services include, as needed, education; employment skills/vocational training; substance use treatment; mental health treatment; family reintegration/reunification; services for family members; housing assistance; transportation to service providers; support groups; sex offender treatment; batterer intervention; anger management; time management, money management, and good citizenship skills development

Coordination of services:

	CSS to coordinate services and Transition Team to facilitate service coordination
	Subcommittee involvement facilitates building of linkages in community and connections to resources
	Statewide Steering Committee responsible for resolving interagency policy issues or procedural conflicts

Phase 3: Aftercare

Duration:

Up to 2 years from the date the participant enters the Community Corrections Center

Assessments:

Re-administration of the LSI-R, as appropriate; random urinalysis and breath alcohol testing; Self-Sufficiency Scale to assess the participant’s progress toward becoming self-sufficient

Components/services offered within phase:

	Participant released to community
	CSS and Mentor transition with participant
	Case management by CSS
	Intensive supervision and monitoring by Parole Agent
	Participation in PBPP’s Parole Reentry Program as a step-down from the Community Corrections Center
	Services and programming include (as appropriate) education; employment skills/vocational training; other employment services; inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient substance use treatment; mental health treatment; services to address family’s reintegration/ reunification needs; parenting skills training; housing assistance; transportation to service providers; support groups; mentoring
	Transition Team has ultimate authority to approve participant’s discharge from program

Coordination of services:

	CSS coordinates individualized long-term aftercare services
	Subcommittee involvement facilitates building of linkages in community and connections to resources
	Statewide Steering Committee responsible for resolving interagency policy issues or procedural conflicts

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections	Erie, PA Reentry Project (EPRP)
CHANGES EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF SVORI FUNDING

System-level changes
	Contracting with one community-based vendor (GECAC) to provide case management and coordinate services in all phases, greatly enhancing continuity of care
	Addressing gaps in post-release services such as housing assistance
	Allocating project-specific parole agent to supervise participants in community
	Using statewide and community-level committees to facilitate interagency collaboration and communication
Individual-level changes
	Contracting with one community-based vendor (GECAC) to provide case management and coordinate services in all phases, greatly enhancing continuity of care
	Addressing gaps in post-release services such as housing assistance
	Allocating project-specific parole agent to supervise participants in community
	Using statewide and community-level committees to facilitate interagency collaboration and communication