PRISONER RE-ENTRY PROGRAM

PSD Background Story

In 1989 a group of prisoners in New Jersey calling themselves the Prodigal Sons and Daughters foresaw a crisis of drug distribution, substance use, violent crime and mass incarceration on the rise without a proven methodology in place to combat it. While government and law enforcement were pushing for more stringent “get tough on crime” policies, PSD was constructing a system based on actual experience and empathetic to the entire scope of the social, ethnic, economic, academic and legal conditions that contribute to the present atmosphere. PSD recognized crime as much a social disease in America as alcohol and drugs

and in the spirit of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous should be treated as a psychological and emotional disorder; especially given that 3/4 of the incarcerated struggle with a related substance use, mental and/or behavioral health challenge. PSD concluded that time nor the confidence of government or law enforcement was in their favor to prove their theories, therefore they adopted a self-help philosophy, constructed a curriculum, programs and services to match the needs of the formally incarcerated and returning citizens; their families, the community and society in general. The result is a 12 week Life Skills/ Mentorship Training Program, PSD Behavioral Health, PSD Aftercare Systems and PSD Industries. All created and operated by former incarcerated individuals and Fraternal Members of PSD.

A SOUND RE-ENTRY SYSTEM

35 years ago PSD committed to the belief that a “Core Group” of formally incarcerated and returning citizens; remorseful and seeking redemption could be instrumental in relaxing the atmosphere for social acceptance over time. In writing, the group carved out a description of the first fruit of this idea.

They accessed that in each stage of qualification loses were to be expected and were necessary to set high benchmarks against failure; necessary in establishing a way or identifiable alternatives to the criminal career.

By 2005 (16 years later), the group had a satisfactory model and were prepared to present it to the public. Until that time all preparation and testing had been done in a vacuum and funded out of pocket.

Understanding society’s hesitance to embrace former offenders, PSD committed itself to embracing collaborations with established organizations. This gave PSD the opportunity to compare what their experience offered verses what had previously been the standard life skills and mentorship styles.

This firsthand experience of the psychological, emotional and sociological challenges former offenders face; in and out of prison, coupled with the lack of attention given those that remain free (1/3 do not recidivate) and go on to become contributing members of society, put PSD in position to exploit the value of this population.

From this was born the 100 Successful Formally Incarcerated Seminar and Workshop concept; which is a demonstration of the commitment of a number of returning citizens to step away from the revolving door of recidivism and teach others how to do it as well. PSD has long catered to the unique possibility of an Offender Lead Self-Help System. The experience would give PSD the data to structure a tailored program that would guide the former offender from prison to power by their own conviction and merits.

100 Successful Ex-Offender Seminar and Workshop

The objective of the 100 Successful Ex-offender Seminar and Workshop was to bring together former offenders that had transitioned and stabilized their lives with those newly released former offenders that were in the early stages of their transition. In addition, employers, family members and collaborative agencies would participate to offer support services, instruction and resources based on an agreement that the former offender’s contribution would be instrumental in the future success of the business.

If the numbers are true, that in Essex County, NJ alone, 2,000 former offenders are released to the public each year; that means on average 166 each month; 1/3 will not survive beyond 6 months and 2/3 will fall victim to recidivism (or worse) in less than 2 years. The remaining 1/3 (666.6 each year or 55.55 each month) will survive on the streets, but in questionable conditions.

PSD created the seminar and workshop as a crash course screening, monitoring and mentoring agent to determine those prepared to take the initiative toward a self-help approach; which represents the second of a three step success component, the former being self-awareness and the latter self-sustaining. PSD’s ultimate objective is to motivate, advise and assist in re-entry transition by equipping former offenders with the thinking, steps and actions that are the basic building blocks of human survival. PSD’s ultimate goal is to expand on aftercare through a lifelong commitment to a fraternity whose values are personal advancement, family and community service.

The project was adopted for 6 months, starting April 2007 and continued to October 2007. The experience revealed that an extended program of life skills and mentorship training would serve significant good in preparing former offenders mentally and emotionally for the ever-evolving demands of freedom.

100 Successful Ex-offenders Seminar Results

Month of April

55 people attended – 25 requested services

Month of May

65 people attended- 44 requested services

Month of June

70 people attended – 48 requested services

Month of July

40 people attended – 13 requested services

Month of Aug

13 people attended – 7 requested services

Month of October

42 people attended – 19 requested services

The request for services that resulted from the seminars came from ex-offenders, family members, associates and agencies. It more than justified the need for the PSD Life.

Skills/Mentorship Training Program; not simply with former offenders in mind but the people whose lives they affect, and those liable to them.

On January 1, 2008 PSD began conducting the 12 week Life Skills/Mentorship Training Program: Enrollments-72 (100%)

Graduates-36 (50% completed the course)

Reentry-16 (45% of those who completed the course were ex-offenders)

On October 1, 2008 classes began for another 12 week course and on March 28, 2009

A graduation was held: Enrollments-241 (100%)

Graduates-100 (42% completed the course)

Reentry-48 (48% of those that completed the course were ex-offenders)

Worthy Mention

The remaining graduates were comprised of citizens, some family members, friends, professionals, leaders, etc.

The 100 Successful Ex-offenders Seminar and Workshop and the first graduation were paid for entirely out of the pockets of members and the board of PSD.
By the time of enrollment of the second life skills/mentorship class the program had expanded to 12 sites including out of state (Philadelphia) and several correctional hubs.
Prior to the last Life Skill/Mentorship classes, PSD received over 400 request for registration into the program.
The Budget for graduating the second class of 100 was approximately $100,000.
At the conclusion of this filing Prodigal Sons and Daughters Redirection Services, Inc. has experienced a 0% recidivism rate among its fraternity and graduates.

The Aftercare Fraternity

The Fraternity (established membership and staff) as official representatives of the organization have had to master additional areas of organizational infrastructure qualifications such as:
- Philosophy
- Conduct
- Methodology and
- Operations
This training is essential to the expansion of the concept and practice.

The Fraternity is comprised of 5 teams of 5 members which the student graduates are divided between (20 students to each team). They supply the leads and example for the student graduates to duplicate the PSD System for acquiring what is needed to fulfill their personal goals. They are also offered the opportunity to become members should they desire to become regularly involved in the services the organization provides to the community or the growth of the organization. In either case, service to the community at least twice a month is a mandatory return for aftercare assistance over an extended period of time. For Student Graduates to become full fledge members of the Fraternity not only demands that they perform the practices taught through the Life Skills/Mentorship Training Course, they must also complete 12 weeks (1 class a week) of Membership Qualification Classes.

The past two years have been an exercise in taking “high risk” individuals, troubled families and professionals at their wits end under the philosophy and methodology of an offender conceived and lead concept of forming an “all inclusive” society within society. What is needed for the continuance of the process is for each of these graduates to continue in this pursuit of sustaining themselves to fulfill their personal goals. PSD believes that 1 year of program support is sufficient. According to statistical findings former offenders have a greater likelihood of not recidivating if they can survive the first year. We estimate the cost to be at $3,000 per year, per person to provide the intense and sustained aftercare to meet these challenges. This is a “one time” cost verses the recurring cost of recidivism ($50,000 per year).

Support Packages

The following is a breakdown of services to assist the re-entry community towards a life changing experience of being a credit to society

Sponsorship of an Individual for the 100 Successful Ex-Offender Seminar/Workshop $200
Sponsorship of an Individual for the 12 week Life Skills/Mentorship Training Program $834
Sponsorship of an individual for 1 year Fraternity Supervision $3,000
Sponsorship of a class of 10 students for the 12 week Life Skills/Mentorship Training Course $9,000 – 20
Students $16,680 – 40 students $33, 360 – 60 students $50,039 (which constitutes a year of courses).
Sponsorship of a class of 10 students for the 12 week Life Skills/Mentorship Training Program in an outside of the area location (5 miles and beyond) starts at $10,000
Sponsorship of a Chapter start up begins at $500,000 locally and includes the condition that Fraternity Members must have at least two years directorship before turning it over to locals that have met the requirements of membership.
Sponsorship of an Individual for a Basic Weekly Mentorship Package: Starting at $60 per week
Donations to the general services of the organization: $50 – $100 – $250 – $500 – $75
(Coming Soon) Other Community Packages:
Sponsorship of a 2 day, 2 night Deserving Seniors Pocono/Atlantic City getaway
Sponsorship of a 2 day, 2 night ex-offender Pocono retreat for the newly released:
Sponsorship of a 2 day, 2 night at risk youth (male) Pocono retreat for the newly released:
Sponsorship of a 2 day, 2 night at risk youth (female) Pocono retreat for the newly released:

ABCs of Prisoner Re-entry

The Objective of the Prodigal Sons and Daughters Redirection Services, Inc. ABCs of Re-entry model is to achieve the following:

To draw an effective correlation between the parties involved in the re-entry process; i.e. family, police, courts, corrections, probation, parole, social services and the community to turn the former offender into an asset that shall fulfill the true goals of incarceration.
PSD ABCs of Re-entry is designed to maximize societies return on it’s investment by using proven systems that make present and formerly incarcerated persons desire to play a productive role in the future of society.

Who Benefits from this plan?
Everyone!…..

Intervention reduces the amount of crimes committed.
Families on both sides are spared the grief and humiliation of being dragged into the criminal justice process without education.
The strain on law enforcement (police departments and courts is reduced, both in terms of workload, risk and cost).
Corrections receives high marks for reducing recidivism due to innovative and stellar “pre-entry” practices
Probation and parole are greatly assisted in the transitional phases of returning prisoners.
Social service agencies and the community based groups become the catalyst and beneficiaries of the reformed re-entry citizen who now gives back to his/her community.