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### Empowering Successful Re-Entry for Former Offenders in Whatcom County ###

The Whatcom County Re-entry Coalition is dedicated to creating a supportive network that assists former offenders and individuals at risk to ensure their successful reintegration into the community. Comprising diverse members, including former prisoners, state representatives, and community service providers, the Coalition focuses on enhancing public safety, reducing recidivism, and lowering criminal justice costs. We strive to provide essential resources like housing and recovery services while promoting community education about the importance of re-entry initiatives. ###

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### Empowering Successful Re-Entry for Former Offenders in Whatcom County ###

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  1. Whatcom County Re-entry Coalition • Mission Statement: • To provide an efficient and supportive network • assistance for all former offenders • assistance for others at-risk • ensure their successful re-entry into our community.

  2. Who are the Re-entry Coalition members? • Just Plain Folks • Former Prisoners • State DOC Representatives • Faith Community Representatives • Health Department Representatives • Community Service Providers

  3. Three Reasons for Re-entry • SAFETY – Prevent new offenses • ECONOMIC – Lower the costs of imprisonment; reduce re-offenses • SOCIAL – Reduce the impact on victims; family; police; homeless population; etc.

  4. Re-entry Coalition Goals • Improve public safety in Whatcom County • Reduce recidivism and criminal justice costs • Reduce emergency and other medical costs • Improve community education and support in regards to “Re-entry” • Promote community prevention and early intervention activities  • Provide assistance to people in need of a second chance to be successful members of our community.

  5. Our Goal is Community Safety • Children • The Disabled • The Elderly • Others Who can be Preyed Upon

  6. Prison inmates WILL be released back to OUR community. • 650,000 Nationally • Two Thirds will re-offend • 440,000 Nationally • Whatcom County will have their share

  7. Educate the Public - Safety

  8. Why Should I Care About Prisoner Re-entry • State DOC Statistics for Whatcom County – 2007 • Only 3% of Offenders have a life sentence without parole-97% WILLreturn • 536 Offenders Re-enter Yearly • 45 New DOC Clients Monthly • 752 Offenders Under Supervision

  9. Why Should I Care About Prisoner Re-entry • W. C. JAIL BOOKING STATISTICS • 2003 4919 • 2004 5409 • 2005 5723 • 2006 5608 • 2007 8234 (Booking Restrictions Removed)

  10. Why Should I Care About Prisoner Re-entry • W.C. JAIL 2007 DETAIL • 8234 Bookings • 596 Transferred to State DOC Prisons • 167 Transferred to Federal Custody • 7126 Re-enter Our Community • 3200 On Probation-Average

  11. Drug Users, Alcoholics and other Substance Abusers WILL re-enter into OUR community. • Meet them immediately upon return • Connect them to Housing • Connect them to Recovery Groups • Connect them to Services

  12. Educate the Public - Costs

  13. What’s the cost of doing nothing statewide (DOC)? • We spend $31,600 per year,$2,633 per month to incarcerate one offender, which is over $1,200 a year per taxpayer. • Over 18,000 offenders are currently incarcerated in Washington State. • Over 42,000 offenders are on some form of Department of Corrections supervision. • We are currently exceeding our prison capacity by over 1,600 beds per day. • Nearly 1,000 Washington State offenders are being housed in four other states

  14. The cost of doing nothing statewide (DOC), cont’d? • There are six major prison expansions underway in Washington State that, upon completion, will provide an additional 3,000+ offender beds at a cost of over 1 Billion dollars and then over 9 Million dollars additional per year for operating costs. • Research-based projections: by the year 2017 the Department will be short an additional 4,000 beds.

  15. How do you want to spend your money? • Incarcerate offenders repeatedly at $31,600 per year OR • Restore the offender to the community as a working taxpaying contributor.

  16. These people are our sons; daughters; fathers; mothers; aunts and uncles etc. • They will be residents of our community • Reach out to them long before release • Build relationships • Re-establish their sense of community • Build mentor teams • Follow up with them

  17. If there is no housing for them, they WILL go Homeless! • Housing is the key to successful re-entry • People need safe, warm, dry shelter • Support requires stable housing • Follow up & Support require an address • Homelessness leads to despair and hopelessness

  18. If they are Homeless, they WILL re-offend!!!!! • Homeless offenders are inclined to “act out” and commit violent crimes • Commit a crime and get “Three Hots and a Cot” • Homeless Sex Offenders have no hope

  19. Let’s find housing for these folks! • Reduce the chance of re-offending • Use the state HGAP funds wisely • Model after success in Hennepin County Minnesota • Model after success in Portland Oregon

  20. The Re-entry Coalition IS working with service providers to find Housing for them. • Connect with the Homeless Service Center • Work with local DOC officials • Connect with Landlords • Connect with Housing Agencies

  21. The Re-entry Coalition IS working with service providers to find Services for them. • Connect with State Service Agencies • Connect with County Service Agencies • Connect with Faith based Agencies • Connect with Veterans Agencies

  22. The Re-entryCoalition IS working with WorkSource and employers. • Connect with WorkSource • Build Employer list • Follow up with Employers • Connect with Training Programs

  23. We need your help-Volunteer Opportunities • Speakers for our Speakers Bureau • Liaisons with Community Service Organizations • Training Team Members • Housing Locators • Transition Coaches

  24. Volunteer Training Program • Your safety is paramount • A comprehensive classroom and on-line training program is used • Position Descriptions for volunteer positions are used for clarity • Manipulation, Harassment and Boundaries are emphasized

  25. Volunteer Participation • An opportunity to participate with other committed people • Work in teams with folks that love to collaborate • Give back to your community from your gifts and experiences • Help stop the insanity of re-offense

  26. You can also help by: • Identifying Landlords • Identifying Employers • Identifying Sources of Funding • Finding Volunteers

  27. Recidivism – Cycle Back to Prison/ Jail • National D.O.J. stats 80% • WA State DOC stats 43.2% • Spiritual Relationship 12%

  28. What about Sex Offender Recidivism? • National D.O.J. stats 5.2% • WA State – S.O.T.P. stats 2.9%

  29. Sex Crimes Against Children • Only 15% of all Sex Crimes • Only 2.25% against children not known to the offender • Therefore 85% of offenses to children are to those known to the offender

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