Using Community Support to Ease Reentry

• In Event: Returning Home: A National Movement

Abstract

The University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute and the Hamilton County Ohio Office of Reentry have been partnering on a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) sponsored Smart Reentry grant to implement an evidence-informed approach called Effective Practices in Community Support for Influencers (EPICS-I). The approach identifies those people in an ex-offender’s life who want to help them stay out of trouble and trains them in core correctional practices. Identifying, engaging, training, and coaching with these individuals has proven challenging. This paper will highlight the challenges the implementation team has faced and the strategies that have proven successful in addressing them. Implications for easing ex-offender reentry through prosocial support systems will be offered.

Authors

• Carrie Sullivan, University of Cincinnati

• Ian A Silver, University of Cincinnati