New Leaf-New Life

To learn about the program click here.

To learn how you can volunteer click here.

To download inmate Intake Forms Click here.

To contact Tania Karnofsky, Director - Transition Program click here.

Monroe County Corrections Center

 Transition Program Background:

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The Monroe Corrections Center (MCC) has an average population for 250 with 244 of those being processed into the housing areas of the Center (2003 data). Housing inmates up to 18 months, pre or post trial it is a facility where transition is inherent in the organizational environment. For many of the inmates in the MCC, their present stay is not the first one. As in the criminal justice system in general, recidivism is a problem here to. The MCC is a part of the greater Monroe County Community and as such the inmates face while incarcerated and upon release problems that are prevalent for the general population.

Among those factors affecting are:

• High housing costs
• High unemployment specifically for ex felons and people with disabilities.
• Low wages mostly from service positions.
• Virtually no manufacturing industry asides from Cook and Baxter that mostly do not hire people with a criminal background
• Abundance of students willing to perform part time low salary employment for a short period of time.
• Limited public transportation, enabling limited access to potential jobsites.

In addition the University which s the largest employer in Bloomington does not tend to hire people that have had a criminal background thus eliminating a major source of employment.

Transition:

A process or period in which something undergoes a change and passes from one state, stage, form, or activity to another?Encarta Dictionary.

Transition is as stated a central factor in jail life. By definition the jail is not a permanent residential placement. Keeping in mind the goals of the criminal justice system, Effective transition is an extension of effective jail service resulting in lower recidivism.

To create a transition process demands creating a gradual continuum from life in jail to life in the community: from previous life outside the law to life inside the boundaries of the law, from external controls experienced in jail to internal controls, from external provision of needs to self sufficiency.

The program:

By providing access to transition counselors, trained in the following subjects successful transition could be achieved through:

1. Service Navigation, connection to government and private agencies providing needs the inmate has while incarcerated and after release. These services could be: Social Security, Family and Children’s Service, Mental Health services, Bureau of Motor Vehicles etc.
2. Job-links: including Job development, resume writing, skills assessment, interest evaluation, job market analysis, interview skills, etc.

3. Financial pre-planning including income analysis, debt analysis, child support issues and Pre benefits counseling for Social security disability recipients.

4. Housing issues such as connection to shelters, subsidized housing programs, private landlords

5. Educational planning in conjunction with local institutions and the local school system, including monetary aspects of school

6. Assistance with family issues including, spousal employment, programs facing family members and dependents due to incarceration and changes necessary towards release.

 Program Partners:

The program will be hosted and led by the Monroe County MCC in its facility. Partners in the program will be WorkOne, South Central Workforce Development Service Disabilities Program Navigator, and Area 10 agency on the Aging Joblinks Program, Shalom Community Center, and New Leaf - New Life.

 Program operation:

According to the amount of volunteers accessible, in addition to paid staff from WorkOne service will be provided one on one in the MCC. A Trained transition counselor will receive inmates upon demand. The counselor will formulate a transition program incorporating the supports needed from the list.

 After a plan of action is prepared, a copy of the proposed program is forwarded to the MCC commander or anyone appointed by him for approval. It is important that the transition process and intervention does not in any way collide with MCC policies or other security measures as regarding the inmates.

 The transition process will then continue on a regular basis through meetings between the counselor and the inmate through paperwork, assessments, job-hunting, etc.

 Upon release the transition counselor will continue to meet the ex inmate proceeding with the transition process until the need subsides. The Transition counselor will cooperate with parole and probation agencies to ensure success in immersion in the community.

Logistical needs:

1. The counselor and inmate will need a place to meet with relative quiet even though it does not demand complete privacy.
2. The Counselor will need timely entrance to the MCC
3. The counselor will need opportunity to pass forms to be signed and other documents in a timely and effective way.
4. The counselor will need a liaison among MCC staff to communicate concerns and needs.

Proposed Timeline:

• November 2005- Formulation of Program and signing of MOU’s.
• December 2005 Volunteer recruitment and training.
• January 2006 Initiation of Program.

 

 

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