Designing an effective prisoner re-entry strategy requires a clear understanding of the nature of the re-entry problem in the state and locality in which the re-entry initiative will be implemented. This understanding can guide critical choices when resources are scarce, and policymakers must determine which elements of a re-entry-related initiative will have the greatest impact on the reintegration into the community of individuals released from prison and jail. Once the appropriate decision makers are convened (see Policy Statement 1, Encouraging Collaboration Among Key Stakeholders), the next step is to build a knowledge base about the people affected by re-entry, the inventory of community resources available to meet individual and communal needs and to ensure safety, and the laws and policies that govern aspects of re-entry in their particular jurisdiction. While policymakers will also need to understand the risks and needs of individuals who will face the challenge of re-entry (see Policy Statement 8, Development of an Intake Procedure) and to continually examine the effects of initiatives that they implement (see Policy Statement 6, Measuring Outcomes and Evaluating the Impact of a Re-Entry Initiative), general knowledge of the local re-entry landscape should serve as a solid foundation for establishing effective re-entry policies and practices.

Much can be drawn from the national data on prisoner re-entry that can be applied at the state and local level. (See sidebar for information on some useful sources of national re-entry data.) Such data indicates widespread characteristics of re-entry which are discussed in the introduction and throughout this Report, such as the concentration of individuals released from prison and jail in a few communities, the numerous challenges these individuals face in reintegrating into these communities, and their propensity to re-offend. A good example of how one local jurisdiction sifts through the voluminous correctional "best practices" landscape is provided by the "Best Practices Institute" of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The Institute seeks to identify and promote successful policies and programs and provide staff with the information and resources necessary to develop effective correctional practices.

Yet stakeholders strategizing a re-entry initiative should not rely solely on nationally based information. National trends mask considerable and important demographic, cultural, economic, and policy variation across states, counties, municipalities, and communities. Policymakers should be prepared to make an upfront investment in analyzing the local re-entry problem in order to design strategies that effectively align the capacity of their communities with the needs of returning offenders.

Methods of employing locally specific information on re-entry to shape re-entry initiatives may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. One effective model can be drawn from community policing: the "SARA model," which stands for Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment, can guide jurisdictions in collecting and analyzing the necessary data in order to make an informed choice of the most effective re-entry strategy.

The SARA model provides a useful context for the entire process of developing, implementing, and analyzing a re-entry initiative. The backbone of this process--and the focus of this policy statement--are the activities described as "analysis" in the SARA model. Analysis involves answering a series of questions about the state and local policy context surrounding re-entry, characteristics of returning prisoners, availability of both in-prison and community services for returning prisoners, and the geographic locations to which the vast majority of prisoners return.

While answering these questions takes time, access to data, and an analytic capacity, these efforts are central to planning and implementing a re-entry initiative. Engaging a qualified research partner (such as a college or university) to assist with these analysis activities can be extremely valuable; policymakers considering a re-entry initiative should consider partnering with researchers to develop a knowledge base as well as to collect information on the programs or policies that are implemented. (See Policy Statement 6, Measuring Outcomes and Evaluating the Impact of a Re-Entry Initiative, for more on such partnerships).

The recommendations provided in the following section provide a roadmap for building a knowledge base about re-entry at the state and local level. They emphasize understanding current re-entry policies and practices, assessing whether these policies adequately address the needs of returning prisoners, and collecting population and demographic data. Finally, this section explores the critical importance of assessing the capacity of communities to provide social services and resources to returning prisoners.