The program planning model described in this policy statement is directed towards people whose term of incarceration is sufficiently extensive to allow for a nearly month-long process of intake and referrals to programming options. Local and county jails, which have high population turnover rates and generally far shorter terms of incarceration, present serious challenges with respect to program planning. For this population, the goal shifts from program planning to a more immediate connection between individuals and community-based service providers. Even when a person is only briefly incarcerated, however, corrections employees may generally assess him and provide him with referrals.

Example: Hampden County Correctional and Community Health Program, Hampden County Correctional Center (MA)

The Hampden County Correctional and Community Health Program focuses on health care needs of inmates living with HIV/AIDS, but does not restrict its services to long-term inmates. Significantly, about one-third of Hampden County inmates stay in jail for three days or fewer, and another third stay for 4 to 90 days. Even those who are only routinely examined, however, can obtain medical services through the corrections/provider networks. The flow of information and patients is facilitated by use of electronic medical records and pharmacy systems and by the proximity of the contracted community health centers to the Hampden County Correctional Center.

To make these timely connections, some organizations have learned to think creatively and even move beyond the traditional programming plan model, offering social services whenever and wherever they can reach offenders.

Example: Center for Employment Opportunities, Rikers Island (NY)

Given the transient population at New York's Rikers Island institutions, the city of New York has funded a jobs creation program offering immediate work and immediate pay for individuals released from jail. Run by the Center for Employment Opportunities, the program meets offenders at the moment of their release, even ferrying newly released offenders from Rikers Island directly to work sites scattered across the city. The city program has two tracks, a two-week track and a six-week track (for those with the least work history). During the program, newly released inmates work four days a week, with one day of job counseling. The goal of the program is time job placement, and an aggressive outreach program identifies and engages employers willing to hire program participants for such positions.