Community corrections administrators and transition planners should seek to concentrate supervision resources for each person on the first few months after his or her release from prison or jail, during which the statistical risk of re-offending is highest and connections to key services and other community linkages are especially important.

Example: Going Home Prepared, Nevada Department of Corrections

Funded by a SVORI grant, the Going Home Prepared (GHP) program provides releasees classified as serious and violent offenders with up to 12 months of intensive supervision, after which time participants step down to a less intensive level of supervision. In addition to being monitored by a parole officer, GHP participants work with a Reentry Social Worker, who coordinates linkages and referrals to service providers, and report to Re-Entry Court at least once a month. Although the GHP program officially ends after 12 months, community partners will continue to provide participants with support and treatment for as long as needed.

The period directly following release from prison or jail can be extremely difficult and stressful for people, especially if they were incarcerated for a significant period of time. Living with the rules and regulations of a correctional facility can make an individual's behavior institutionalized to the point at which it is very hard to adjust to life outside the walls. ^[1]   In addition, connections to family and community may have been eroded by geographic separation, the passage of time, or the stigma of incarceration.

The supervising officer should recognize the need for an adjustment period and tailor the supervision approach accordingly. He or she should know who plans to meet the individual upon his or her release and should be familiar with the living arrangements and appointments that the individual will be expected to keep during the first few weeks in the community. Where possible, community corrections administrators should ensure that the most recent releasees are distributed across caseloads to enable supervision officers to spend more time facilitating these initial linkages. The frequency and intensity of contact between the supervising officer and the individual being supervised may then be reduced if the individual successfully meets goals and observes the initial conditions of his or her release.