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Albany County Reentry Task Force
The Albany County Reentry Task Force is a DCJS grant funded program. The mission of the Task Force is to increase public safety and to reduce recidivism by developing a strong reentry system that emphasizes evidence-based principles and approaches to addressing the criminogenic needs of formerly incarcerated individuals.
Quick Facts:
- Focus of initiative/program:
- Children and Families
- Education
- Employment/Job Training
- Housing
- Law Enforcement
- Mental Health
- Mentoring
- Physical Health
- Substance Abuse
- Task Force / Coalitions
- Case Management Services, Child Support Services
- Inititative/program name:
- Albany County Reentry Task Force
- Year Established:
- 2008
- Lead agency/organization name:
- Albany County Department of Mental Health
- Population served by initiative/program:
- Returning from local jails
- Returning from prison
- Not under community corrections supervision
- Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
- Adults
- Men
- Women
- People convicted of a violent offense
- People convicted of a non-violent offense
- Gang members
- Sex offenders
- The focus is on high risk offenders returning from incarceration but we serve all individuals who seek assisstance
Downloads
Albany County Reentry Task Force
Contact:
Diane BuoniAlbany County Reentry Coordinator
Albany County Department of Mental Health
Phone: 518-447-4555
260 South Pearl St
Albany, New York 12202
diane.buoni@albanycounty.com
www.albanycounty.com/mentalhealth
Albany County Reentry Task Force
Initiatives and Programs
- Focus of initiative/program:
- Children and Families
- Education
- Employment/Job Training
- Housing
- Law Enforcement
- Mental Health
- Mentoring
- Physical Health
- Substance Abuse
- Task Force / Coalitions
- Case Management Services, Child Support Services
- Inititative/program name:
- Albany County Reentry Task Force
- Lead agency/organization name:
- Albany County Department of Mental Health
- Funding sources for initiative/program:
- NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Grant
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
Funding
Partners in the reentry initiative/program
| Informal Agreement | Formal Agreement (e.g., a written contract or an MOU) with this partner. |
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| Community- and faith-based services providers: |
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| Education and training providers (e.g., local public school officials, vocational instructors): |
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| Health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers: |
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| Housing officials: |
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| Institutional corrections (e.g., DOC, jail, prison): |
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| Law enforcement agencies (e.g., police, sheriff's office): |
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| Members of the community (e.g., people who have been incarcerated, their families or neighbors): |
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| Other criminal justice agencies (e.g., prosecutors, judges): |
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| Work force development and employment agencies (e.g. business associations, unions): |
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Participants
- Population served by initiative/program:
- Returning from local jails
- Returning from prison
- Not under community corrections supervision
- Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
- Adults
- Men
- Women
- People convicted of a violent offense
- People convicted of a non-violent offense
- Gang members
- Sex offenders
- The focus is on high risk offenders returning from incarceration but we serve all individuals who seek assisstance
- Total number of people who have participated in initiative/program to date:
- Information is being gathered. Albany County Department of Mental health took over the Grant in January of 2010
- Total number of people currently participating in initiative/program:
- Between Jan and December of 2010 we facilitated treatment referrals and services for more than 286 individuals
- Total number of people who can be served at one time:
- The Task Force Caseload can accomodate 35-40 individuals at one time, but referrals and treatment linkage are made for anyone who contacts us requesting assistance.
- If your initiative/program serves people under community corrections supervision, how does your organization work in partnership or work in collaboration with participants’ probation or parole officers?
- We have a Case Review Committee made up of representatitves from Parole, Probation, DOCS, community service providers,Legislature,case managers and the Department of Social Services. The Reentry Coordinator works closely with the Re-entry field PO; as well as, facility PO's to implement service plans prior to individuals being released from incarceration and to continue to monitor individuals once they are released into the community.
Data Collection
- Does your organization collect demographic data on participants?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- We are just starting to collect demographic data which will be incorporated into our outcome measure reports.
- Does your organization collect data about the process of your initiative/program?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- Currently the Reentry Coordinator collects data pertaining to the number and source of referrals, treatment compliance, Relapse Prevention Groups attended, and outcome measures. Albany County is in the process of setting up a computer data tracking system that will provide outcome measures based on housing, substance abuse history, mental health history, domestic violence history, treatment compliance, family supports, employment, education. This data tracking system will also include demographic information.
- Does your organization measure and/or track the outcome of participation?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- The NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) are tracking this type of information. Since Albany County did not have a Reentry Coordinator in 2009, no clients were accepted during that time period. DCJS will release their findings after the Task Force has been operating (with cases) long enough to capture relevant statistics.
Activities
- What, if any, activities does your initiative/program include for people while they are incarcerated and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
- Albany County participates in In Reach efforts in NYS prisons to distribute pamphlets and information packets containing resources available to those returning to Albany County from State prison. The Reentry Coordinator, along with the Task Force Case Managers, participate in all Initial and Final Service Plans for inmates at the Hudson Correctional Facility who will be returning to Albany County.
- What activities does your organization engage in post-release and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
- Albany County offers Case Management services for those considered to be at high risk of reoffending or violating Parole Conditions. The Albany County Reentry Task Force mandates all those on the Task Force caseload to attend a 6 week Relapse Prevention Program (offered by the Albany County Department of Mental Health)and to participate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; which is now part of our Case Management program.
- How are people placed into your program?
- Referral The Albany County Task Force accepts referrals from the NYS Department of Corrections, the NYS Division of Parole, Albany County Probation Department. community agencies, family members, incarcerating men and women returning to Albany County, and formerly incarcerated individuals residing in Albany County.