Rebuilding Lives. Strengthening Communities.

Solution
Connections to community-based treatment upon release
reduce the likelihood of recidivism and relapse. So the
adequacy of discharge planning and integration of
community services can have critical public health
implications.
Effective health planning for prisoners’ return to society,
specifically connecting them with community services,
would greatly increase their chances of receiving medical
care post-release. Prisoners should leave with scheduled
follow-up appointments to a community-based health
care provider; a case manager assigned in the community;
medication to cover the gap before medical benefits are
obtained; a copy of their prison medical summary (or
records); assistance with completing applications for
medical benefits; and connections to other reentry
services. Community providers and families (along with
correctional staff) should be included in pre-release
planning meetings, and IDOC should develop a comprehensive
discharge summary for all prisoners leaving an
IDOC facility.
In North Carolina, for instance, every prisoner has the
name, address, and phone number of a provider and an
appointment already scheduled prior to release. They are
released with an adequate supply of medications to sustain
them through the transition from prison to the onset of
community-based services. 44 Rhode Island has forged a
partnership between the corrections department and local
health departments as well as numerous communitybased
providers of housing, substance abuse and related
services. Two-person teams are organized to develop
treatment plans prior to release and then “track and trace”
individuals back in their communities. An infectious
disease specialist offers follow-up care after release.
Participants see the same medical providers promoting
continuity of care. And transportation assistance to
medical appointments is provided. 45
Discharge planning, and the requisite case management
that accompanies it, demands additional staff, time and
resources. These tasks require extensive coordination of
correctional staff and community agencies to link and
manage service delivery across systems and agencies.
Although an expensive undertaking, the State should
maximize the investment made in pre-release
substance abuse treatment, mental health care and
medical care, and dedicate staff and funding for adequate
discharge planning and post-release follow-up.
“We know formerly incarcerated
individuals aren’t getting continuity
of care, because most end up right
back in jail shortly after they are
released to parole.”
Dr. Carl Alaimo
Director and Chief Psychologist, Cermak Health Services’
Mental Health Division, Cook County Jail
INSPIRATION FROM THE FIELD:
CORRECTIONS AND
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IN
ILLINOIS
The Corrections and Community Initiative,
launched as a demonstration project in 1999 by
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and
the Human Resource Services Administration
(HRSA), matches specially trained case managers
with HIV-positive prisoners and includes
frequent clinic visits and small caseloads. Prior
to release, case managers prepare HIV-positive
prisoners for their reentry by providing them
access to public benefits, medical services, food
and nutrition programs, housing alternatives,
job training, substance abuse treatment, mental
health programs and other services. Over the
first five years of the initiative, 675 individuals
qualified for and received services. Based on
preliminary evaluation results by the
Community Mental Health Council, recidivism
rates have been less than 30 percent for
program participants.
Sources: http://www.sph.emory.edu/HIVCDP/ILL.htm; Rev. Doris
Green, (Director of Community Affairs, AIDS Foundation of
Chicago), presentation, Chicago Mayoral Policy Caucus on
Prisoner Reentry, September 22, 2004.
MAYORAL POLICY CAUCUS ON PRISONER REENTRY
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