vision 20/20

Pasadena/Altadena Reintegration Council

Flintridge Center is doing important work in reducing recidivism in men and women who are coming out of the prison system. They really see that every life matters, and that we have a choice to make when people are coming out of that system: to trap them in that rotating cycle by not giving them opportunities, by not giving them a chance. Or we can understand that there is a humanity and a worth to what they have to offer to be a contributing citizen and a valued member of our society. This kind of inspiring work is what Flintridge Center excels at.
Julianne Hines, District Director, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino

Formed in 2010 and coordinated by Flintridge Center, the Pasadena/Altadena Reintegration Council is a collaborative effort to develop a network of local service providers and public agencies able to meet the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals who are returning to our community. The multi-sector coalition includes the Pasadena Police Department and more than two dozen partners comprised of community-based, faith-based, philanthropic, business, civic and educational organizations.

The Council’s goal is to help the formerly incarcerated turn their lives around and keep them from re-offending. However, the risks of recidivism are high as these individuals face significant challenges. Upon release, prisoners are given $200 and sent back to the communities where they were sentenced, most with few skills and little means of support, many with mental health and substance abuse issues. Finding stable housing and a job with a steady paycheck can be difficult, and the temptation to return to criminal life is strong. Approximately 70% of those released are convicted of a re-offense within three years. Not only is public safety impacted, but repeat offenders strain the resources of law enforcement and the courts as the costly cycle of incarceration continues.

Rehabilitation Services – An Effective Solution

One of the Council’s key activities is organizing and conducting monthly orientations where the formerly incarcerated can learn firsthand about available support services and job opportunities. The PACT (Pasadena/Altadena Community Team) meetings were originally conducted by the Pasadena Parole Office. But after the Parole Office lost its funding, the Reintegration Council assumed responsibility for continuing the events. The Council conducted a SWOT analysis to identify strengths and service gaps. Tattoo removal, dental care and case management services to help individuals deal with the many barriers to reentry were found to be needs that hadn’t been addressed.

Since then, the Council has expanded the PACT orientations into a one-stop community resource fair that includes a free lunch and door prizes. Attendees can gain access to multiple service providers offering housing, health services, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health counseling, tattoo removal, assistance with child support issues and securing a driver’s license. There is even on-site HIV testing. In addition, the Council worked with the Pasadena Police Department to create an informational brochure listing local resources. By linking ex-offenders to a comprehensive support system, the Council is playing a key role in helping them make a successful transition back into the community.

Case Management Support

Flintridge secured a grant from the Ahmanson Foundation to support case management services for 45 ex-offenders who are Pasadena residents. The services are provided by Friends Outside (Los Angeles County), an organization that specializes in jail-based and reentry assistance. During the critical post-release phase, the case manager meets frequently with each client to help him/her meet basic needs (housing, food, shelter, health, etc.). When the client’s situation stabilizes, employment assistance is offered by a job specialist. This involves one-on-one counseling to improve soft skills, a job readiness workshop and assistance in obtaining and keeping employment. Case management services typically last six months, although Friends Outside staff are available for follow-up support for up to one year after a client finds employment.

New Challenges for Communities

Comprehensive referral and rehabilitative services will be needed more than ever now with the passage of A.B. 109, the Public Safety Realignment bill. The bill shifts responsibility for convicted low-risk offenders and parolee supervision from the state to the counties. Starting in October 2011, some 44,000 low-risk offenders will be released over two years to reduce California’s overcrowded prison population. Los Angeles County is slated to receive approximately one-third of the returning prisoners, a higher percentage than any other county in the state. The LA County Probation Department has been selected to supervise rehabilitation efforts and will receive state funding for a year. Because realignment will add 10-15,000 more ex-offenders to the department’s caseload, the looming challenge for municipalities is that if returning prisoners aren’t connected to the services they need, there will be an increased public safety risk and added burden for local law enforcement.

Support is Needed for Coordinated Reentry Services

The Reintegration Council is stepping up to the plate by strengthening and expanding the San Gabriel Valley’s safety net of service providers. However, given these difficult economic times, many providers are already stretched to capacity. New funding will be critical to cover the costs of coordinating, as well as meeting the needs for increased services. But compared with the costs of incarceration ($47,000 a year per prisoner) and the added public safety concerns, the price tag for effective reentry services is significantly less and can help stem the cycle of repeated crime and incarceration.