Hamilton County Office of Reentry offers programs to assist returning citizens formerly incarcerated in becoming self-sufficient.
Cincinnati Hamilton County Justice Department releases approximately 1900 prisoners yearly from confinement. The Ohio Department of Correction removes about 4000 people yearly from community supervision, probation, and parole into the general population.
Reentry from a correctional institution is difficult for the nearly 6,000 parolees returning to Ohio communities yearly. Every sentenced offender faces challenges accessing resources critical for self-sufficiency, like education, jobs, housing, and healthcare after prison. The County has programs to ease reentry for returning citizens.
Hamilton County’s Approach to Reentry
Hamilton County Corrections and the criminal justice system created the Office of Reentry (HCOR) to save money and increase public safety. The program reduces probation violations and reoffending by connecting returning citizens to resources.
Justice reform helps the prison systems and felons on probation and parole by keeping offenders out of jails and prisons. Recidivism rates in Ohio (or Hamilton County) remained at 33% for the past three years.
Hamilton County Pre-Release Programs & Services
Cognitive Behavior Intervention Curriculum is the core of the program. The curriculum equips participants leaving the prison population with skills.
The hope is to tackle criminal thinking, resolve conflicts, and make responsible choices based on solid morals. The programs and services also provide a manhood/parenting component and faith-based mentoring for well-rounded reintegration to reduce repeat convictions.
HCOR also supports the Alternative Interventions for Women (AIW), a program for female offenders in Hamilton County. The clinic offers individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders intervention and treatment to reduce reoffending.
In collaboration with the Court Clinic Program and corrections officers, HCOR engagement instills hope. The program also teaches life skills and connects program participants to community resources.
Post-Release Support and Resources in Hamilton County
HCOR collaborates with River City Correctional, Cincinnati State Community College, Beacon of Hope, and Cincinnati Works. Together, the organizations prepare women to reenter society after incarceration. The collaboration empowers women to build sustainable careers.
Funding for the project comes from public and private sources: PNC Foundation and Ohio Jobs and Family Services.
River City Women’s Correctional Facility runs a unique program where inmates can participate in supply chain classes at Cincinnati State. Upon completing the program, the participants will receive a certificate and be offered entry-level positions at Nehemiah Manufacturing.
The Economic Impact of Reentry
Housing each inmate costs Hamilton County taxpayers. Moreover, the unemployment rate in Southwest Ohio remains at record lows. The Ohio Justice and Policy Center cites economic research claiming Ohio loses $2 billion annually in GDP.
Returning citizens from detention in state prisons answers the skilled labor shortage. Limitations stemming from criminal records hinder qualified workers from securing jobs after release from prison. Even more challenging is the path for those with a felony.
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About the Hamilton County Office of Reentry
The Office of Reentry (HCOR) wants to help transition more men and women from imprisonment to self-sufficiency. Successful transitioning reduces incarceration costs and offers solutions to workforce shortages.
Evidence-based reentry prison system policies and programs enacted in Hamilton County have improved outcomes. People released from correctional facilities face significantly reduced returns to prison and jails from parole.
The programs are most effective when initiated after sentencing and before release from mass incarceration at the correctional facility. HCOR reentry coordinators have also had many successes working with people receiving support and counseling post-release.
HCOR now leads several programs and offers various services to persons. The services address pre- and post-release, including vocational programs for nonviolent offenders released from prison.
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Find Out More
To learn more about the Hamilton County Office of Reentry, call 513-946-4304 between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Learn how someone incarcerated can apply for pre-release programs by scheduling a meeting with a reentry coordinator. The office is 138 East Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Room #101.
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Cincinnati Hamilton County Office of Reentry images provided by © [cineberg] /Adobe Stock
