Page 54 - 2018 NJDOC Annual Report

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Department of Corrections • 2018 Year in Review
Division of Programs &
Community
Services
Services
The The Office of Educational Services
Services
is is is responsible for ensuring that all all available available funding funding is is is allocated distributed and utilized There are numerous major funding funding sources available available to the office: Direct State State Appropriations State State Facilities Education Education Act Act Title Title I I I I Neglected and and Delinquent IDEA-B Carl D D D D Perkins Vocational Education Education Act Act Act and and Title Title II Workforce Investment Act Office of Transitional Services
In an an an an effort to to reduce the the the the risk of of of recidivism and increase the the the the likelihood of of of an an an an inmate’s successful reentry into society the the the the the the NJDOC created the the the the the the Office Office of of of of of Transitional Transitional Services
Services
Services
The goal of of of of of the the the the Office Office of of of of of Transitional Transitional Services
Services
Services
through the the the the correctional institutions’ Social Services
Services
Services
Departments is to to implement a a a a a a a a a a a a a seamless continuum of of of of of care for offenders offenders utilizing cost- efficient well-proven behavior behavior science practices system-wide to to to increase offenders’ abilities and their motivation to to demonstrate responsible crime-free behavior behavior Through intensive evidence-based programming offenders are provided with the the tools necessary to to to become productive members of of of the the community The Office of of of Transitional Services
has also developed partnerships with federal state and local agencies to to to to create linkages to to to to resources that provide support support to to to to offenders offenders Intense transition support support in in in the pre-release phase of of of an an offenders’ incarceration is is critical to to to to ensure his or or or her successful reentry into the community The Office of Transitional Services’ Correction Offenders Reintegration Programs (C O O R P ) include:
• • Thinking for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a Change (T4C) – T4C T4C is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a cognitive behavioral program endorsed by the National Institute of of of of Corrections as
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a best practice approach for for reducing recidivism The goal of of of of of of the the the the program is is is to effect change change in in in in in in in in offender offender offender thinking so offenders offenders can change change their behavior It assists offenders offenders in in in in in in in in in in breaking the the the the the cycle of of of of of incarceration by teaching them how how how to to to to think think before they react how how how to to to build positive positive relationships and how how how to to to think think about things in in in in in a a a a a a a a a positive positive way In 2018 892 participants enrolled in in in in in T4C of which 88% percent completed the program Successful Transition and Reentry Series (STARS) – STARS STARS is a a a a a a a a a a a a release preparatory program designed to to address each major reentry barrier faced by the returning offender Topics include employment housing transportation education family reunification and finances STARS assists offenders offenders in in fin in in in breaking the the cycle of of of incarceration addresses possible barriers associated with the the the reentry process teaches offenders offenders offenders how to to to build positive family relationships prepares offenders offenders offenders to to to join the the workforce and and helps to to to develop effective problem-solving communications and and life skills It also provides offenders offenders with vital resource information for for services in in in in the the community In 2018 1 1 270 participants enrolled in in in STARS of which 88% percent completed the the program