Tennessee Department of Correction has released positive news surrounding public safety in the state. The latest data shows the recidivism rate for offenders released from TDOC facilities is now at its lowest level in more than a decade. For the first time, the recidivism rate has dropped below 30% and is currently at 29.6% for individuals released from a state prison in 2019. TDOC measures recidivism by the criminal acts that result in re-arrest, re-conviction, or a return to prison within a three-year period after release.
Commissioner Frank Strada said the data demonstrates that TDOC is significantly bending the curve and reducing recidivism through the use of evidence-based programming, a validated risk and needs assessment tool, and criminal justice reforms that promote public safety.
Commissioner Strada also credited TDOC’s valuable partnerships with private, nonprofit, and community organizations with helping to make a real difference in the lives of returning citizens by providing support services across the state.
One of these partnerships is with GEO Reentry Services. The Tennessee Department of Correction selected GEO Reentry Services to deliver community-based reentry programs designed to reduce recidivism among parolees and probationers under the supervision of the department. Nearly 5,000 parolees and probationers receive programming annually through this service agreement. Placement in the evidence-based programs is based on a validated risk/needs assessment and are designed to help participants lead successful lives by identifying and addressing their specific needs.
In Tennessee GEO Reentry delivers in-person and evidence-based online reentry services, including:
- A technology-based program option allows participants to complete online courses through a self-directed curriculum. Available 24/7, the self-directed option takes up to four months to complete. This is designed for participants living in rural areas.
- A traditional reentry services program option is also be offered. This includes in-person reporting at one of Day Reporting Centers and a number of District Probation / Parole offices. These sites are located in populated areas and include in-person reporting for evidence-based treatment and training, supplemented with remote programming made possible by phone and videoconference systems.
To implement these two program options, GEO Reentry partnered with Vant4ge, an online software and content firm, MaxxContent, a digital content firm, and American Community Corrections Institute, which develops online courses for justice-involved adults and juveniles.
For several years, Tennessee officials have focused on reducing pressure on crowded prisons, reducing high incarceration costs, and facilitating successful reintegration in the community. Tennessee passed the Public Safety Act of 2016, which called for the development of Day Reporting Centers and Community Resource Centers as alternatives to incarceration by placing eligible participants in structured and intensive outpatient programs. By shifting more individuals to community supervision, the state sought to better align the risk level associated with justice-involved individuals with the appropriate supervision, reducing the $79 daily incarceration cost and engaging individuals in productive reentry reintegration efforts.