Reentry Initiatives

Since 2006, reentry initiatives have been an integral part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Reentry initiatives are a part of a comprehensive strategy to combat crime, reduce recidivism, and address larger societal issues. These initiatives help save federal resources and taxpayer dollars and build trust in the community.

Problem-Solving Courts

Federal problem-solving courts assist returning citizens with the multiple social, family, and logistical issues they confront upon their return to society after years in prison. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania has three courts: Supervision to Aid Reentry (STAR), Relapse Prevention Court (RPC), and Strategies That Result In Developing Emotional Stability (STRIDES). Participants in all four courts attend bimonthly sessions in open court before a judge for 52 weeks. To graduate, a participant must achieve 52 weeks of compliance. Weekly credit is not awarded if a participant fails to meet program requirements or engages in new criminal activity. Both the RPC and STRIDES programs are designed to be completed over four phases, each with distinct, achievable goals that correspond with phases of recovery and mental health treatment. Representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Reentry team, and judges meet before each court session to discuss each participant’s progress and develop plans to help them succeed.

The most unique aspect of the problem-solving courts is the group dynamic. All participants attend court as a group and are required individually to discuss their accomplishments and identify any obstacles they are encountering in the reentry process. This dialogue leads to the establishment of goals for the participant to achieve before the next court session. If the participant is not complying with the goals of the program or is violating the terms of release, graduated sanctions are imposed and explained to the entire group. Uniform sanctions are employed to foster positive changes in behavior and thereby avoid revocation proceedings.

Supervision to Aid Reentry (STAR) Court

On June 3, 2007, the Board of Judges authorized a reentry program focusing on individuals in the City of Philadelphia with a significant risk of recidivism and history of violent crime, who are likely to benefit most from the program’s resources. The program serves 30 to 40 participants at a time. The STAR program has continuously been viewed nationwide as the leading reentry program in the federal system. Since STAR's inception, only 13% of the more than 400 total participants have been arrested or revoked, a rate significantly below the district’s overall revocation rate.

Relapse Prevention Court (RPC)

Launched in October 2018, Relapse Prevention Court (RPC) is a program for individuals serving terms of supervised release with histories of significant substance use disorder. The program's goal is to maximize opportunities for long-term recovery from substance use and to facilitate the successful completion of the participant's term of supervised release. Participants are required to complete written presentations at the beginning and end of each phase and prepare a comprehensive relapse prevention plan prior to graduation from the program. Since the program’s inception, 20 participants have graduated from the program.

Strategies That Result in Developing Emotional Stability (STRIDES) Court

Launched as a pilot program in 2011 and formally approved by the Board of Judges in 2020, STRIDES (formerly known as Mental Health Protocol) is designed to address the needs of individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness as well as those with co-occurring symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse where mental health is the primary diagnosis. The program consists of a pretrial track and a post-conviction supervision track. The goal of STRIDES is to maximize opportunities for long-term mental health stability with an emphasis on treating, coaching, and building pro-social supports for the participants so that they can best benefit from effective symptom management through treatment while successfully meeting the conditions of their pretrial release or completing the term of probation.

Community Outreach

The reentry team conducts community outreach to support state and local reentry efforts and other federal districts. The team contributes to the improvement of local, state, and other federal reentry programs through training, technical assistance, and sharing best practices. This outreach helps strengthen partnerships and effectively addresses the needs of individuals returning home to our communities.

Coalitions

Reentry coalitions foster local collaboration and resource sharing among agencies, provide education about best practices, and initiate policies and programs to break down barriers for returning citizens. In 2012, the reentry team co-founded the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition. The reentry coordinators provide leadership and participate in several state and county reentry coalitions throughout Pennsylvania.

Consulting Districts

The Eastern District of Pennsylvania is recognized as a leader in the U.S. Attorney’s Office community for the innovation and success of its prevention and reentry programs. Representatives of the office regularly speak at national DOJ conferences, at trainings, and at other U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country. Districts across the country contact the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to receive assistance with establishing community outreach strategies and reentry programs.

Prison In-Reach

The Reentry team conducts prison “in-reach,” disseminating information about effective resources to staff and incarcerated people at local, state, and federal correctional facilities within the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Reentry Simulations

The U.S. Attorney’s Office hosts Reentry Simulations throughout the district and the country. The office created prepackaged reentry simulation kits to provide to community partners. The Reentry Simulation is a learning tool that provides an understanding of the significant challenges faced by people returning home from prison. The two-hour activity prompts participants to walk in the shoes of a person who has recently returned home. The simulation exercise is followed by a guided discussion about the complexities of reentry. Lessons learned in this exercise create awareness about the barriers to reentry, deepen empathy, and inspire people to make positive change in their community.