U.S. Department
of Justice
Reentry
The goal of reentry programs and reentry courts is to help returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society following their incarceration. Effective programs reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and save money.
Whether someone has been incarcerated for one year or twenty, the return to his/her neighborhood can be challenging. It is critical that returning citizens have the necessary resources to prevent them from returning to criminal activities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Massachusetts participates in a variety of reintegration programs:
Federal Reentry Courts
Court Assisted Recovery Effort (C.A.R.E.)
The District of Massachusetts offers the Court Assisted Recovery Effort program: "Defendants serving terms of supervised release or probation with a significant substance abuse history may voluntarily enroll in the program subject to the approval of the Probation Officer... The C.A.R.E program aims to assist a supervisee in establishing a sober, employed, law abiding life in an effort to promote public safety, to more effectively use Probation's treatment resources and to promote rehabilitation. C.A.R.E. is a treatment program in which participants earn rewards of various types with their successes or consequences/sanctions for misconduct or failure to perform."
Reentry: Empowering Successful Todays and Responsible Tomorrows (RESTART)
The principal goals of the RESTART program are to reduce recidivism and promote successful community reintegration while maintaining public safety. RESTART is focused on men and women returning to their communities who are designated as being at high risk for recidivism. Participants attend a weekly support court session involving all court parties, including the RESTART Judge. Participants are encouraged to develop and achieve goals and to participate in relevant treatment and educational programs. All RESTART participants also participate in MRT - a manualized cognitive behavioral therapy group proven to reduce recidivism.
RESTART is designed to provide additional structure and support to participants during their first year of supervision, the time when they are at greatest risk to fail. After successful completion of 52 weeks in RESTART, participants earn a year reduction in their term of supervised release. Learn more at the R.E.S.T.A.R.T. page of the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of Massachusetts site.