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The Reentry Deputy
After selecting the participants,
we then focused on the role of a
reentry deputy in the program.
The staff selection of this position
required an intense vetting process.
The program needed a staff mem-
ber who was highly organized and
personable, and could interact in
a highly professional manner with
outside entities. The position also
required the staff member to be
security conscious in consideration
of the direct classroom contact with
the program participants.
The reentry deputy would also
be required to establish working
relationships with potential employ-
ers, essential narcotic and alcohol
rehabilitation centers, community
housing centers, and any nonprofit
entities willing to assist the partici-
pants upon release. Fortunately for
the program, the selection process
was a tremendous success. with their decision-making skills. cation. And 76 participants obtained
The new reentry deputy took It is beneficial for participants to employment upon release.
complete ownership of the task at have someone on whom they can Although numerous participants
hand, and the Career Source staff rely and who can serve as a positive were able to enter blocks of instruc-
collectively developed the program influence. This also helps to bridge tion, not all of them could complete
curriculum, then spent countless the gaps between the participants the entire block due to release.
hours carefully selecting the pro- and law enforcement. However, the most significant
gram participants. By attending The deputy’s job does not stop statistic produced from the program
Chamber of Commerce functions, at the point of release. The deputy was the 2% recidivism rate of those
various job fairs, and visiting local continues to monitor the released who participated. The resulting
businesses, the deputy also estab- participants’ progress through numbers provided a true testament
lished and solidified the necessary contact with their employer and to the hard work and dedication of
community contacts who would be follow-up phone calls to each par- everyone involved in the reentry
willing to participate in the pro- ticipant. And if needed, the deputy program.
gram. However, performing com- continues to provide guidance. On
munity outreach was only a portion many occasions, the reentry deputy When the community learned
of the job duties for the reentry receives calls from released partici- of our success rate, local media
deputy. pants to discuss their progress and outlets contacted our agency’s
public information officer. They
Inside the jail, the reentry deputy to express their appreciation for wanted to visit our facility in order
assisted each program participant, time spent in the program. to conduct interviews with program
and worked in conjunction with staff and chronicle the program’s
local healthcare providers and Tremendous Success achievements. And we authorized
behavioral centers to provide neces- The reentry program for the our successful program participants
sary assistance and a continuity of Hernando County Detention Center to return as guest speakers to help
healthcare and medications for each was a tremendous success. By the encourage and motivate par-
participant upon release. Mentoring end of the two-year grant, the pro- ticipants—and to demonstrate that
is another important aspect of gram not only met all grant require- former inmates can prosper.
preparing participants for reentry. ments—it exceeded them. From a
The deputy spends time counseling total of 100 participants enrolled in The success of the first pro-
the participants and discussing the the program, 50 participated in the gram invariably generated further
different life choices that could aid CPT course and received the certifi- interest from the Pasco Hernando

AMERICANJails MAY | JUNE 2021 | 11