Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Plan (MCORP)
Steering Committee Meeting
March 1, 2005
9:00 AM – Noon
Facilitating Paul Herman, Center for Effective Public Policy
Attending
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Susan Allan
Jeri Boisvert
Lynda Boudreau
Chris Bray
Clark Dyrud
Dave Ellis
Amy Roberts
Jeff Shorba
Jim Schultz
Cherie Shoquist
Doug Stang
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Absent Luis Brown-Pena (Jim Schultz attending in his absence)
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Welcome
Commissioner Fabian opened the meeting with a thank you to everyone for their willingness to give their time, energy, expertise, and agency resources, to address the issue of offender reentry in Minnesota. Working together, we can positively impact the success rate of offenders leaving prison; 95% of all offenders now incarcerated will be returning to the communities that we live in. While Minnesota does well in comparison to other states, 1/3 of all offenders released do return. Governor Pawlenty believes this is an important issue and supports our making this a priority. Corrections is ready to put the necessary resources into this initiative and welcomes the perspectives and ideas that will come from the work of the Steering Committee.
Chris Bray introduced a 15-minute video by the Missouri Department of Corrections on the Missouri Reentry Project (MRP). The video emphasized the effects of failed attempts at reentry on the children of offenders and on public safety, in general; successful reentry to the community has a positive impact on breaking the intergenerational cycle of crime and imprisonment.
Overview of Reentry Initiative
As a result of short-term technical assistance from the Center of Effective Public Policy (CEPP), Paul Herman will be assisting in the beginning stages of committee work. Paul works out of Missouri, although CEPP is located in Washington DC; Paul worked for the Missouri Department of Corrections for 28 years.
Discussion points during presentation (PowerPoint slideshow, with handout):
q DOC-only solutions have not succeeded in the past
q Studies show that substance abuse treatment that is parallel inside and outside of the prison increases the rate of success [of offender reentry] by 28%
q Traditionally, corrections has not hired and trained community supervision staff who are success-oriented (speaking in general, not targeting MN)
Contributions of Steering Team Members
Participant
/ Individual Contribution / Agency ContributionSusan Allan / § Experience in Illinois DOC
§ Worked on CriMNet (collaborative)
§ Process-oriented / § Offenders incarceration time can be a resource
§ Community supervision agents
§ Investment in doing this right – reduces recidivism (translates to $$)
Jeri Boisvert / § Passion for the work
§ Personal experience
§ 30 years of working with DOC initiatives / § Creative staff who care
§ $$
§ Significant support from leadership
Lynda Boudreau / § Background in family dynamics
§ Experience as a legislator
§ Interest in problem-solving efficiency / § Multiple programs are impacted
§ Connection to county structure
§ Willingness to improve & progress
Chris Bray / § 30 years corrections’ experience
§ Commitment to success
§ Likes to “get things done” / § Strong commitment from the executive team
§ Will provide support to the committee
Clark Dyrud / § 30 years working with vet benefits
§ Has relationships with agencies
§ Curiosity / § Knowledgeable about all vet benefits
§ Contacts throughout the state
§ Works with other agencies already
Dave Ellis / § Community knowledge
§ Dreaming
§ DOC knowledge / § System commitment
§ $$$
§ Offenders
Amy Roberts / § Multi-state agency experience
§ Prosecutor experience
§ Experience as legislative staff / § Staff with grant experience
§ Well-established statewide relationships
§ Emphasis on accountability
Jeff Shorba / § Experience as DOC Assistant Commissioner
§ Federal Bureau of Prisons
§ Board member for halfway house / § Authority/ability to get things done
§ Present in all 87 counties
§ Already doing innovative things focused on individual needs
Jim Schultz
(for Luis
Brown-Pena) / § Has worked with DOC
§ Has links to resources
§ Assessment & job placement experience / § 50+ workforce centers
§ Source of labor market info
§ Can offer tax benefits to employers
Cheri Shoquist / § Experience as legal aid attorney
§ Experience working with multiple agencies on housing
§ Holistic effect and fairness
§ Connections with providers / § Housing experience and resources
§ Interagency task force on housing
§ Planning and resources (1,000 of the 4,000 homeless targeted were released from some kind of facility)
Minnesota Experience
Dave Ellis shared the highlights of a three-day, multi-agency training on building collaborations focused on sustaining reentry efforts beyond the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) grants. The creation of this steering committee was the mission identified by the participants in the Washington DC training. The participants highlighted community involvement as critical to their vision of a successful endeavor. (Details available on handout.)
Stakeholder Analysis
Generally, committees such as this one (at the policy-making level) are expected to:
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§ Lead
§ Guide
§ Direct
§ Manage
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Discussion regarding whether and when to add additional steering committee members focused on:
q What structure will help us get to where we want to be?
q When should we bring in community partners?
ü To best get the work done
ü To get buy-in for implementation
q How do we decide who those partners should be?
q How do already-established agency workgroups fit in?
ü Transition Provider Network – DPS
ü Transition Coalition – DOC
ü Ending Long-Term Homeless in Minnesota - DHFA
ü Local/county collaborative/communication structures
It was agreed that we’re not ready to make these kinds of decisions until we do some of the steps necessary to build a solid, healthy working team. After development of the mission/vision and roles/responsibility development, we’ll be better able to work on decisions regarding structure, community involvement and engagement, and who needs to be at the table.
In response to an inquiry about long-term commitment to the project, Paul said that while implementation of the strategies will be ongoing, to identify the processes and engage those involved in implementation should take approximately 12 – 18 months. It will be dependent on how accessible the data is, and how well we work together; much of the work of identifying best practices is available and will help us focus on identifying specific needs in Minnesota based on what the data tell us.
Next Steps
It was determined that a one-day training session for the next meeting would be more easily accomplished because of the legislative session. Susan will contact members regarding the potential dates of March 28 or 29, or the week of April 18 –22.
The group decided that ongoing meetings are best scheduled for Tuesday mornings, from 9:00 AM – Noon, at the Department of Corrections. The following proposed dates avoid scheduled holidays:
May 24 4th Tuesday of the month
June 28 “ “
July 26 “ “
August 23 “ “
September 27 “ “
October 25 “ “
November 15 3rd Tuesday of the month
December 20 “ “
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