Creating a reentry program for incarcerated Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members had been a long-term goal for Jenifer Macove, Clinical Manager at Behavioral Health Services (BHS).

According to BHS Reentry Program Social Worker II Melissa Mathe, Macove saw a need to reduce barriers for individuals who are currently incarcerated at the Salt River Department of Corrections (SRDOC) and provide support and resources for individuals reentering the Community.

The reentry program was created by BHS in coordination with the SRDOC and was designed based on needs identified both while incarcerated and after release during focus groups with individuals incarcerated at the SRDOC.

One goal was to have behavioral health staff housed inside the SRDOC, allowing consistent programming and case management to detainees from the start of incarceration, through their release, and supported reintegration into the Community.

“Having behavioral health staff available within the Department of Corrections provides immediate support and resources to detainees, increasing engagement while incarcerated, focusing on the goal of reducing recidivism,” said Mathe.

Recidivism is the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

Reentry Outpatient Services Supervisor Hal Nevitt LCSW/LIAC, said that to reduce recidivism and create better safety within the Community, the program engages individuals, families, community stakeholders and others. This is done by utilizing prerelease planning, mental health and substance use treatment, transitional services and community supervision.

“The Reentry team and program are in place to come alongside individuals who have been sentenced to prison, to provide services, reduce stigma, provide linkage to community services and restore people to lives of meaning, purpose and value,” said Nevitt.

“Reentry actually begins upon being incarcerated, continues through the transition and includes follow-up services once the individual has returned to the Community.”

Nevitt believes that reentry services are an integral part of a successful transition from jail or prison.

“Reentry services not only positively impact the individual, but there is also an immense impact on families,” said Nevitt.

“Ultimately the Community itself is positively impacted by healthy and motivated individuals returning to their families and Community.”

The Three Distinct Phases of Reentry

• Services provided by Social Service Personnel within the jail/prison.
• The transition phase has been conceived pre-release and consists of planning for continued services upon release. Case Management services provide linkage to systems within the Community, including sober living environments.
• The community phase consists of follow-up services provided by the Journey to Recovery program, the River People Health Center and other entities to assist with mental health or substance use issues.