The good work of our day reporting centers continues to garner positive attention in their communities, as The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pa. chronicled the success of the Cambria County DRC in this excellent story.
As the story points out, the Cambria County DRC is reaching its goal of helping reentrants change their mindsets and behaviors. A June 2015 study found that only 18.6 percent of DRC program graduates were re-arrested for probation violations or other crimes, a figure which is below the Pennsylvania state recidivism rate.
To date, the Cambria County DRC has graduated 205 reentrants. The center normally averages 60-70 individuals at a time. In March, the program, which is generally targeted at non-violent individuals who are considered at high risk of recidivating, expanded to include those who are awaiting trial or sentencing. Successful work in the day reporting center can have a positive effect on a reentrant’s eventual sentence.
Individuals in the Cambria County DRC program take classes and work with counselors for six days a week. The program includes job training classes, sessions with mental health professionals to determine the root causes of criminal behavior and cognitive training to help reentrants re-shape their thought processes.
The program, which is constructed around evidence-based practices, includes extensive testing for drugs and alcohol, as well as reporting requirements. Failure to adhere to program rules can result in a range of penalties, including more frequent testing, stricter requirements and re-incarceration.
If all goes well, reentrants can usually graduate between nine months and a year after enrolling. A woman quoted in the Tribune-Democrat story expressed gratitude for the center, which she reports to, and said “it really is here to help.”
It’s always gratifying to read positive coverage from local press, as our day reporting centers work hard to forge strong relationships with their communities. We know our programs can only succeed if we get buy-in from our communities and the police departments within them, and good journalism can go a long way toward telling the success stories that abound at every one of our DRCs.