DISMAS CHARITIES, INC. (KY PROFILED – ALSO GA, FL, MI, NM, TN, TX)

Program Description
Dismas Charities is a nonprofit provider of residential community corrections. Founded in 1964, the organization operates 19 programs under contracts with the Bureau of Prisons and several state and local correctional institutions. Dismas Charities maintains programs in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Texas, with two support offices in Oklahoma and Washington, D. C. Dismas Charities works not only to house former prisoners, but also to provide a wealth of services designed to ease a former offender's transition back into their communities. (Note that Dismas Charities is a different organization from Dismas House, which is discussed next in this report.)

One of the beliefs established long ago by Dismas Charities is to insure the dignity of all individuals and that all individuals are entitled to be treated with respect and compassion. Dismas Charities also believes that effective programming is the most important factor in fostering the thinking and behavioral changes required for former offenders' successful reintegration with their families and communities. In order to address their diverse needs, Dismas Charities tailors its programming to the individual.

Programming is provided in a non-judgmental environment and stresses respect for the law and each other, compassion, balance, choices, consequences, and cooperation. During the initial orientation process, newly released prisoners are made aware of the expectations Dismas Charities will place on them and what pograms it offers. At the same time, professional counselors work with individuals to develop plans to help them reach their goals. Some of the aspects of the reentry plan include being accountable, attending life skills and substance abuse classes, maintaining a clean living environment, completing assigned work duties, maintaining good conduct, and performing community service.

Program Goals
The goals of Dismas Charities are to reduce recidivism and provide support for former offenders.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
An integral part of the Dismas Charities approach is the interagency team model. Staff from Dismas Charities, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the U. S. Probation Office are all vested with the same mission in working with the offender. With this dedicated team of practitioners, the former prisoner can be sanctioned appropriately and can come to respect the process of the law. In addition, each of the Dismas Charities facilities throughout the nation maintains an ongoing community advisory board. The board is made up of a variety of individuals from the community, including corrections and law enforcement professionals, elected officials, average citizens, and community action agency representatives.

Outcomes
Dismas Charities reports a 9.9 percent recidivism rate, noting that a formal third-party outcome evaluation is welcome.

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