Criminal Justice Reentry Programs in Durham County and Orange County, North Carolina: An Exploratory Case Study

An overwhelming majority of incarcerated people in the U.S. eventually return to their communities, but many are unable to successfully transition into productive and self-sufficient citizens. In order to prevent recidivism, it is important for former offenders to have access to services that help them combat and overcome obstacles to successful reentry. Reentry programs provide a wide range of services, such as vocational skills, connection with employers, housing, and treatment for those with substance use disorders, among other things. State and local governments provide some services, but many jurisdictions rely on community-based organizations to fill in service gaps. In North Carolina, community-based organizations administer reentry programs. The North Carolina Department of Corrections’ Office of Transition Services Transition and Reentry Model expects that as individuals reenter society, they will have “involvement with mentors and local community support networks, gainful employment and self-sufficiency,” (NC Department of Corrections Office of Transition Services, n.d.). This is an exploratory case study intended to examine how well local service providers align their programs with state and federal recommendations and also seeks to identify areas where public policy can improve the effectiveness of those local providers. Interviews with and surveys of local service providers will help answer those questions.