When an offender nears his release date a case manager traditionally works with him on a home plan that outlines where he will live, plans for employment, health care and other hurdles he could potentially face.  The plan is shared with his  parole/probation agent, who takes over supervision responsibility upon returning to the community.  But the disconnect between incarceration and community supervision can often be discouraging to an offender trying to make his way in a new life.

Transition planning, also referred to as Community Corrections, brings the two disciplines together prior to the end of incarceration and the start of community supervision.  At BPRU, which houses approximately 200 males nearing their release from the correctional system, agents now meet with an offender, as well as his case manager, both 90 days and 30 days prior to their release.  

The agents use these meetings to build functional relationships with the offender so he is prepared for community supervision and understands the conditions of release.  Community supervision staff also evaluate with institutional staff what services and programs have been beneficial for the offender while incarcerated, and determine what resources an offender still needs so they can establish connections with community groups and service organizations on the outside. This continuum of care optimizes reentry efforts. 

Ernest Eley, Director of Community Supervision Support, described the transitional services model at BPRU as "indicative of Secretary Gary Maynard's vision for reentry and represents a collaborative relationship between agencies within DPSCS and Community Stakeholders, as we work to transform inmates into productive members of society."

BPRU also recently transformed a space within the facility, now called the Transitions Multi-Service Center, that can be used by external service providers to meet with offenders nearing release.  A separate classroom, built by an inmate crew under the instruction of an officer who specialized in building and rehab, is set-up with computers that have access to appropriate job application and resume building websites.

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