INDIANAPOLIS — A pilot program that provides services to prison re-entrants will expand to all IMPD district offices this year. Called Parole Initiative, the program is a collaborative effort between IMPD, the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) and Department of Corrections (DOC) that connects parolees with links to housing, employment and other services during their transition back to the community. It was first implemented in 2013 by pairing a state Parole agent with IMPD’s Northwest District roll call site.
The on-site Parole officer is able to better monitor parolees at the roll call site by talking with beat officers who have information and intelligence from the neighborhood where the parolee lives.
“Having the presence of a parole officer in our district has given us a much better understanding of exactly who is re-entering our community and what their needs are.” said IMPD Deputy Chief Brian Mahone. “We are able to work collaboratively with the community to provide re-entrants the support and guidance they desperately need to stay on the right path and to change their lives for the better. We also involve the parolees’ families to increase the odds for success.”
DMD already administers these support services using existing federal funding. By partnering with the DOC on the Parole Initiative program, all re-entry assistance is streamlined for parolees without using additional funding. “We hope this outreach effort will make a difference in crime-ridden neighborhoods by providing a nearby, full-service assistance to re-entrants,” said DMD Grant Services Manage Julie Fidler.
For every one percent of re-entrants who do not return to the Department of Corrections on technical rule violations only (not new crimes), the City saves $1.5 million as stated in the City County Council Re-Entry Commission Report.