An Evaluation Proposal for a Reentry Resource Management Center

This study provided a county-funded reentry resource management center located in Texas with evaluative strategies to ensure the implementation of evidence-based practices and effective use of funds. This research explored recidivism within a local jail setting. The researcher performed a critical analysis of the reentry center’s existing logic model in order to operationalize elements intended to accomplish the overall mission to reduce recidivism within the county. Staff interviews provided insight into perceptions of legitimacy toward the center’s mission, respective job-related duties, and the logic model. Finally, several quantitative analyses describe the demographic- and offense-related data of the client base, as well as recidivism rates compared to the general population in the local jail. The analyses performed found that outreach efforts target parolee populations rather than individuals serving time in the local jail. While causation cannot be concluded due to the referral-based services provided by the center’s staff, individuals who become clients were rearrested less often than non-clients. The study concludes with several recommendations for expanding outreach and recidivism data access as well as incorporating client feedback to better serve unique release populations.