Unlocking DOORS™ of Dallas, Texas

A National Problem
Local governments are faced with escalating costs for maintaining public safety and a host of other serious problems such as homelessness, drug addiction, mental health, disability, veteran issues, chronic illness and emergency medical care. Texas is the largest criminal justice system in the United States, with 85,000+ individuals returning from prison/state/county jails to our Texas communities annually. Historically, the community-based offender programs throughout the State are limited to those offenders on probation or parole supervision.
And despite the existence of some well-established programs to help meet certain reintegration needs, these programs have not coordinated their services to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts; nor have the individuals themselves had one place to go to help access these services as part of a comprehensive reentry plan. It was to meet this need, first in Dallas County, but now statewide, that Unlocking DOORS™ was formed.
Unlocking DOORS’™ Nationally-Unique Reentry Delivery Model
Recognizing the interlinking relationships among the various parts of the criminal justice system, Unlocking DOORS'™ nationally-unique model spearheads a paradigm shift in the delivery of reentry services by fostering a "community-based" cooperative/collaborative effort to address this historically complex problem. This model embraces a systematic approach to a compendium of ideas, practices and programs that improve response time.
Unlocking DOORS™ seeks to create and promote a safer more productive society by revolutionizing reentry service delivery to former offenders through individual and community empowerment, education and engagement.
Statistics show that more than 4 in 10 offenders will return to state prison within 3 years of their release, and, that 77% of offenders will return to prison within 5 years of their release because they are not equipped with the tools necessary to successfully reenter free society. This has caused local governments to face escalating costs for maintaining public safety and a host of other serious problems such as homelessness, drug addiction, mental health, disability, veteran issues, chronic illness and emergency medical care. Exacerbating successful reentry is the overrepresentation of people with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse issues within the criminal justice system. Given the daily influx of offenders attempting reintegration into our communities, it is vital to our society’s long-term safety, well-being and future that we provide the necessary assistance to help make their reentry and their future one that is clear from further involvement with the law. Without this guidance, many of these individuals will reoffend (recidivate), costing taxpayer dollars, increasing the crime rate and destroying the chances for a healthy and productive society.
As Founder, President and CEO of Unlocking DOORS™, Christina Melton Crain Esq. has dedicated her career to improving all aspects of the criminal justice system. Crain is the former Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice – the oversight board for the incarceration, parole and probation of Texas adult felons; being the first and only woman ever to lead the nine-member board, with a Texas state prison named in her honor: The Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Christina’s unique experience allowed her the opportunity to see first-hand the gap which has existed far too long in the system – the absence of a seamless, cohesive and coordinated transition track for individuals reentering free society after involvement with the criminal justice system; as well as the lack of raw on-the-ground data to factually demonstrate true recidivism analytics and predictive trends for use in building a smarter, more effective system of reentry. Unlocking DOORS™ was created to close these gaps. And, in the short seven years since the organization’s founding, Christina has witnessed the transformative affect Unlocking DOORS™ has had on former offenders when they are connected to the services they desperately need in a comprehensive and collaborative manner, as well as the communities in which they reside. By giving individuals a second chance, Unlocking DOORS™ is improving lives, cutting crime rates, saving tax payer dollars, and strengthening communities. The benefits to our communities are endless.
Through its nationally-unique model, Unlocking DOORS™ is revolutionizing the delivery of reentry services to former offenders through community empowerment, education and engagement. Unlocking DOORS'™ model uniquely focuses on the client's "individual" needs through an innovative, highly-coordinated continuum of care approach that fully engages the client and the community. By empowering the client to take an active role in mapping his future, the client's outlook changes: he begins to appreciate the Model's comprehensive and collaborative approach; becomes personally aware of the resources (and, agencies) available and willing to assist him; thereby, making him more committed to his role in achieving success. He feels hopeful, secure, confident, happier and healthier; increasing the likelihood that he will find a future of self-sufficiency that is crime-free.
This innovative delivery method ultimately eases the burden, both financially and physically, on the criminal justice system, empowering societies to flourish by solving issues locally in a comprehensive manner. Unlocking DOORS™ accomplishes its mission through the following three (3) primary areas:
1. COMPREHENSIVE PRE/POST-RELEASE CLIENT REENTRY BROKERAGE™ - EMPOWERING, EDUCATING AND ENGAGING CLIENTS
(For individuals 18 years of age or older with a criminal background (incarceration) not required; only a criminal record)
Provides former offenders wishing to successfully reintegrate into free society “reentry navigation services” that include client and local community empowerment and engagement in the delivery of reentry services. By empowering, educating and engaging the client to take an active role in mapping his future, the client's outlook changes: he begins to appreciate the benefits of the Model's comprehensive and collaborative approach; he becomes personally aware of the resources (and, individuals) available and willing to assist him; thereby, making him more committed to his role in achieving success. He feels hopeful, secure, confident, happier and healthier; increasing the likelihood that he will find a future of self-sufficiency that is crime-free. And, uniquely, once an Unlocking DOORS’™ client, always an Unlocking DOORS’™ client – he will have a familiar, open and friendly place to when the going gets tough. Through systematic and carefully coordinated collaboration and partnership with a “brokered” Community Network of 223 (and counting) statewide agencies, organizations and providers, Unlocking DOORS’™ model allows individuals with criminal backgrounds to transition back into the community in a positive, steady, yet comprehensive format that increases their motivation and their chances for a future of self-sufficiency that is crime free. This model consists of the following:
• Comprehensive risk/needs assessment (four (4) separate assessment tools are used to determine the client’s risk for reoffending, specific needs, achieved training and work history, education level, eligible benefits, etc.) – Texas Risk Assessment Tool – Reentry Tool (TRAS); Behaviors and Experiences Inventory; Benefits Calculator; and, Career Key;
• Individualized Reentry Brokerage™ Plan compiled by the client’s dedicated Unlocking DOORS’™ Reentry Broker™ from all information gained during the client’s assessment; the plan is “individualized” to the client’s specific needs;
• Referrals to one or more of Unlocking DOORS’™ Community Network Partners/Providers and other service providers/resources (the experts in specific services and resources) to assist the client in working through the specific items addressed in his/her Individualized Reentry Brokerage™ Plan; and
• Ongoing Monitoring and Assistance Going Forward of the client’s progress as he/she works through his/her Individualized Reentry Brokerage™ Plan via the Unlocking DOORS’™ Texas Reentry Analytic Client Evaluator (TRACE) Client Database, with re-brokerage and future assistance always just a phone call away. ONCE AN UNLOCKING DOORS’™ CLIENT, ALWAYS AN UNLOCKING DOORS’™ CLIENT!!!!!
2. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING – EMPOWERING, EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
Believing that “local knowledge” is the most valuable tool when it comes to solving issues impacting society, Unlocking DOORS’™ unique model relies heavily on community engagement (individuals, organizations, businesses) in effectively mapping a reentry system that will ensure reintegration success for former offenders wishing to make a fresh start with no future entanglement with the law. To that end, Unlocking DOORS’™ scalable model educates, trains, and collaborates with all “local” stakeholders (government, corrections, law enforcement, service providers, the public, etc.) to empower the community, as a whole, in the delivery of reentry services to those former offenders reentering their specific community. Known as the “Unlocking DOORS™ Community Network”, this group, comprised of "brokered" partnerships with 223 (and counting) community stakeholders, works directly with Unlocking DOORS™ to provide clients the “expert local field” services and resources required to lead them to a future of success. These services include, but are not limited to:
• Annual Texas Reentry Symposium - where in-depth audience discussion and engagement lead to the creation of an annual “Call-To-Action” which is implemented going forward
• Public Awareness Events – i.e., “Evening with Piper Kerman, Author of Orange is the New Black”
• Community Speaking Requests for all organizations interested in criminal justice and reentry
• Unlocking DOORS’™ Community Network Partner/Provider meetings, coordinated calls, etc. to collaborate, network, train and determine best-practices and next steps in moving forward
3. ANALYTIC REPORTING OF EVIDENCE-BASED ANALYTICS AND PREDICTIVE TRENDS – EMPOWERING, EDUCATING AND ENGAGING POLICY MAKERS AND FUNDERS
Unlocking DOORS™ collects, analyzes and reports its high value sets of evidence-based client data “to stakeholders to illustrate and note predictive trends in the criminal justice arena. Although a broad spectrum of data is reported, Unlocking DOORS™ gives primary focus to four key services without which an individual is most assuredly set to re-offend – Housing, Employment, Transportation, and Medical/Mental Health. This allows funders and policy makers to better determine areas of cost savings across the board and allows for smart and effective funding, policy and legislative decisions when it comes to improving public safety. Unlocking DOORS™ has partnered with Pieces Technologies, a Dallas-based 501(c) (3) health information company with a goal of connecting social services and healthcare systems to advance health at every decision point. Unlocking DOORS™ is using the PCCI/Pieces’ Iris™ software - a configurable, client-centered case management (in this case, Reentry Brokerage™) tool designed specifically for non-profit and social service agencies. Pieces Technologies’ Iris™ software tool enables Unlocking DOORS™ to safely share data and seamlessly refer ex-offenders across its growing Network. The Pieces Iris™ software has already helped transform healthcare; but this is the first time it has been used to improve the criminal justice system.
Unlocking DOORS™ serves all adults, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, who have a criminal background (regardless of history of incarceration) who have a criminal background/record AND are interested in successfully reintegrating into society. Clients span all populations, including (but not limited to) veterans, disabled, homeless, HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, and those with mental illness. Following is the demographic breakdown of current Unlocking DOORS™ clients: 55% Male; 45% Female; 31% Anglo; 61% African American; 1% American Indian/Alaska Native; 0.14% Multi-Race; 0.26% Asian; and 6.6% Other.
Community as a Key to Successful Reentry
Believing that “local knowledge” is the most valuable tool when it comes to solving issues impacting society, Unlocking DOORS’™ unique model relies heavily on community engagement (individuals, organizations, businesses) in effectively mapping a reentry system that will ensure reintegration success for former offenders wishing to make a fresh start with no future entanglement with the law. To that end, Unlocking DOORS’™ scalable model embodies the inclusion and insights of all “local” stakeholders (government, corrections, law enforcement, service providers, the public, etc.) to ensure that the community, as a whole, is truly invested in the delivery of reentry services to those former offenders reentering their specific community. Known as the “Unlocking DOORS™ Community Network”, this group, comprised of "brokered" partnerships with 223 (and counting) community stakeholders, works directly with Unlocking DOORS™ to provide clients the “expert local field” services and resources required to lead them to a future of success. A complete listing of the Community Network partners/providers can be viewed at http://unlockingdoors.org/partners-providers.html.
To Unlocking DOORS™, success is witnessed when a client:
• Finds sustainable employment, housing, medical/mental health treatment and transportation;
• Makes all court-ordered and Unlocking DOORS'™-generated appointments; and
• Does not have further entanglement with the law