Challenges of Reentry for Offenders with Special Needs

Challenges of Re-entry for Offenders with Special Needs Ray Bynum, Debbie Ferguson, Frederick Lawrence, Donna Smith, Lorraine Priest, Raymond Delaney

SPECIAL NEEDS OFFENDERS Types of Special Offenders ELDERLY MENTALLY ILL LGBTQI LOW FUNCTIONING HANDICAPPED GENDER (female)

AGING PRISONERS WHY SO MANY ELDERLY? • Prison population has doubled from 739, 980 in 1990 to 1, 543, 206 in 2010 • Three Strikes Law (Felony) • Life sentences have quadruped between 1974 and 2008 • Inmates sentenced to life without parole tripled between 1992 and 2008 (Criminal Justice degree hub. . 2017)

Olmstead Decision In 1999 the Supreme Court held that people with disabilities have a qualified right to receive state funded supports and services in the community rather than institutions when the following three part test is met: 1. the person's treatment professionals determine that community supports are appropriate; 2. the person does not object to living in the community; and 3. the provision of services in the community would be a reasonable accommodation when balanced with other similarly situated individuals with disabilities.

Challenges for Re- Entry • Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Housing • Felons not allowed to live in the same home • Viable treatment modalities (access) • Awareness • Mental, Emotional or Spiritual Support (Hatcher, 2007)

Louisiana Coalition for Re- Entry Resources • Local Effort

References Criminal Justice Degree Hub. (2017) Aging behind bars. Retrieved from http: //www. criminaljusticedegreehub. com/geriatric-prisoners/