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Rehabilitation


Tennessee Reentry Collaborative

The Tennessee Reentry Collaborative (TREC) was established in October 2004 within a few months of the Tennessee Department of Correction re-establishing the Division of Rehabilitative Services. TREC co-sponsors are Correction Commissioner George Little and Chairman Charles Traughber of the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole.

The TREC Team Mission is "The Tennessee Reentry Collaborative (TREC) will provide a continuum of services for all offenders reentering society that seeks to: restore victims, communities and offenders and helps offenders to be successful in order to reduce recidivism and promote public safety."

TREC is chaired by its founder Jim Cosby, Assistant Commissioner of Rehabilitative Services. The state agencies that are represented include:

Morgan County Correctional Complex - New Administration Building

Other representatives of TREC include the following: You Have The Power, Project Return, Inc., Chattanooga Endeavors, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, CADCAT, Davidson County Sheriff's Department, the Knoxville Police Department and other agencies.

The desired outcome is to enhance public safety through improving the successful transition of offenders from prison to community and family through a collaborative effort of state agencies, community resources and the offender.

Since October 2004, the TREC Wall of Progress has continued to grow. A few of the most significant accomplishments include:

  1. The opening of two transition centers (one for males and one for females);
  2. The development and implementation of the Transition Assessment Plan (TAP) in order to identify program and treatment needs for inmates and track their program completion;
  3. We now have representatives of Veterans Affairs visiting TDOC institutions to meet with inmate veterans discussing possible benefits for them and/or their families upon release;
  4. Resource data was established and distributed to all state prisons that contain information on how to obtain vital identification documentation for inmates;
  5. The Parole Technical Violators Diversion Program was established as a result of TREC recommendations and goals. Legislation was proposed, passed and signed into law. Approximately 275 inmates are diverted each year through this program;
  6. In partnership with Shelby County, we have established the Staying Home grant (over $500,000) which targets offenders returning to the community. The institutional component of the program lasts 4-6 months and there is a follow-up program in the community with a faith-based organization and BOPP. Also, we are partners with Shelby County in the Fatherhood grant which will teach male inmates responsible parenting;
  7. As a result of an Americorps/Vista grant, we are employing three staff members across the state to focus on recruitment and training of volunteer mentors. They will link inmates with the faith-based community (Good Samaritan Network) for re-entry assistance;
  8. THDA granted $500,000 to The Next Door for expansion of housing for female offenders and their children. Twenty new apartments are now available for women and their children at The Next Door;
  9. Through NIC training, 13 staff representing 8 TREC partner agencies are now qualified as Workforce Development Specialist and can train other staff to assist offenders with employment issues. Over 90 staff have been trained this past year;
  10. The Next Door received the Outstanding Criminal Justice Program of the South awarded by the National Criminal Justice Association.
  11. TDOC received a $544,000 federal grant to kickoff a program called Nashville Works. The TDOC has partnered with Chattanooga Endeavors, a non-profit organization. The grant assists with transitional employment services for offenders released to the Davidson County area.
  12. Launched Tennessee Offender Reentry to serve as a repository of information on non-profit, faith-based, government, and for-profit community services that serve ex-offenders and their families.
  13. Established a victim subgroup.
  14. TNHousingSearch.org (a free rental housing database) was established with the ability to search for housing foor special needs populations, including ex-offenders (contact Tennessee Housing Development Agency for assistance).

We would like to encourage you to join in the effort. If you have a matter than concerns TREC, please send us an email.

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Additional Informative Links

Tennessee Offender Reentry
The Next Door
211
Leaving The Cocoon
Men of Valor
Dismas, Inc.
FOCUS Group Prison Ministries
Urban Housing Solutions

Rehabilitation Links