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Who Needs Re-Entry Services?
There is a large population in need.
Each year, Missouri releases thousands of men and women from its correctional centers to St. Louis City and County. Thousands more are on probation here. In 2008, figures for the St. Louis area from the Department of Corrections showed 6,076 as unemployed or underemployed, 3,262 as actively abusing substances and 10,353 as having social problems. Many more men and women are released to St. Louis from federal prisons, county jails and the City Workhouse.
Project COPE uses these criteria for client selection.
We seek out men and women who have committed violent crimes and served long sentences in the Missouri prison system. Within that group, we give preference to those who committed their crimes as teenagers and are now in their 30s and 40s. It is likely that their family relationships are strained or limited, they have little or no work experience and they have little understanding of the prevailing culture. We also have some older clients who have been locked up for most of their lives. If we have enough teams, we also accept people who have been incarcerated for shorter periods. At any given time, COPE has an active client list of about 30 people and serves a total of 50 to 60 in the course of a year.
Who are our clients?
COPE clients generally have little job training or experience. Most have a history of substance abuse. Some have low impulse control, and most are required to take assaultive/aggressive classes. All must report weekly to their parole officers upon release and are viewed by the Department of Corrections as dangerous felons.
How did COPE identify this need?
We have identified our niche gradually over the past 24 years of our work. Project COPE is a small program, working with some 60 ex-offenders a year. We match each client with a team from a faith congregation or community organization, which commits to working with its partner for a year. The success of these partnerships has led the COPE board and staff to choose some clients who have served lengthy prison terms. Upon release, they must learn to function in society: in the grocery store and health clinic, on the job, with their children. COPE partnerships help our clients to make this adjustment.
