Re-Entry Program

Participants can either be directed into the Re-Entry program as a sentencing stipulation through the courts or they can join voluntarily. There are several categories in the program.

Re-Entry 1

These clients are incarcerated men and women enrolled in the Re-Entry Program upon receiving an Allegheny County sentence who meet the following criteria:

1. Must be serving a county sentence of at least three months in Allegheny County.
2. Must be medium or high risk to recidivate based on a validated risk assessment tool.
3. Must have probation or parole in Allegheny County following their sentence.
4. Must not be a participant in a specialty court.

Re-Entry 1 clients receive a risk and needs assessment, a service plan and guidance from a Jail Service Coordinator. Participants are assigned a Re-Entry Service Coordinator prior to release, and Re-Entry Probation Officer from enrollment until up to nine months following release. The Re-Entry Service Coordinator and Probation Officers collaborate to develop a Phase 2 service plan the client follows in the community.

Re-Entry 3

These clients are incarcerated men and women enrolled in the Re-Entry Program with minor charges and several detainers. They must be staying in ACJ for 90 days or longer and meet the following criteria:

1. Must have minor charges and several detainers and must be staying in ACJ for 90 days or longer.
2. Must be medium or high risk to recidivate based on a validated risk assessment tool.
3. Must have probation or parole in Allegheny County following their sentence.
4. Must not be a participant in a specialty court.

Re-Entry 3 clients receive the same assessments and supervisory team as Re-Entry 1 participants.

Re-Entry Pod

These clients are incarcerated men who have voluntarily agreed to participate in Re-Entry Services while being housed on the Re-Entry Pod on Level 2 of the Allegheny County Jail and must be eligible for housing on 2F.

The following conditions are considered when reviewing an incarcerated individual’s eligibility to reside on the Re-Entry Pod (2F), HOPE Pod (2C), Veterans Service Unit Pod (2F), Female Program Pod (6D), Substance Use Program Pods, and Mental Health Program Pod (5F):

1. Commitment Status
2. Security Level
3. Restrictive Housing Status

There are additional requirements to be eligible for placement on the Re-Entry Pod, the Female Program Pod and the Veterans Pod. These residents live in a structured-living environment while participating in classes and re-entry services provided in the Jail Re-Entry Center, education classrooms and curriculum on the pod. Clients receive service coordination through the pod coordinator who does a comprehensive assessment and places the client in classes based on his risk/needs assessment.

Current Classes in the Re-Entry Center

Relationship Building and Maintenance (Pennsylvania Prison Society)
Six-week curriculum designed to build and maintain meaningful general relationships that can serve as a protective factor to recidivism and other negative outcomes. Curricula will be rooted in evidence-informed best practices for addressing criminogenic needs related to meaningful relationships and/or family dynamics and support participants in developing skills and knowledge related to positive interpersonal interactions, while recognizing cultural and gender sensitivity.

Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy or CT-R (Renewal Center and ReCA)
CT-R takes a strengths-based approach and works with participants to activate adaptive modes of living, develop aspirations and engage in personally meaningful activities. Through targeted cognitive strategies, participants create their desired life and strengthen a positive belief system. A key feature of CT-R is exploration of the individuals’ identity beyond their challenges — what they’re doing and how they’re feeling when at their best — as well as their envisioned future and plans to achieve this vision

Harm Reduction
Introduces incarcerated individuals to harm reduction protocol regarding substance use dependence, overdose prevention, blood borne pathogens, treatment, and recovery/relapse prevention through a series of classes, experiences, and training, thereby lessening the likelihood of disease, infection and/or death.

Job Training and Development
Six-week curriculum designed to develop the skills necessary for success in the job market and workplace with the intention of breaking the cycle of unemployment and poverty that often intersect with incarceration. The program will prepare participants to connect meaningfully with post-release employment assistance resources.

Parenting (Amachi)
This curriculum is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral parent management skills training program for incarcerated parents. Parents develop and refine social interactional skills they can use in all aspects of their lives and that will help them guide their children toward becoming positive, constructive adults.

Financial Literacy
This course aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to manage their finances effectively, covering topics like budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and debt management, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.

Male Resumes and Female Veterans Group (Pittsburgh Hires Vets)
These groups are for veterans. These groups run weekly on Friday mornings and help prepare incarcerated individuals to transition to employment post-release. The program helps incarcerated individuals build employment skills, construct resumes, and offers opportunities to establish and maintain professional relationships.

Chaplaincy Grief Groups (Foundation of HOPE)
A supportive forum where individuals who are experiencing grief or loss can connect with others who have similar experiences and share their emotions, coping strategies, and stories in a safe and confidential environment.

Batter’s Intervention Program (BIP)
The Battering Intervention Program is a 12-week series of twice-weekly taught to male inmates in the Allegheny County Jail or in the community. The instructors work with the participants to understand the violence and abuse they have committed and how to change their behavior to prevent future occurrences.

PEACE
Helps participants explore the possibility of personal peace and discover their innate inner resources and tools for living, such as inner strength, choice, appreciation and hope. Each workshop includes several videos, time for reflection and accompanying reading material.

Mind Training for Successful Re-Entry
Engage this opportunity to consider your own health and wellness needs and goals for a successful re-entry. Awaken Pittsburgh instructors offer a range of tools for working with your mind to increase personal awareness and power. Topics will include stress relief, building resilience, decreasing reactivity, healing trauma and living with intention

Trauma (Pittsburgh Action Against Rape or PAAR)
is providing an educational group for survivors of trauma. The Addiction and Trauma program offers gender specific drug and alcohol education for women. The program is a six-week education curriculum and meets for 90 minutes each week.

Substance Use
Therapeutic or support groups where individuals with similar substance use disorders or experiences meet to discuss their challenges, share experiences, and work towards recovery in a supportive environment. 

Any inquiries into the Re-Entry Program at the Allegheny County Jail should be directed to Amy Kroll at 412-350-5038.