In the Boston area, offenders being released from prison have a shoulder to lean on in the form of the community organization Span, Inc.  The organization began in the mid-1970s as a one-person operation that helped ex-offenders being released from both the county and state prison systems reenter society. Today, Span works to ease this transition period for offenders through many outreach programs ranging from housing to job placement.

Clinical Supervisor Sean Harding recently spoke to The Correction Connection's Kelen Tuttle about a new program that seeks to ease the reentry process for emerging adults ages 18 to 24---a group that until recently did not receive much attention.

Q: What is Span's overall objective?

Harding: Our organization focuses on the many aspects to reentry.  Our work varies from substance abuse and mental counseling to the basic necessities such as helping ex-offenders find housing.  We seek to stabilize offenders upon release and help them to integrate into the local community.

Q: Can you tell me how Span's new program for young offenders came about?

Harding: Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, our newest program focuses on offenders between the ages of 18 and 24.  This is an age period that's been highly neglected in the past.  Traditionally, community projects have focused almost exclusively on adolescents and adults; only now are people starting to look at emerging adults as a separate group.  It turns out that many developmental milestones occur during these years. 

Where reentry is concerned, regardless of culture or background, this is the time period when an individual's criminal behavior tends to peak.  For most people, this behavior will decline near the ages of 23 or 24.  For some people, however, the level of criminal behavior fails to decrease and instead we see it level off to a constant rate. These are the real repeat offenders, the people we especially want to work with.

Emerging adults (ages 18 to 24) comprise a very interesting population in which to develop interventions.  Intervention during this period is most effective in creating a decline in crime for people who might have otherwise continued to break the law at the same rate.

Q: What is the new program?

Harding: In response to this under-served age group, Span recently developed a program called Youth Entering Society Services (YESS).  When the program begins next January, it will provide therapy and support designed specifically for younger populations.  The program seeks to motivate ex-offenders through education and rehabilitation.  YESS also seeks to encourage behavior skills such as the ability to cope with difficult situations.

There is a vocational aspect to the program as well.  These are the years in which non-offenders traditionally attend college, and offenders between the ages of 18 and 24 tend to have these same vocational and career concerns. Unfortunately, a lot of exploration in that area doesn't occur with people who consistently commit crime.  We want to get our clients to explore their career options, discovering their talents and weaknesses.  This will help them find a career that is right for them.

Q: How will YESS address these concerns?

Harding: YESS's services begin while offenders are still incarcerated.  A case manager meets with willing clients several times before release to establish a rapport while assessing the client's needs and eligibility.  Ideally, the case manager would meet with the client three times within the last 90 days of their sentence.  This makes it more likely that the client will choose to follow through with the program after release.  The program is entirely voluntary. 

After release, the client will meet with us for a more extensive assessment.  We then refer the client to community organizations that have partnered with Span to help ex-offenders. 

Q: What kind of community agencies do you work with?

Harding: There is a vast array of wrap-around services available for the client throughout community.  One example is education.  A client who never finished high school will be referred to a local school for GED preparation.  Later, he or she can be referred to a college counselor to talk about the possibility of going to college.  We're hoping to partner with the University of Massachusetts, which is currently completing outcome evaluations for this project, to offer clients college-level courses. 

We can also refer clients to medical and health providers such as psychiatric clinics and doctors in the area.  This often includes HIV and Hepatitis-C treatment.

Q: How far along is the program?

Harding: The program is currently due to start in January 2005.  Right now we're still in the developmental stages of selecting staff and training.  In a couple of months we'll be bringing them in, and the program will begin.

YESS will be a unique program for a neglected population that is only now gaining attention.  Statistically, education seems to be an important factor to keeping people out of prison, and through the program we're hoping to offer clients new vocational opportunities.

For more information, please contact Span at 617.423.0750