Imagine serving 25 years in a Nevada prison for armed robbery. Upon your release, officials hand you a check for $25 and you're on your way.

But you're not released in just any town – you're released in Las Vegas. Surrounded by glittering lights, gambling and rivers of alcohol, it's up to you to resist the urge to take part in all the happenings of Sin City. Succumbing to temptation, you end up at a blackjack table, drinking free alcohol served by scantily-clad, sequined waitresses. You lose the first round of betting at the table and after a stroke of bad luck, you're out of money -- standing on the Vegas strip, you realize that within three hours of your release you're homeless and destitute.

Until four years ago, this was a common scenario for Nevada offenders, and many corrections officials realized that it was affecting recidivism rates greatly. Now, offenders have a fresh chance to make a fresh start. With the Going Home Prepared (GHP) program, Nevada officials have changed the face of their release procedures.

“It was obvious that this was a real problem – there was a huge gap in providing help for offenders. Obviously, we had a recidivism problem. You cannot just release inmates in the middle of Las Vegas, or Reno, and expect them to start off on the right foot,” Dana Serrata, Re-Entry Coordinator for GHP.

GHP was started in 2002 to help serious and violent offenders re-enter society.  Funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Justice and seven other state and federal agencies, GHP specializes on working with inmates who have committed crimes like manslaughter and attempted murder. GHP provides substance abuse counseling, mental health services and intensive case management among other services. The program also helps offenders develop long-term life plans.

“We're here to provide assistance and services during the last six months of incarceration up until a year after release and beyond,” says Serrata. “Honestly, it's important to do this -- we cannot change the flow of recidivism without programs like these. We've worked really hard to provide a network of services for these inmates – and we're seeing results. Before GHP, offenders weren't being helped at all – and we've changed that.”

By pooling together as many community resources as possible, Nevada officials have helped GHP become one of the most comprehensive reentry programs the state could have asked for. Developed for serious and violent offenders from ages 14 to 35, GHP has connections to over eighty state and local agencies – that specialize in anything from substance abuse to mental health counseling. Inmates are taking advantage of those connections to return to their communities -- and GHP has created a three-phase plan to help each of them individually.

Rehabilitation During Incarceration: Phase One

During Phase One of the GHP program, inmates receive the help and preparation they need to become successful on their return to society. For six months, offenders are assigned to a caseworker. According to Serrata, the caseworkers are intensive about case management, and each inmate is assessed for possible reentry barriers – such as substance abuse issues or issues of violence.

“We administer these assessment tests to see what issues have to be focused on for each offender individually,” says Serrata. “We assess these inmates with an LSI- test in different areas: housing, criminal record, family issues, mental health. Once we take these into account, we end up with a figure of how possible it is that they will re-offend.”

By finding the most pertinent issues for each inmate, case workers can zero in on major problems prior to release. Phase One includes mandatory classes with staff psychologists and clinical workers. Offenders go through classes that focus on personal growth and life-skills in preparation for release. Health care classes are also mandatory, where inmates learn about sexually transmitted diseases and general good health. A local bank visits the offenders to teach them about finances, too.

“We bring in local banks because we know how important a financial class is. Some offenders just don't know. How do you write a check? How do you balance a check-book? This is really important information; these sorts of things are going to come up once they are released,” says Serrata.

GHP also ensures that each inmate has a high school diploma or GED equivalent before their release. As release dates come closer, inmates develop reentry plans with their case workers. Mapping out a day-by-day calendar, inmates and case workers schedule tasks that have to be accomplished post-release. For instance, on Day One, an offender might have to register as a felon, find a place to live, and obtain documentation so that they are eligible to work. GHP also provides geographical maps and government forms to prepare inmates for work. Offering a large array of services, counseling and resources, officials are equipping inmates with the tools they need to become successful on their return to society.

Day By Day: Phase Two

By providing inmates with a reference for counseling, agencies and expectations, GHP tries to aid offenders in every area of their lives. Phase Two of the program begins once offenders are released. Although inmates are no longer behind bars, they still need the help of GHP. Serrata says that inmates need to have support that extends beyond prison walls to achieve successful rehabilitation.

“This reentry process does not work without intensive case management,” says Serrata. “If we don't have social workers helping [inmates] on the outside, it will not work. We have social workers that are completely invested in these cases. They will go with offenders to court while they battle for custody of their children. These are long-standing relationships with people that care about their welfare.”

For one year, released offenders build their new lives. Any time they feel unsure about themselves or their actions, they have a place to turn; their social workers are invested in their rehabilitation and their parole officers take the time to help them, as well. When they do have problems, a reentry court is available to help keep the offender on track.

”We created a reentry court for a few reasons,” Serrata explains. “[Re-entry courts] have already been established in other places, but it was new for Nevada. Our re-entry court is a key piece for us because we can make recommendations to the judges. For instance, if a parole officer says that an offender is never at home, we can impose a curfew rather than just sending that person back to prison.”

Nevada's reentry court is innovative because officials have created a set of offense matrices. The matrices grade offenses on a level from low to high for released offenders.  Serrata says the matrices help officers determine what the most appropriate reaction is to any situation. Offenders benefit because they are not punished too harshly for minor infractions, but the justice system still punishes those who really step out of line.

“We're not excusing bad behavior,” Serrata explains. “But we don't want to send these recently released people right back to prison for minor infractions. This matrices concept has actually worked really well for us – it's part of our policy now for those on probation and parole.”

Life: Phase Three

A year after their release, offenders proceed to the next phase of the GHP program. Phase Three is the longest phase of the program because, according to Serrata, Phase Three never ends.

“Phase Three of the program, well – that's the rest of their lives,” Serrata says. “We tell our clients that the resources are always there. If they ever need help or assistance, they just have to come back and ask. I've had quite a few offenders that actually do. We continue to provide them with any services they need. That will never stop.”

Phase Three of the program can benefit offenders in many ways; Serrata says that offenders who feel like they might slip back into their old ways appreciate the chance to prevent the decline into crime. And although offenders were released in Las Vegas, surrounded by temptation, for years, Nevada is now hoping to become a model when it comes to reentry.

“We're not giving hand outs,” says Serrata. “They have to work for what they want. But we have to give them a chance to change, we have to give them the help they need. And we're going to continue to do that.”