Hampton Sheriff’s Office opens center to help former inmates upon release from jail

HAMPTON — Sheriff Karen Bowden has for years wanted to do more to prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from sliding back into a life of crime. On Thursday, she unveiled her solution.

The Sheriff’s Office launched a new initiative to help incarcerated individuals leaving jail reintegrate into the community. It’s called the Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Center — the STAR Center — and will connect people with services offered by government organizations and community partners.

The center at 1320 La Salle Ave. will be a one-stop shop where people recently released from jail or prison can get help with employment, housing, education and obtaining identification. The center serves Hampton residents released from the Hampton Community Corrections Center (within 24 hours of release), local area jails and state prisons (within 30 days of release).

Lt. Bionca Moore said the transition from jail to community “can be a challenging one.”

“Many of our returning citizens either don’t know what resources are available to them, where they can get them, or have the means to travel around to get to all these multiple locations,” Moore said. “Without these crucial resources, many of our offenders have a greater chance of relapsing back into criminal behavior.”

A U.S. Department of Justice overview of recidivism rates in 24 states revealed that 82% of individuals released from state prisons were arrested at least once during the 10 years following release.

Virginia’s recidivism rate three years after release is 20.6% , as reported by the Department of Corrections. Citing analysis from author Mirlinda Ndrecka , Moore said studies show reentry programs reduce that, on average, by 6% — though the reduction can be greater when programs assist people during and after incarceration.

Bowden, a longtime proponent of programming that reduces recidivism, said the STAR Center evaluates participants during incarceration or upon release to determine their immediate needs and what services are available to address those needs.

The center also includes classrooms where former inmates receive training in areas such as job or life skills or parenting classes.

While the center will hire two full-time staff members, it will also utilize the help of numerous local organizations and agencies:

• Community-based organizations will help provide participants clothing, food, education and connect them with work readiness and family reunification programs.
• The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board will coordinate mental health, developmental, or substance abuse services for participants.
• The Department of Motor Vehicles will help participants apply for identification cards and renew or replace driver’s licenses.
• Hampton Roads Community Action Program will provide one-on-one job coaching and help connect participants with local employers.
• The Virginia Community Action Re-Entry System provides career counseling, family counseling, financial referrals, educational workshops and job readiness workshops.

Bowden said recidivism is a drain on law enforcement resources, overwhelms the court system and correctional systems and drains taxpayers’ dollars —  money she said would be better utilized on rehabilitation and prevention programs.

Moore also cited a 2020 study showing offenders who remained engaged for at least 90 days in post-release services in the community were almost 50% less likely to be arrested within 2 years of their release compared with offenders who only received pre-release services.

Hampton councilman Steve Brown asked people at the opening ceremony to imagine being incarcerated for several years and coming back into the community with no support, friends, family, job or opportunities to thrive. He noted that many long-term inmates, upon release, might not be accustomed to the technological advances in the years since they have been behind bars. He said the reentry program “enables people to gain hope.”

Bowden said the center’s opening fulfills a longtime dream of hers to address gaps in service and help former inmates return to a life of stability. While the program initially will only help Hampton inmates, she hopes to eventually expand services beyond the city.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com