Re-Entry Mediation
In January, 2017, Community Mediation DC brought Maryland's successful Prison Re-entry Mediation Program to the DC Jail.
R-entry Mediation provides an opportunity for a Justice-involved individual and family members or other support people to meet, with the help of a non-judgmental mediator, before release to have an open, honest, and often difficult dialogue to prepare for the transition back into the community.
Why do participants choose mediation?
- To address and resolve conflicts from before incarceration
- To address resentment, anger, and/or shame as a result of charges or things that took place during incarceration
- To address divergent expectations about a participant’s plans after Jail
- To rebuild or strengthen relationships
- To make collaborative transition plans
By rebuilding relationships between Justice-involved individuals and family or support people in the community, Re-entry Mediation taps into the resources indigenous to the community, strengthens these connections, and allows for collaborative transition planning.
Re-entry Mediation Reduces Recidivism
Just one 2-hour mediation session decreases the predicted probability of re-incarceration by 10%. Each additional session decreases the predicted probability by another 7%. This finding holds true when comparing those who mediated to a similar control group and after holding constant for other factors that might affect recidivism (Choice Research Associates 2014).
For more information and resources on Re-entry Mediation, visit re-entrymediation.org