NYS Handbook for Family and Friends of DOCCS Incarcerated Individuals

➢ Phase 1 - Introductory Phase Is designed to assist incarcerated individuals to begin planning for their transition to the community.

➢ Phase II - Thinking for a Change/Moving On Thinking for a Change is for male designated facilities and Moving On for female designated facilities. Both programs consist of lessons designed to provide incarcerated individuals with the cognitive and behavior changing tools necessary to lead to successful and crime-free lives.

➢ Phase III - The Transitional Phase Is designed to assist incarcerated individuals in their final preparation for release to the community. Incarcerated individuals will be placed in Phase III within 120 days of an approved release date.

➢ Transitional Services Resource Center Each facility shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of a Transitional Services Resource Center which allows for community resource information to be printed, stored and organized by release region and topic. The Resource Center shall be a designated space accessible to all incarcerated individuals where they can conduct research regarding available assistance in the communities they are returning to. Resource material is also available in the general library.

➢ Personal Document Procurement Ensures eligible incarcerated individuals are provided with the opportunity to secure personal documents.

➢ Aggression Replacement Training (ART) Is designed to assist incarcerated individuals in identifying and controlling their aggressive behavior.

➢ Living Safely Without Violence Trauma informed aggression program for incarcerated individuals at female designated facilities. This program emphasizes self-regulation practices as a coping mechanism to deal with stress and is an extension of Moving On.

➢ Advanced Aggression/CBT The goal of the program is to provide an introspective look at the factors which have contributed to an individual’s violent behavior and to assist in the development of strategies for preventing future acts of violence. The Advanced Aggression/CBT program is mandatory for incarcerated individuals assessed with an Automated Reception Risk Score for high violence at select facilities. Successful completion of the program is designed to satisfy one’s aggression need.

➢ Step Down to General Population (SDP) The goal of the SDP is to offer behavioral modification programming to SHU incarcerated individuals with the capacity to benefit from the SDP. The aim is to return incarcerated individuals who successfully complete the program back to general population, consistent with achieving overall success and the safety and security of participants and staff. Successful completion of SDP is designed to satisfy the aggression need.

➢ Step Down to Community (SDC) The goal of the SDC is to assist participants with successful preparation for release to the community. The curriculum includes development of a comprehensive release plan, relapse prevention, family reintegration, employment readiness, and behavior modification. Participants identify high-risk behaviors, engage in emotional regulation exercises, and practice social skills.

➢ Incarcerated Program Associate (IPA) The purpose of the IPA program is to provide meaningful work assignments for incarcerated individuals with advanced education and training, and to assist staff in providing program services to incarcerated individuals in each facility.

➢ Network Is a voluntary, therapeutic program that uses a hierarchal process to assist incarcerated individuals in learning cooperative work and leadership skills while demonstrating responsible behaviors.

➢ Community Lifestyles Is an open ended residential therapeutic program. It provides a structured dormitory program that supports the essential correctional goals of order and safety.

➢ Parole Diversion Program (PDP) Designed to provide releasees who have committed a technical violation of parole terms an opportunity to correct behaviors before it escalates to re-incarceration.

➢ Re-Entry Units Designed to provide incarcerated individuals with 120 days or less to release an opportunity to finalize their release plan for an orderly transition back into society.

➢ Alt. Program An open-ended program for individuals without a substance abuse need who have violated terms of parole.

➢ Medicaid Enrollment Provides assistance to eligible incarcerated individuals with Medicaid enrollment.