Embracing Technology to Enhance Correction Programs

The U.S. correctional system’s mission is to prevent crimes, promote accountability and rehabilitation, and safeguard justice-involved individuals from excessive, disproportionate, or arbitrary punishment. However, over the last 20 years, it has become apparent that changes are needed to fully achieve those aims. While reforms have been implemented, most have fallen short of achieving impactful change for justice program staff and participants. This failure is due to high caseloads, inefficient manual processes, and hurdles to implementing evidence-based practices.

Reconnect leverages technology to solve those issues. Utilizing a mixture of software and hardware solutions, Reconnect provides evidence-based tools that facilitate better outcomes for everyone. Built to be adaptable and configurable, Reconnect’s solutions help users meet the unique needs of multiple types of justice-based programs, including specialty courts, community supervision programs, reentry, and diversion programs.

A public benefit corporation, Reconnect offers a two-part platform—Reconnect Manager and Reconnect Community—carefully designed to address key pain points for justice staff and eliminate hurdles for individuals.

Reconnect Manager includes a comprehensive set of features that reduce busywork and simplify accountability for program staff, facilitating smooth communication via messaging, video chat, and electronically collected forms and streamlining accountability with automated curfew and spot location checks, hardware-free location monitoring, and true-random testing. When used collectively, these features free up precious time, allowing staff to focus on what matters most—the individual.

Reconnect Community—is a mobile app and support website that empowers justice-involved individuals to complete their program. The app enables individuals to engage and communicate effectively with justice staff, makes it easier to complete program goals, and provides individuals with resources—all from their phones.

Striving to improve its offerings, Reconnect collaborates with customers and researchers to build additional features to support its users, such as behavioral prompts and cognitive therapies.

“We use technology to restore communities and help them move forward. Our technology solutions are revolutionizing the corrections space by replacing traditional corrections methods—like ankle bracelets—for less stigmatizing and evidence-based digital ones,” says Pete Andrews, CEO of Reconnect.

Reconnect’s careful application of technology ensures a smoother and more efficient program journey for individuals. For instance, an individual reentering U.S. society after time in prison is given a list of tasks to complete and outdated resources. The individual does not have a car, money for public transportation, or a phone. The fact they have a criminal record makes it exponentially harder to find a place to live and work. The result? More than 44 percent of the individuals released from prison in the U.S. will return there within one year.

With Reconnect, the individual is provided with a mobile phone installed with Reconnect Community, enabling effortless ways to connect with reentry staff, access to current second-chance friendly housing, education, transportation, and job resources, as well as reminders and support tools. This allows them to procure necessary life and job skills, overcome reentry barriers, and successfully reintegrate into society.

We use technology to restore communities and help them move forward. Our technology solutions are revolutionizing the corrections space by replacing traditional corrections methods—like ankle bracelets— for less stigmatizing and evidence-based digital ones

Andrews takes pride in Reconnect’s reentry work, especially its partnership with Unlocking Doors®—an innovative and impactful reentry agency headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

“Our mission is to be involved in the kind of work Dr. Christina Melton Crain and her staff perform. They ensure these individuals have their best chance to reenter society and contribute to their community,” says Andrews.

Backed by statistics, Reconnect has a proven record of improving the effectiveness of justice programs. 87 percent of Reconnect app users stated communication was easier, 90 percent said submitting forms was simpler, 91 percent noted the app made it easier to remember program tasks, and 100 percent found checking in for drug testing was easier.

Reconnect’s success is attributed to its team. The team consistently engages with customers, providing data on how they are utilizing Reconnect’s tools, collaborating with customers, and ensuring they have what they need to be successful. Andrews notes another crucial part of Reconnect’s success is the work the company does to ensure its platform stays relevant. It actively conducts focus groups and works with thought leaders to make sure the platform remains at the forefront of the industry.