The
ComALERT (“Community and Law Enforcement Resources Together”)
program was created in 1999 by District Attorney Charles J. Hynes to
act as a bridge between prison and the community for parolees
returning to Brooklyn. ComALERT assists formerly
incarcerated individuals to make a successful transition from prison
to home by providing drug treatment and counseling, mental health
treatment and counseling, GED, and transitional housing and
employment. ComALERT also provides permanent job placement
assistance to those parolees who have marketable skills upon their
release. ComALERT services begin almost immediately upon release
from prison, increasing the success rate for its clients compared to
the non-treated re-entry population.
A newly released inmate is required to report to the
Division of Parole within 24 to 48 hours of release from prison.
Based on a pre-release assessment need for treatment, a referral may
be made by the parole officer to Parole’s ACCESS center. At this
center, a ComALERT “CASAC” (“certified alcohol and substance abuse
counselor”) interviews the parolee about his past activities and
future goals. This psychosocial assessment forms the basis for any
future re-entry planning and treatment in ComALERT. After the
assessment, the eligible client is directed to report to the
ComALERT Counseling Service EDNY Center at 210 Joralemon Street in
downtown Brooklyn, for a program orientation and assignment to a
social worker who will work with the client to help him comply with
his conditional release requirements that include substance abuse
treatment and employment.
Most ComALERT clients have substance abuse issues, and many
are actively abusing illegal drugs and alcohol. This abuse places
them in direct contradiction of standard conditional release
mandates and increases the likelihood that they will engage in
illegal behaviors and return to prison. Thus, substance abuse
treatment and counseling form the basic framework for ComALERT’s
initial three-month enrollment. Though the typical period at
ComALERT is one to two years depending on personal progress, the
first three months have been identified as crucial to the client’s
ultimate success. If not engaged in the re-entry process during that
time, it is likely that the client will not make a successful
transition from prison to the community.
In addition to drug counseling and treatment, many clients
will receive a referral to and preferential placement in, the ComALERT “Ready, Willing, & Able” Program, which provides
transitional employment through the Doe Fund’s Ready, Willing, and
Able employment programs. In addition to receiving meals and a
weekly stipend of $200 cash for manual labor jobs for up to nine
consecutive months, the Day program provides the group support and
reinforcement needed by the clients to maintain their sobriety. ComALERT provides weekly individual and group counseling, as well as
random drug testing, to reinforce “Ready, Willing, & Able Day’s”
zero-tolerance policy.
Working closely with the Division of Parole, ComALERT
monitors its clients to ensure public safety. A failure to cooperate
or a violation of any program condition is brought to the immediate
attention of the client’s parole officer. A law enforcement
sanction—up to and including parole revocation—can be employed at
the discretion of the parole officer. Lesser sanctions, such as more
frequent drug testing, can also be used for less serious
infractions.
ComALERT’s goal is to reduce criminal
recidivism by providing
the formerly
incarcerated with the tools and support they
need to remain drug-free, crime-free, and employed.
For more information about these programs, contact:
Vanda Seward Executive Director
John R. Chaney Deputy Executive Director
LaNina N. Cooke
Research Director
Norma Fernandes
Community Coordinator
ComALERT Offices:
718-250-5557 |
