180
Degrees’ mission
statement is “Turning
lives around to ensure safer communities.” We
endeavor to build a safer society
through the development of cost
effective correctional services
that assists offenders to rebuild
successful lives in the community.We
believe to fulfill this mission
our involvement with transition
services is critical. Within all
of our programs, past and present,
we have incorporated assessment
and case management services to
help build a safer society. However,
enhancing this mission requires
extending services essential to
a successful transition. 180 currently
provides programming in residential
placement, day reporting, juvenile
probation, resiliency groups, and
individual mentoring.
Since
1973, 180 Degrees has
delivered halfway
house services to thousands of men in
the criminal justice system. Each
year approximately 200 men come through
our doors, on their way to a fresh
start in the community. Not all of
them succeed, but those who do leave
with steady employment, sobriety
and a stable place to live. They’ve
made it through the most challenging
period - initial reentry into society
with many new tools to start a successful
life in our communities.
In
1988-89, 180 began developing
alternatives to
the restrictive and very expensive
options available to court and
criminal justice system. Beginning
with the men in our halfway house
who were ready to move from our
residential setting into the
community, we began phasing offenders
from residential placement to
community supervision - gradually
removing the structure that helped
focus their time and energy on
productive work and maintaining
their sobriety. The resources
that seemed most useful in accomplishing
this were a combination of sex
offender specific cognitive programming,
day-reporting, and electronic
monitoring.
Our
sex-offender specific cognitive program
(STP) consisted of very intense and
structured groups and individual
programming. That budget was cut
in 1999. Day-Reporting consists of
multiple daily contacts with 180
staff, helping to reinforce the habits
necessary to maintain employment
and sobriety. As less regular contact
is needed, electronic monitoring
provides another supportive and accountability
device for continuing the forward
positive momentum with these men.
Day Reporting has since opened up
to all supervised release clients,
including women.
 In
addition to these adult services,
180 reaffirmed its commitment
to working with juveniles in
2001. We have established
contracts with Ramsey County
and MCF-Red Wing (Minnesota Department
of Corrections) to work with
three types of youth:
-
At-risk
of serious delinquency,
-
Placed
on court ordered probation
-
Transitioning
from the state juvenile institution.
Through
our unique partnership with the
Ramsey County Department of Human
Services we have reduced case
management caseloads for youth
on probation who, because of
behavioral health problems and
family circumstances, require
more intensive public services
to avoid expensive out-of-home
placements. Our program has demonstrated
that such placements can be reduced
saving Ramsey County tax dollars.
Our Juvenile Delinquency Unit
provides mentors for boys and
girls and “resiliency groups” to
respond to the unique strengths
and challenges of girls. Our
On-site Monitoring staffs provide
additional structure and accountability
for Ramsey County youth when
requested by probation officers.
 In
February 2006 we submitted a successful
bid to the Minnesota Department
of Corrections for a contract to
again enhance supervision and support
for adult sex offenders on supervised
release from stat correctional
facilities. We already play a significant
role in the success of sex offenders
in the community. We continue to
be one of the only remaining transitions
services that will accept sex offenders
in a residential placement and
we are often called upon by the
Department of Corrections to work
with high profile and difficult
to place offenders. We are able
to monitor these offenders while
maintaining our mission of assisting
offenders to rebuild their lives
successfully.
Any program is only as good as the
people who make it work. If
we sound like the kind of organization
you'd like to be a part of, keep
an eye on our job postings, we'd
love to hear from you.
©2006
180degrees Inc.
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