Once the programming plan has been drafted, the programming team should meet regularly to monitor the prisoner's progress and to ensure that programs and services are effective and coordinated. Among the variables that predict recidivism, most are considered "dynamic" risk factors, which are defined by their amenability to change in response to treatment (e.g., substance abuse, depression, or deficient social skills). These factors must be re-assessed to allow the program planning team to identify individuals' evolving needs and to adjust service delivery where necessary.

The timing of needed reassessments should be standardized within the institution (based on the nature of the facility, the average length of stay, and the availability of staff and programs), and a reassessment schedule should be set forth in the programming plan. By regularly reassessing the variables shown to affect recidivism, as well as monitoring the progress an inmate has made as a result of treatment, corrections and law-enforcement officials will be well-equipped to make informed decisions about the resources, intervention, and level of supervision necessary for successful re-entry. As reassessments occur and as the programming plan is adjusted to reflect new results and findings, the programming team should ensure that the programming plan and referrals change where appropriate and that all appropriate and required parties receive copies of the most updated materials.

Example: Reentry Management Team, Community-Oriented Reentry, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Every six months, each inmate meets with his or her Reentry Management Team to discuss his or her progress in each of his or her current program areas, as outlined in the personalized Reentry Accountability Plan. If a change in programming is due, it might also involve a change in staffing for the Re-Entry Management Team. For example, if the person has obtained his GED, the educational representative may leave the team, but a vocational representative may replace him or her.

As the date of the person's release from the correctional facility approaches, the membership of the program planning team may adjust further to include more community-based partners, including family members, mentors, or faith-based representatives. Program planners may also work more on programming elements specifically relevant to an individual's transition into the community, such as finding appropriate housing. Again, copies of these plans should be provided to all relevant parties. Towards the time of release, that may include community-based service providers and law enforcement. The program team-having established a plan geared towards re-entry from the start and modifying it throughout the period of incarceration-will have a clear outline for making release decisions and establishing a supervision strategy. (See Policy Statements 17 through 24 for more on making plans for a person's release back into the community that capitalize on skills and strengths developed during incarceration.)