Office of Reentry Services

The Office of Reentry Services’ foundational approach is family-centered, amplifying the family’s voice and recognizing them as the experts in their lives, thus actively partnering with them throughout the pre-release planning process. Research shows that youth are more successful upon release when their families are engaged. The Youth Centered Reentry Team (YCRT) framework is an individualized approach that establishes a multi-disciplinary team, inclusive of the youth, family, and internal and external stakeholders. Using “in-reach” - a practice that connects youth and families to essential services and resources before release - this framework ensures the youth’s successful transition.

The Office of Reentry Services supports the implementation of the youth’s transition plan as he/she returns to the community. Each youth has an individualized transition plan that addresses protective factors and their specific needs. The Office of Reentry Services facilitates a youth’s connections to services, which may include education, employment, and mentoring, and supports the youth for up to 60 days post-release from secure long-term facilities.

The Reentry Process: Use of Evidence-Based Practices

The Mission of DJJ's Office of Reentry Services is to collaborate with youth, families, and internal and external stakeholders utilizing a researched based data driven approach to support Georgia's justice-impacted youth. Reentry is not one specific program; it is a philosophy and a process that starts when a youth initially enters the DJJ system and ends when the youth has been successfully reintegrated into the community as a prosocial, productive, law-abiding citizen. Georgia uses a variety of effective evidence-based programs and practices to reduce juvenile recidivism and help youth achieve positive outcomes.

Reentry Support

DJJ is committed to expanding and enhancing reentry services by cultivating resources, services, support, and ensuring continuity of care. Along with the team working on reentry planning, staff assist with reentry activities such as developing career readiness and employability skills, offering job fairs, assisting with college applications and preparation, reinstatement of insurance and healthcare coverage, and other supportive resources. Staff also facilitate referrals to various community providers for other supportive services such as clothing, employment, housing, and mentors.

Reentry Taskforce

The Georgia DJJ Reentry Taskforce is essential for improving reentry outcomes by increasing reentry support. Effective reentry planning and the delivery of aftercare services that support youth's successful reentry requires coordination across multiple agencies, state and local juvenile justice systems, other youth and family service systems, and service providers. The DJJ Reentry Taskforce convenes stakeholders to work together to support jurisdiction-wide reentry policy and practice changes.

Taskforce membership currently consists of state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The DJJ Reentry Taskforce utilizes “Collective Impact,” and it is divided into seven Subgroups with DJJ serving as the "backbone" organization. The subgroups are Family and Living Arrangements; Peer Groups and Friends; Behavior and Physical Health (Substance Use); Education and Schooling; Career and Technical Education; Leisure Time, and Recreation and Avocational Interests. Each subgroup is led by a chair and a co-chair operating in collaboration with DJJ Office of Reentry Services staff. Each subgroup works to increase services and remove barriers to youth success as the youth reenter their communities.

Reentry Family Advisory Committee

The Family Advisory Committee (FAC) is a group of volunteer family members who collaborate closely with the Georgia DJJ Office of Reentry Services (ORS) staff. Together, they find ways to enhance reentry planning and increase the likelihood of success for our youth and their families. The Family Advisory Committee’s vision is to empower families as the foundation of successful reentry by fostering collaboration, healing, and equity across Georgia communities.

Family Advisory Committee Overview Brochure (PDF, 2.4 MB)

Forensic Peer Mentors (FPM)

The Forensic Peer Mentors (FPM) are people living in recovery from mental health

and/or substance use challenges and have had personal lived experience with the

justice system. They operate from the perspective that individuals with lived experience who are managing mental health and/or substance use challenges and involvement with the justice system have the capacity to reclaim their lives and successfully live a life of meaning and purpose in the communities of their choice.

The Forensic Peer Mentor works to ensure the assigned youth receives the support needed to reach their individual recovery goals, reduce recidivism, and live meaningful and productive lives in the community. Forensic Peer Mentor services provide several key benefits, including connecting youth to community mental health services, advocating for the youth when the youth cannot do so on their own behalf, and supporting youth and families’ connection to counseling, medical, and dental services.

Additionally, the Forensic Peer Mentor can accompany the youth & family to initial post-release appointments to facilitate a comfortable connection with providers, educate other judicial agencies about recovery, assist with probation challenges and concerns, and connect to food, clothing, and housing resources. A Forensic Peer Mentor is an individual with a history of justice involvement who helps coordinate necessary services to support youths’ successful reintegration.