Residential Services

A Pre-release Center (PRC) is an intermediate step between prisons and the community. Offenders live in the PRC where they receive twenty four hour a day supervision for approximately six months. PRC residents are required to obtain employment, participate in counseling, abstain from the use of drugs or alcohol, maintain strict accountability for facility rules, and to demonstrate that they are ready to return to the community as productive citizens.

The Alpha House, a Pre-release Center for adult male offenders in downtown Billings, was the original service provided by Alternatives, Inc. Today, pre-release services are available for the state and federal prison systems.

Halfway Out

Prior to the existence of PRC's many prisoners entered the community ill prepared to be productive citizens because they could not locate employment or because the temptation to use alcohol or illegal drugs was too great. The intent of PRC programs is to give offenders the opportunity to return to society in a gradual manner that prepares them to avoid a criminal lifestyle.

Halfway In

Offenders may also be placed directly in a PRC from the community. Examples may include an offender who is failing to meet the conditions of probation or parole, or a newly adjudicated offender for whom treatment and close supervision is necessary, but prison is not.

Security

Clients of Alternatives, Inc. participate in a rigorous security program that includes weekly urinalysis (pictured above), room searches, agenda checks, personal searches, and roll calls.

Selection

Each offender is screened for PRC placement by representatives of law enforcement, probation and parole, PRC personnel, and in many cases by treatment providers. Only those offenders who show potential for success and are an acceptable risk in the community are accepted. Security and public safety are of paramount importance.

Case Management

Upon arrival, offenders are assessed and assigned to appropriate programs and services selected to manage and correct social, psychological, substance abuse, anger control, and educational deficiencies. The offender is given responsibility for his or her own behavior and success. Progress is monitored by several teams of Alternatives, Inc. staff including...

• Resident Team: Monitors performance weekly
• Case Management Team: Special needs
• Contract Team: Establishes individual requirements
• Disciplinary Team: Manages rule violations

Teamwork

Both the jail alternatives and residential programs rely on staff teams to oversee operations. Teamwork empowers staff members, irrespective of their job description, to become actively involved in the agency's mission: the treatment and supervision of offenders.

Outcomes

Strict accountability is the rule. Resident who fail to follow their treatment plan or fail to adhere to the rules are returned to prison. Upon graduation the successful resident has completed chemical dependency treatment, anger management, criminal thinking errors training, been employed for four to six months, saved a minimum of $500, and maintained criminal-free conduct for at least six months.