Allegheny County DRC aids released individuals, tracks referrals | The Locally Times
The Allegheny County Discharge and Release Center provides resources and referrals to individuals leaving incarceration, initiating referral tracking in November 2020.
This initiative aims to connect individuals with outside agencies to address basic needs. The DRC began tracking these referrals on November 1, 2020. ## DRC Operations and Services The DRC provides practical assistance to individuals before their release. This includes transit tickets for bus or light rail use, NARCAN, and appropriate clothing if needed, as detailed on the Allegheny County Emergency Services Discharge and Release Center page. Individuals can also request a letter verifying their incarceration. Before release, individuals visit the DRC where a Discharge Coordinator assesses immediate needs. The coordinator then recommends agencies and organizations that can provide support in the community. These recommendations cover areas such as shelter, housing, mental health services, substance use support, legal aid, medical care, and transportation. The DRC provides materials for these options, which individuals can take with them for reference. The DRC's stated focus is on removing barriers for individuals, aiming to provide them with a greater opportunity for success upon leaving the jail. Staff at the center believe a supportive release process better equips individuals to return home and that connecting them with appropriate resources assists in their success, as documented on the Allegheny County Emergency Services website. However, the specific contents of this PDF, including the number of individuals assisted, the types of referrals made, or the long-term outcomes of these referrals, are not publicly available in the provided source material. This absence of detailed statistics prevents a public assessment of the program's reach or its effectiveness in fostering successful re-entry. The records do not specify the names of the outside agencies that receive the majority of these referrals. Information regarding the capacity of these agencies to absorb and assist referred individuals is also not available in the provided documents. The lack of data on specific partner organizations limits understanding of the network supporting individuals post-release. The Allegheny County Emergency Services website does not provide details on the annual budget allocated to the DRC. Additionally, the records do not outline specific metrics beyond referral tracking that the county uses to assess the program's success in achieving its stated goal of removing barriers and equipping individuals for successful re-entry. The demonstrated impact of these services on recidivism rates or individuals' long-term stability is not quantified in the available documentation, leaving open questions about the program's overall impact on public safety and community well-being. ## Program Oversight and Unanswered Questions The Discharge and Release Center operates as a component of the County Jail, falling under the purview of Allegheny County's government structure, as indicated by its placement within the Allegheny County Emergency Services directory. Timothy Cox serves as the Director of the DMB. While the DMB oversees county-wide financial efforts, the specific budgetary details for the DRC are not itemized in the general DMB description. The absence of publicly available data on the DRC's budget prevents an assessment of its investment relative to the broader costs associated with re-incarceration or the potential economic benefits from successful re-entry. Similarly, the number of staff supporting the DRC's operations is not specified in the provided records. While the DRC makes housing referrals, the specific connection between the DRC's efforts and this broader county housing initiative remains undefined in the provided documents. The full scope of the DRC's contribution to county-wide re-entry goals, and the accountability for its long-term outcomes, remains unclear without more detailed public reporting on its operations and results.