Accelerator | Unbundle Policing: Reimagine Public Safety Challenge

TRS by Power in Passion

Team Leader

Katy Kelly

Solution Name

One-line solution summary:

Person centered Total Reentry Solution that reduces recidivism; improves social determinants of health & decreases police contact.

What specific problem are you solving?

45% of annual prison admissions are a result of supervision violations.

Technical violations (noncompliant but non-criminal behaviors) account for 25%.

Community supervision is meant to support people returning to society after incarceration. While the Department of Corrections agrees; their solution is to threaten jail time for noncompliance and not address the many barriers faced during reentry.

To explain:

Only 52% under supervision are employed.
Less than two-thirds of those under supervision are employable.
1 in 4 do not have a high school diploma or GED.
More than 1 in 10 do not have stable housing.

Jail time and revocations only multiply hurdles and demolish any foundational progress the individual has worked so hard to create.

Only 17.4% of those revoked who are employable have work.
45% revoked do not have a high school diploma or GED
People who are revoked are over two times more likely to have unstable housing.

Any contact with police is an automatic violation and in all of the instances above unnecessary police contact is the norm. Police encounters involving justice impacted individuals are at increased risk of escalation and tragic outcomes.

Pitch your solution.

TRS is a digital solution on its way to becoming a digital therapeutic that reduces technical violations and overall recidivism. Therefore reducing police contact and the heightened chance of escalation in one of the most high risk population groups. This is accomplished through resource connection, support systems, CBT, DBT, and MRT, substance use treatment, soft skills, life skills, crisis intervention, appointment reminders, transitional housing, continuum of care housing services, landlord mitigation fund programming, education (literacy, GED, college, trades, social entrepreneurship), long term supportive housing, employer matching and placements with continued employment support, peer supports - the list could continue- but to summarize our solution focuses on addressing all social determinants of health that a RC is exposed to.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

TRS is currently in the pilot stage of development. The City of Lansing holds the regional Michigan Department of Corrections Offender Success contract which encompasses Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties in Michigan. They are piloting our TRS app and have also brought our parent company, Power in Passion on to create the programming and implementation for a longer stay reentry transitional housing model we presented to them. Additionally, St. Vincent DePaul is using TRS to facilitate them in growing relationships and assisting individuals on parole. Lastly, Ingham County Pretrial services refers all their clients to the Power in Passion app for resource help and community connection. In total these pilots will include about 500 justice impacted individuals and 100+ community organizations.