1st Step Male Diversion Program, Inc

PROJECT PURPOSE

Rather than incarcerating, 1st Step supports nonviolent prison bound young men in Tulsa County to overcome drug addiction, criminal thought patterns, and unhealthy relationships through a comprehensive 18-24 month program of supervised living, holistic counseling, education, and job training and placement. Participants adversely affected by mental and physical trauma, poverty and addiction work to become independent, financially stable, and socially responsible. 1st Step is a four-phase program. The young men progress through the program as they meet certain milestones. Each participant?s progress is monitored and evaluated in weekly staff meetings. In addition to the core programs, 1st Step participants attend life skill classes, parenting classes, financial literacy classes and if needed couple counseling and anger management. (40% of young men in the program have children.) In its four years of operation, 1st Step has enrolled 31 committed young men. As of February 2021, 13 have graduated from the program. One graduate has reoffended- a recidivism rate of 8%, compared to the Oklahoma standard of 23%.

EVIDENCE

Court, prosecutor and defense council agree that the arrested and charged individual will best be rehabilitated by the 1st Step program. They agree that anti-social behaviors will be significantly reduced.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The 1st Step Male Diversion Program generally serves a population of disadvantaged young men whose lack of parental support, inadequate education, negative peer relationships and other environmental factors, together with substance use disorders, are the fundamental forces leading to the non-violent criminal charges they are facing. These young men, their families, their intimate partners, their children (in many instances) and the victims of the property crimes they have committed comprise the ?community? most affected by their anti-social conduct. Moreover, 1st Step participants are disproportionately young men of color or ethnic minorities in lower economic societal strata. It is well documented that the lower socio-economic sectors and minorities have suffered disproportionately from the pandemic in terms of job loss or reduction, lack of adequate medical care, food deprivation, disconnection from internet education opportunities, to name but a few of the negative effects of the COVID-19 scourge. The population and communities associated with 1st Step participants largely fall within those most impacted. Therefore, public funds should be appropriately allocated to ameliorate these conditions.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

During intake, participants complete: ? Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS)- predicts likelihood of re-arrest, recidivism, ? Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS)- identifies relative values of 6 components of criminal thinking, ? Standard medical screening tools for depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD, alcohol problems, drug abuse. These tools are used by therapists to develop individualized treatment. Participant?s progress is evaluated during mandatory court dates. Participant progress is reviewed in bimonthly meeting with 1st Step staff, Supervision (Recovery Monitoring Solutions) and Therapy (Human Skills & Resources). Participants retake ORAS and TCU-CTS near program end to identify change in criminal thinking and likelihood of recidivism .

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma