SCREEN - Second Chance Re-Entry Network


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In 2006 CPM initiated Second Chance Re-Entry Network (SCREEN). SCREEN is a countywide network that builds collaboration with all organizations that affect ex-offenders.


SCREEN Purpose


To create a safer community by developing an integrated response to change behavior by addressing ex-offenders’ needs.


SCREEN Goals


  1. To create initiatives for employment, housing, mentoring, etc. (www.SCREENjobs.org)
  2. To increase employer and public support.
  3. To improve collaboration and coordination, eliminating gaps.

SCREEN Members


Superintendent and Work Release Staff at Union County (UC) Correctional; the UC Sheriff; the District Supervisor of NC DOC Probation and Parole; the US Probation Office; South Piedmont Community College; Employment Security Commission; business people; the community shelter; halfway houses; real estate professionals; rental housing owners and managers; and the UC Human Resource Director.


As of June, 2008 there were 24 agencies and organizations collaborating with SCREEN.


The Four Levels of SCREEN


SCREEN offers total care initiatives for transitioning inmates and ex-offenders on four levels. Detailed progress and results in each of the four levels is available in the SCM 2008 Annual Report.


  1. Countywide Level – SCM assists other counties to implement its model;
  2. Individual Partner Sites - SCM helps build each partner’s capacity to be more effective – from implementation, to on-site programs, to tracking;
  3. Individual Cases – SCM provides customized ex-offender goal-setting and support;
  4. An individual’s Character and motivational issues (particularly with options for faith-based groups) – SCM provides materials for mentors, teaching events for ex-offenders and other offerings to support continued learning and spiritual development.

Details of each of the 4 levels of SCREEN are outlined in the 2008 SCREEN White Paper.


Note: In Union County SCREEN also has had the full support of all the County Commissioners. CPM has a contract with Union County that is overseen by the Sheriff’s office to conduct the Life Skills (LS) program inside the UCJ and TC&S program which follows up with LS participants upon release.


The “4” P Strategy


The mainstay of our program is our staff and volunteers working our Total Care & Support cases with our “4” P strategy. We use our tools to:


  1. Get the Picture;
  2. Make a Plan
  3. Get People and resources to do the plan, and
  4. Keep track of Progress.

In 2008, the SCM Ex-Offender Program Director and SCREEN Coordinator were able to assist 62 new ex-offenders and are tracking an additional 137. As a result of both faith-based and community efforts, only 7 of the 62 SCREEN ex-offenders returned with a new conviction (or 11%).


Growing the SCREEN Model


SCREEN reflects the goals of both the federally mandated Second Chance Act and of the NC Office of Transition Services (OTS) “to lessen recidivism and to restore offenders to being productive members of society.”


In its efforts to expand it services in order to break the Recidivism Cycle nationwide, the SCM SCREEN model has been made transferrable for use in other counties. If you are interested in the SCREEN concept, click here to access a downloadable PDF interest survey form.


SCREEN Partner Sites


In 2007 our SCREEN partner, Restoration House, started as a SCREEN site, where we trained and placed six mentors. In mid-2008 we started working in the Union Correctional Center, a work release prison, with about 20 inmates, concentrating on those a year or less away from their release date.