Erie crime reduction program tops 100 clients - GoErie.com

The Erie County Re-Entry Services and Support Alliance has provided services to people leaving prison and to participants in Unified Erie's call-in.

Madeleine O'Neill @ETNONeill

As prosecutors have been focusing on gangs in the courtroom, another major piece of Unified Erie's anti-violence initiative has been pushing back against crime in other parts of the community.

The Erie County Re-Entry Services and Support Alliance has provided help to 105 people since it opened in September, said Sheila Silman, ECRSSA's program manager. The alliance offers case management services to clients re-entering the community from prison and to participants in Unified Erie's first call-in. The call-in offered help to people connected to crime or connected to criminals in exchange for walking away from crime.

The 105 people include clients who have received re-entry services after prison and those who asked for help after attending the April 26 call-in. Silman declined to break down how many had been helped as part of the re-entry services as opposed to the call-in program.

"The service that we do and the help that we provide to individuals is the same no matter how they came to us," Silman said.

Previously, Silman has said that 10 of the 13 young men who attended the call-in followed up with ECRSSA as of early May. The call-in participants, who were identified by law enforcement as being involved in crime or connected with people who are, were offered help navigating services in exchange for walking away from crime.

Silman said it is likely the next call-in will take place before the end of the year.

Of the 105 people who have received case management services from ECRSSA, Silman said 50 percent have received help finding employment.

ECRSSA's three case managers have also helped connect 33 percent of clients with mental health services, 41 percent with drug and alcohol services, and 25 percent with education services, among others, Silman said.

ECRSSA does not provide these services, but helps clients access existing resources that might feel overwhelming without assistance.

"When the individual is looking to make changes, it’s very helpful to have someone there who knows the system," Silman said. "When people struggle, they get overwhelmed and they quit or they go back to what they know."

Silman said early numbers indicate that ECRSSA's clients have not fallen back into crime. None of program's clients have been convicted of a new crime or returned to state prison due to a significant parole violation since they began receiving case management services, she said.

Madeleine O'Neill can be reached at 870-1728 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ETNoneill.

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