Lehigh County

Lehigh County CJAB/Pinebrook’s Forensic Services Department

The Lehigh County Criminal Justice Advisory Board established its Reentry Subcommittee in 2005.wp_posts  Today members of the Subcommittee include representatives from the county departments of corrections, probation and parole, pretrial services, drug and alcohol, and mental health. Staff from non-profits that provide community-based reentry services also serve on the Subcommittee including Pinebrook Family Answers, Haven House, the Lehigh Conference of Churches and Neighborhood Health Clinics of the Lehigh Valley.wp_posts  This is a strong collaborative group that works together to improve reentry planning, policies and practices throughout Lehigh County.wp_posts  Dr. Joyce Dougherty has served on the Reentry Subcommittee since 2006, and currently is Pinebrook Family Answers’ Forensic Grant Writer and Project Coordinator.wp_posts  Pinebook’s Forensic Services Department provides a wide range of evidence-based services throughout the Lehigh Valley including Thinking for a Change and Parenting Inside Out to men and women housed at the county jails in Lehigh and Northampton.wp_posts  Thinking for a Change has proven to be a highly effective pre-release reentry program.wp_posts  Tracking the men and women who completed a full cycle of Thinking for a Change for twelve-months after they were discharged from the Northampton County Jail, a recidivism rate (measured as returns to the jail for a new charge and/or a technical violation) of 21 percent has been documented.wp_posts  That is a 10 percent reduction in the jail’s baseline recidivism rate of 31 percent 12-months after discharge.wp_posts  With support from a contract with the Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Department, a pre- and post-release Reentry Group for men and women will be launched in the summer of 2017.wp_posts  Pinebrook’s Forensic Services Department also operates a Transitional Housing program, specifically targeting women with mental health issues exiting the Lehigh County Jail.

Clickwp_posts HERE for the Lehigh County Synopsis of Pinebrook Family Answers’ Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program Application:wp_posts Leaving Jail: A Comprehensive, Regional Reentry Program for Women

Joyce Dougherty, Ph.D.
Dr. Dougherty’s current reentry role, representing Lehigh County in the PRC, is as a member of the county’s CJAB Subcommittee Reentry Committee.wp_posts  She has participated in all of the L.C. CJAB strategic planning sessions over the years and has played a key role in bringing evidence-based programming to the county jail.wp_posts  Dr. Dougherty also is a Professor of Practice at Moravian College, specializing in corrections, and women and crime.

Clickwp_posts herewp_posts to email Joyce.