High Rate of Recidivism Before LAP
In 2007, 49% of ex-offenders in Marion County returned to prison within 3 years of being released; 55% returned within a year.
Since 2001, a dozen communities have used the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Leadership in Action Program (LAP) to develop results-based strategies for improving school readiness, economic well-being of families and strengthening vulnerable neighborhoods. In 2008, Marion County, Indiana became the first community to deploy LAP in order to address the growing problem of reentry into the prison system by ex-offenders. This report provides an overview of the LAP approach and how it has worked to foster teamwork, partnership and achieve tangible results in Marion County.
The Leadership in Action program provides a structured, supported process through which communities can work together to develop data-driven strategies to solve their most pressing issues. In Marion County, Indiana, leaders from such diverse groups as the Department of Corrections, elected officials, faith communities and educators came together through LAP to develop creative, innovative strategies for helping ex-offenders successfully reintegrate into the community upon their release from prison that yielded noticeable results within the first two years of implementation.