ROSELAND, NJ (February 14, 2005)�Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC) is pleased to announce the the acceptance of an article entitled �Helping Offenders Reenter Society� for publication in the April issue of Corrections Today, which is published by the American Correctional Association. The article describes CEC�s continuum of care model, which uses a �step-down� approach to providing transitional programming to better prepare offenders to reenter the community.

Offenders face many obstacles when returning to the community such as finding a job and housing. Yet, often these offenders are unprepared to meet these challenges and many, unable to secure such needs, return to crime in order to survive.

�Inmates who are at the highest risk for re-offending often do not receive treatment prior to their release from custody,� according to Ralph Fretz, PhD, Director of Assessment and Research at CEC.

Outcome research indicates that the continuum of care model is not only essential to successful reentry, but has been found to reduce recidivism in a high-risk offender population. The reentry continuum of care model consists of multiple phases: the institutional phase, the �step-down� phase, the community release phase and aftercare. The first phase focuses on a comprehensive assessment of the offender�s risk level and treatment needs. The �step-down� phase is designed to provide treatment in a modified therapeutic community, which rewards pro-social behavior. Residents participate in role-playing exercises designed to teach new skills and prepare them for challenges they are likely to face in the outside word. During the community release phase, the offender�s risks and needs are matched with the appropriate release center services.

�CEC continues to be committed to providing a seamless continuum of care to meet the needs of offenders in its care and to better prepare them for successful reentry into the community,� said John J. Clancy, President and CEO of Community Education Centers.