New Website Will Aid Oregon Prisoners Reentering Society

Oregon reenty wiki goes live - site provides information to ease transition from prison back to community‏.

Courtesy: brotherpeacemaker.files.wordpress.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - In an effort to improve offenders' successful transition from incarceration to community life, the Oregon Department of Corrections has created the new Oregon Reentry Wiki, and is partnering with local community corrections agencies to post information to the "one-stop-shop" Web site.

"Our intention is that the reentry wiki will become a valuable tool for offenders and their families, ensuring that they have access to state and local resources needed to successfully transition back into the community, after serving time in Oregon's prisons," said DOC Director Max Williams.

The site is modeled after the internationally-renowned Wikipedia Web site, which allows contributors from all over the world to voluntarily add, modify and monitor the accuracy of content on thousands of topics. Not only will DOC add and modify its own content, other service providers and counties will maintain their own section of the site.

The reentry wiki will allow offenders and their families to access information about services and programs provided by the state. It will also include information on local employment, housing and treatment options available to offenders upon release.

"The most important aspect of the wiki is that everything will be provided in one easy-to-use Web site," Williams explained.

The idea of the wiki was developed through the Governor's Reentry Council, as a means to improve offenders' ability to reintegrate into society and reduce the recidivism rate in Oregon's prison system.

The Oregon Reentry Wiki can be found at: oregonreentry.wikidot.com/