Why should a community replicate Gemma?

In the past three decades, the number of women incarcerated in prisons and jails in the United States has increased more than 750%.

Local governments spend $25 billion annually to operate the 3,116 jails across the United States. Jails are considered the front door to mass incarceration.

These precious local resources continue to be spent as neither a response to an increase in crime nor an effective prevention of it.

We believe women and communities across the country need access to a program that has proven success in reducing harm to individuals and communities and saves money.

• The average annual cost of detaining a person in jail in the US is approximately $34,000 and results in approximately 70% of those individuals returning to jail once released

• The cost of the Gemma Program is approximately $8,000, and results in only 30% returning to jail once released

What does model replication support include?

Model site replication support includes structured, hands-on site and data analysis, identification of local partners as well as barriers, curriculum instruction and training for jurisdictions to implement their own Gemma In-custody Day Program and Continuing Care Reentry Program.

We also provide on-going technical assistance to assure each program is operating to fidelity, overcoming barriers, and producing positive human and financial results.

Site Replication generally occurs over 18 months and includes the following steps:

Step 1: READINESS ASSESSMENT

• Needs and Assets Assessment

• Landscape and Resource Analysis

• Policy and Politics Analysis

Step 2: RECOMMENDATION ROADMAP

• Provide Jurisdictions with next steps to implementation including:

  • Identification of key partners

  • Creation and leveraging of existing resources

  • Potential solutions to barriers

Step 3: IMPLEMENTATION

• Convening of Local Partnership Coalition

• Customization of curriculum to meet local needs

• Assistance with in-custody coordination

• Curriculum training for program providers and system partners

• Data collection training including data sharing agreements

• Assistance with launch of program

Step 4: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• to problem solve implementation challenges

• to assure program is operating to fidelity

• to assure accurate data collection and analysis of outcomes and results

• regular All-Site Gemma Project National Coalition meeting for problem solving, innovation and resource sharing, and an opportunity to learn from each other