Judge Rice will often ask a defendant what he is going to do upon release from prison to determine whether the offender is likely to reoffend. “I often engage a defendant in allocution so I can hear more about (them).”

The Release Plan is divided into Six Parts.

  1. Before release, provide details of what you will be doing once released. This can be started by following example forms developed by Rikers Island, the MN Dept. of Corrections – ‘The National Institute of Corrections Manual, or the Release Plan Prep Guide. All of this will, or should (as nothing is Guaranteed), make you appear a better candidate for a Halfway House. These beds are limited, and Residential Reentry Managers want to fill these beds with people who will reenter society successfully. Is this You? This video doesn’t cover everything, but I hope it provides some constructive insight.

When writing your Narrative, Allocution, or Reentry Plan, read it through the Lens of YOUR STAKEHOLDERS: WHAT DO THEY NEED TO HEAR? Through their eyes, there are victims, and there was a crime, but without your narrative, all they have is the DOJ indictment of you – so you may appear like America’s “Most Wanted.”  Only you can change this. It’s best started before your Pre-sentence Interview and will continue to develop as you add to it during your stay in the BOP.