SUPPORTED TRANSITIONS FROM PRISON TO COMMUNITY: Evaluating VACRO’s ReLink and ReConnect programs

The Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) works to support people as they transition out of prison and return to their families and communities. Its mission is to ‘to support new beginnings for clients of the correctional system and their families, and build safer and stronger communities’. This report presents an evaluation of two VACRO programs, ReLink and ReConnect. Both are intended for men who are serving 12 months or more in prison, or meet a range of other criteria; and all women with sufficient time remaining in prison to participate. ReLink operates to prepare participants for pre-release while ReConnect provides post-release reintegration support. Both programs form part of the Corrections Victoria reintegration pathway.