Unlocking Doors, or just ‘Doors’ for short, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas which was founded in 2010. This organization is statewide and offers a support network which facilitates workforce re-entry and reduces recidivism rates for its previously incarcerated clients. Within a three-year period following a previously incarcerated individual's release, Unlocked Doors seeks to achieve at least a 20% decrease in recidivism, which adds up to no more than 26% of clients offending once again– in comparison to current recidivism rates of 32%. The mission statement of Unlocking Doors is “a statewide reentry brokerage network that is committed to reducing crime through coordinated collaboration, partnership, public awareness, reporting of evidence-based data and predictive trends, education, and training.”[1] To achieve this goal, Unlocking Doors works to help create a safer and more productive society by “revolutionizing reentry service delivery to former offenders through individual and community empowerment, education, and engagement.”[2]

      This non-profit organization prides itself on providing an entirely unique process for previously incarcerated individuals. This process is called the ‘Reentry Brokerage Process’ which seeks to uplift this marginalized population through a ‘seamless’ transition from carceral institutions and back into their communities and larger society as a whole. Incarcerated individuals from all sorts of criminal backgrounds are allowed to apply for support through Unlocking Doors, even if the individual has been out of the carceral system for a long period of time. Through a coordinated effort between Texan organizations, programs, and employers, Unlocking Doors seeks to encourage self-sufficiency, reduce the fiscal impact of incarceration within the state of Texas, and facilitate a new stage of life for individuals who have previously been incarcerated.

      For only one initial $10 enrollment fee, previously incarcerated individuals have access to Unlocked Doors’ network of comprehensive support. Unlocked Doors has an on-site location wherein interested parties may meet with a ‘Reentry Broker’ in order to discuss their individual case as well as conduct a comprehensive intake interview. After completing an Unlocked Doors application, the client goes through a risk/needs assessment which will discern the client’s risk for recidivism, their needs, as well as the client’s skill sets. Once a client’s case is officially undertaken by Unlocked doors, the organization provides their client an action plan which has prioritized their individual immediate needs and been customized for the client’s specific case. Once a client’s action plan is developed, Unlocked Doors supports clients in the full execution of their action plans. Individual brokers and their teams become familiar with client’s cases to provide appropriate referrals within the community network of Unlocking Doors. As their website states, “Once an individual becomes an Unlocking Doors client, they are always a client.”[3]

      Unlocking Doors makes the effort to familiarize themselves with individual client cases through monitoring, attentive case support, and measuring the impact of the organization’s efforts. As clients work through their action plans, they are guided by Unlocking Doors brokers who have been trained to meet individual needs and unique circumstances. The data from client monitoring is used to improve the program further, as clients’ needs may require the brokers to adapt in novel ways.[4]

      Reentry is not an easy process for previously incarcerated individuals, and the challenges faced by clients inform advocacy efforts to improve criminal justice, restorative justice, and transformative justice policies within the state of Texas. Unlocked Doors is “committed to reducing crime through coordinated collaboration, partnership, public awareness, reporting of evidence-based data and predictive trends, education, and training.”[5]

ENDNOTES

[1] https://www.unlockingdoors.org/who-we-are

[2] https://www.unlockingdoors.org/what-we-do

[3] https://www.unlockingdoors.org/what-we-do

[4] https://www.unlockingdoors.org/what-we-do

[5] https://www.unlockingdoors.org/who-we-are