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Overview of the Good Samaritan Network

The Good Samaritan Network (the "GSN") is a collaboration of non-profit, civic, and faith-based members who agree to strive to help individuals who are released from correctional facilities.  The GSN is not a legal partnership and the members of the GSN and individual mentors have no legal obligations to provide services to ex-offenders. Each member of the GSN signs a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU"), which spells this out in more detail.

Faith-based, non-profit, and civic organizations are asked to join in this ground breaking project that will have the potential to help over 6,576 people who leave TDOC each year.  Many of them leave with no job, no money, no family, and some without a place to live.

Ideally, there will be a faith-based, non-profit, or civic organization in each county that will serve as a member in the Good Samaritan Network. According to Department of Correction statistics, there will be some counties that will require only one member per county due to the lack of returning offenders in their area.  In the case of a heavily populated county, several organizations may be sought to join the network.  When there is only one member per county, this member will serve as a central location for services, with a contact person, as described in the MOU.

In 2008, TDOC was granted three full time AmeriCorps Vista members to help further develop the GSN, one in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. In 2009, the number of AmeriCorps VISTA members in the GSN was increated to eight. We currently have VISTA members in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Clarksville.

The Network At Work

This is the way the GSN works:

  1. A counselor at a TDOC/CCA institution interviews the offender to determine specific needs several months prior to release.  The length of time may vary, but at least 180 days prior to release.
  2. The counselor checks the Good Samaritan Network database for the contact or liaison for the county of residence for that offender.
  3. The counselor calls the contact or liaison, describes the needs of the offender, and gives some general information about the offender:  name, age, race, address, phone number, date of release, etc.
  4. The offender is contacted by the appointed mentor to begin the mentoring process.
  5. One week prior to the offenders release date, the counselor calls the county contact or liaison for the offender. The offender speaks to the contact or liaison about the services needed. Contact or liaison confirms the services needed and relays information to the offender on the status of the services needed.
  6. When the offender is released to the designated county, he/she goes to the Good Samaritan Network member to meet with the contact person or liaison, or members of the GSN meet the inmate at the institution.
  7. The offender receives the immediate services that were agreed upon prior to release from the institution.  Ex.) A Good Samaritan basket, job referrals, etc.

Our goal is to improve success of returning offenders.

The Wonders of Networking

The after care process should go as follows:

  1. A parole/probation officer at the local Board of Probation & Parole Office discovers or is made aware of several needs that a particular offender has during the scheduled reporting time.
  2. The parole/probation officer checks the Good Samaritan Network coordinator for the contact or liaison of a partner in the area.
  3. The parole/probation officer calls the contact or liaison, describes the needs of the offender, and gives some general information about the offender:  name, age, race, address, phone number, employer, etc.
  4. Depending on the services needed, the offender may go to the Good Samaritan Network member to coordinate the services. The contact or liaison also appoints the offender a mentor and alerts the parole/probation officer of the offender's status.
  5. At this point, the mentor may, but has no legal obligation to, assist the offender with gaining employment, finding affordable housing, entering substance abuse/mental health programs when necessary, and obtaining vital records.
  6. The mentor may serve as a liaison between the probation/parole officer and the offender, giving a status report to the officer on a regular basis.
  7. The offender continues supervision with fewer problems.

Each Good Samaritan member will strive to contribute in the following ways, but will have no legal obligation to do so:

  1. Provide emergency food for people with no jobs or who have been working less than two weeks (food box or food vouchers.)
  2. Provide clothing for those in need.  For example:  clothing for job interviews, and employment as well as recreational clothing are essential.  Starting a clothes closet or giving by direct donations may answer this need.
  3. Provide emergency assistance with housing needs.
  4. Provide a Good Samaritan basket.  This would include essentials such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, a t-shirt and underwear.  These items are often overlooked during the reentry process.
  5. Provide a mentor. Mentor is a Greek term meaning "adviser" or "wise person." Mentors will strive to provide support, encouragement and guidance to offenders or ex-offenders participating in the Good Samaritan Network by meeting with them regularly to listen and to share knowledge and experience, provided Members will have no legal obligaton to perform these duties.
  6. Develop an employment listing by identifying business owners that would be willing to hire qualified individuals regardless of their background for meaningful employment.
  7. Provide transportation to work for those who do not have an automobile via church van or bus passes, when available. Transportation assistance may not be available in some areas.
  8. Provide life skills, substance abuse, and/or cognitive based programming, when or if available.

If you would like to become a member of the GSN, click here for a printable copy of the MOU (in pdf format)(110 kb).  To send a signed copy of the MOU, fax to (615) 741-1055, Attention: Director of Volunteer Services.

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