TOP^®

He's getting out.
He wants to stay out.

Nationally, more than two million people occupy prison or jail space-approximately 50,000 of those incarcerated are in Michigan prisons alone. It's possible that over 90 percent of these prisoners will leave prison, but 60-75 percent of them will likely return-if we are unwilling to reach out to them.

The need for prisoner reentry programs is substantial, and will only become greater in the future as more and more thousands of men and women are released from prison each year. If these men and women aren't helped, there is a severe risk that they will return to prison, perhaps within weeks or months, handcuffed and facing longer sentences than before. This is a crisis for them, and a crisis for our country.

If he doesn't, everybody loses.
If he does, everybody comes out on top.

There is hope. Many of these men and women have committed or recommitted their lives to Christ while behind bars. TOP is working hard to provide the Christian community with the resources to make this not just a necessity but a reality.

Assuring their success upon release should be a high priority for the church community in this country-and for all Americans.

Making a Difference
TOP's success depends not only on the good intentions and discipline of the program's participants, but also on the committed, cooperative and visionary efforts of many others. Since 1992, TOP has been making a real difference. Click here to find out what others have been saying about TOP.

What Exactly Do We Do?
TOP, a program of New Creations Community Outreach, has provided prisoner reentry services to men and women in transition from prison and their families since 1993. Its primary objective is the rehabilitation of former prisoners through a comprehensive program of church integration, instruction, referrals and systematic mentoring. During its years of operation, TOP has effectively executed its stated ministry, as evidenced by the following activities and accomplishments:

• Saving Michigan taxpayers millions. It costs an average of $150,000 for each person sentenced to a Michigan prison for a new offense: $60,000 for the first year and $30,000 for each subsequent year, with an average sentence of four years.
• Providing leadership in substance abuse prevention and treatment as well as relapse prevention through program sponsorship and lectureships.
• Developing a global ministry of training and technical assistance in 25 cities, 18 states, and three foreign countries.
• Significantly reducing the risk/service needs of program participants, especially during the crucial first six-month period.
• Maintaining a high graduation rate despite working with ex-prisoners at medium to high risk for recidivism (return to prison).
• Hosting national conferences to provide inspiration, information, training, and resources, conferences that are attended by approximately 1200 participants from 44 states.

TOP is a proven success. A study, analyzing seven years of data, conducted by Leon Wilson, Ph.D., Chair for Sociology and Criminal Justice at Wayne State University showed that only 18% of TOP graduates had returned to prison up to three years after their first enrollment with TOP. Most of those who returned to prison did so because of a technical rule violation. TOP achieved a success rate of approximately 82% for graduates, and graduates were 10 times less likely to return to prison than a control group that received no services from the TOP program.

How Does TOP Work?
TOP trains individuals selected by their pastors to mentor those released from prison. Other non-church based mentors are recruited from the community. Leaders in the organization assess individuals who apply for entrance into the program to determine their level of risk for returning to prison. Once a participant is admitted, he or she is provided assistance in developing a realistic, effective transition plan, with the ultimate goal of completing a successful return to the community.

TOP maintains a start-up fund to reimburse churches and community based mentors for expenses associated with mentoring TOP program participants. It collaborates with a variety of agencies and ministries to provide referrals for clothing, food, employment, relapse prevention, and other necessities when the ex-prisoner's needs exceed the ability of the local church.