The purpose of this paper is to offer an agenda for practice, research, and policy in the domain of reentry. This agenda reflects the outlook of the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA), a community-based organization that has a broad view of reentry policy and practice grounded in its experience in conducting advocacy work with courts, defense attorneys, and individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system. This work has included providing sentencing planning services to defense attorneys, outpatient drug treatment services to court-mandated women, employment and HIV-related services to reentering inmates, and aftercare services for people in recovery who have a history of involvement in the criminal justice system. Historically, CCA's primary focus has been as a provider of direct services. During the past four years it has undertaken a policy and research initiative, "Justice Strategies," that has allowed for the development of advocacy work in the public policy arena.

This paper begins by describing CCA's work and perspective and the ways in which that perspective relates to reentry; describes the context in which reentry advocacy work takes place; presents our vision of reentry planning; offers a research agenda designed to illuminate factors and processes in a way that can promote a strategy for rational reentry-related practice and policy making; and offers recommendations for practice, policy, and advocacy around reentry issues.