Just about all jail inmates will leave correctional settings and return to various communities throughout Guilford County. Inadequate transition planning can put jail inmates, who entered the jail in a state of crises, back on the streets in the middle of the same crises. The outcomes of inadequate transition planning include the compromise of public safety, increased disability secondary to health and behavioral health symptoms, hospitalization, suicide, homelessness, new criminal offenses, and rearrests. With most inmates being released within a very short period, often without notice, jails present unique challenges to transition planning.
The Guilford County Re-entry Program is a new community organization that exists to assist formerly incarcerated or currently incarcerated with transitional planning. We act as a liaison between the client and services such as substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, housing assistance, etc. To receive services from the Guilford County Re-entry Program you must be a resident of Guilford County.
Frequently Asked Questions
An inmate may receive letters with a full return address on the envelope. They may receive five photos (no larger than 5" by 7") per mailing. They may receive regular-sized greeting cards, without glitter on them or those with sound-generating devices. They may receive pages from the internet as long as it isn't an excessive amount or indecent. They may not receive mail that is unsanitary (with lipstick, etc.) on it, newspaper clippings, pages torn from books or magazines, no drawings larger than 8" by 11", no stickers on the envelopes (other than an address label), no bookmarks, no calendars, no glued or taped items, or solicitations of any kind. You may purchase a newspaper or magazine subscription for the inmate, but you cannot leave newspapers or magazines for them or mail them yourself. No magazine subscriptions will be accepted if it is deemed to be a security risk.
Any individual released from a Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro or High Point is eligible for the Guilford County Re-entry Program.
Services provided by the Guilford County Re-entry Program are free.
If you are inside the Guilford County jails, send a message to "re-entry" using the kiosk in your housing unit.
No matter how long ago or recently your release was, you are eligible for the Guilford County Re-entry Program if you are a Guilford County resident. However, services may vary depending on your release date.
The Guilford County Re-entry Program can assist with connecting people to:
- Housing assistance
- Food assistance
- Mental health treatments
- Substance abuse treatments
- Job training
- Employment
- Family support services
- Child care
- Education opportunities, such as obtaining a GED or certifications
Have a Question?
You can email us directly at GCRC@guilfordcountync.gov, submit through our contact form below, or use one of our other contact methods.
Dr. Lakisha Ellison, Behavioral Health Division Director
Phone: 336-641-2108
Email: lellison@guilfordcountync.gov
Location:
Guilford County Courthouse
505 E. Green Drive (Room 132)
High Point, NC 27262
Jail Diversion Program
We are the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Jail Diversion Program, a dedicated team of professionals and advocates committed to reshaping the trajectory of individuals living with serious mental health and substance use disorder who are navigating facing justice system involvement. We assist individuals in recognizing their substance use and/or mental health challenges that may impact their behaviors, thus leading to justice system involvement. We work to engage communal and family support while partnering with the client's legal team or community providers to address unmet treatment needs. With a strong foundation in compassion, collaboration, and innovation, we strive to provide a smooth and immediate transition between mental health, substance use services, and the criminal justice system, offering a lifeline of hope, treatment, and rehabilitation to those in need. Together, we can reduce recidivism, promoting healing and a brighter future for Guilford County residents through services such as:
- Peer Support
- Court Liaise
- Case Management
- Information and Referrals
- Family Support Services
Our vision is a future where justice focuses on treatment and rehabilitation for non-violent offenders who are living with SMI or co-occurring SUD. We envision a society where individuals in the justice system are provided with the tools and opportunities to transform their lives, contributing positively to their communities. Our program aspires to be a beacon of innovation and compassion, leading the way in reshaping the criminal justice landscape by promoting second chances, reducing recidivism, and fostering a more equitable and inclusive society.
Our mission is to empower individuals involved in the criminal justice system with the support and resources they need to divert from incarceration towards a path of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Through a holistic and client-centered approach, we strive to address the underlying social, mental health, and substance abuse issues that contribute to their involvement in the justice system. By fostering collaboration among community stakeholders, we aim to promote a safer, more just, and compassionate society where individuals receive the assistance that they need to break the cycle of incarceration and lead fulfilling lives.
Individuals who are in the Detention Center for non-violent offences and individuals who are in the Detention Center and impacted by their serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder are eligible.
Guilford County Detention Center
201 S. Edgeworth St.,
Greensboro, NC 27401
Dr. Lakisha Ellison, Behavioral Health Division Director
Phone: 336-641-2108
Email: Lellison@guilfordcountync.gov