First Year Evaluation of the Legal Action of Wisconsin Disabled Offenders Economic Security (DOES) Project Conducted for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections

Abstract

Among the most challenging populations released from Wisconsin Department of Corrections institutions are offenders with serious mental and physical disabilities that impede their ability to hold gainful employment and present serious mental and physical health conditions often requiring medications and continuing medical care. The Disabled Offenders Economic Security (DOES) Project offered assistance to prison inmates who have serious mental health and disability conditions prior to their release from DoC institutions. Legal Action of Wisconsin attorneys served as benefit specialists helping soon-to-be-released disabled offenders acquire Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, medical assistance, and other public benefits for which they qualify. This evaluation report summarizes early data on inmates served by the DOES project and their success rates in obtaining SSI, SSDI, Medicaid/Medicare and other benefits during the 2011 start-up year.