If the county jail located in the county where the committed person was residing immediately before his or her conviction for the offense for which he or she is serving sentence in the Department of Corrections has a reentry program for committed persons, the Department may transfer the committed person to the sheriff of the county where the reentry program is located for up to 12 months before the committed person’s release date for participation in the reentry program. No transfer shall be made without the written approval of the sheriff of that county.