National Reentry Resource Center

April 2010 National Reentry Resource Center Newsletter

Features

Collaboration: We Can’t Do it Alone!

Improving the long-term success rates of people leaving prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities cannot be done by any agency alone. The critical intersection between incarceration and community is an opportunity for government and community stakeholders to come together and tackle one of toughest challenges we face this decade: improving reentry outcomes. As reentry efforts are designed and implemented, understanding how to use partnerships and collaborate effectively can dramatically enhance these outcomes.

To read more, please click here.

Second Chance Act Grantee Profile

Occasionally, the Justice Center will spotlight a state, local government, or nonprofit organization that has received funding through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Second Chance Act Grant Program.

Program: ARCHS’ Reentry Community Partnership
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Grantee Type: Adult Mentoring

Program Summary

Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) is one of twenty-one state-designated community partnerships in Missouri, and has worked for twelve years to expand education, community health care, and workforce development programs in the St. Louis area. By building collaborative partnerships among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations, ARCHS leverages public and private investments to expand the impact on the Greater St. Louis community. ARCHS is a partner of the Missouri Reentry Process, created in 2005 by the Missouri Department of Corrections, and for the past four years, ARCHS has co-sponsored the Missouri Reentry Conference, which brings together organizations from around Missouri to discuss best practices and success stories. ARCHS also provides strategic management support to the St. Louis Alliance for Reentry, which provides the opportunity for St. Louis-area community-based and government agencies to work together to overcome barriers to reentry.

ARCHS has a history of successfully implementing federally funded reentry life skills and job training/placement programs. In 2007, ARCHS implemented a U.S. Department of Labor reentry grant that provided services to 650 individuals returning from incarceration—350 of whom were placed in jobs. In 2009, ARCHS was the only organization in Missouri to be awarded a Second Chance Act grant by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice. Second Chance Act funds will enable ARCHS to partner with the Missouri Department of Corrections to implement an innovative mentoring program at two Missouri prisons—Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri, and the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific, Missouri. To learn more about ARCHS, please visit www.stlarchs.org.

Funding Opportunities

• Second Chance Act Program to Evaluate and Improve Educational Methods for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles, U.S. Department of Justice

  • On April 26, 2010, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the Second Chance Act Program to Evaluate and Improve Educational Methods for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles solicitation which will provide funding to a state, unit of local government, territory, "federally recognized Indian tribe," or other public or private entity to evaluate methods to improve academic and vocational education for incarcerated adults and juveniles, identify and make recommendations to the Department of Justice regarding best practices relating to academic and vocational education for incarcerated adults and juveniles, and to improve the academic and vocational education programs available to incarcerated adults and juveniles. The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. ET on June 10, 2010.

• Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles, U.S. Department of Justice

  • On April 26, 2010,the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles solicitation which will provide funding to states, units of local government, territories, and "federally recognized Indian tribes" to establish programs to train individuals in prisons, jails, or juvenile residential facilities for technology-based jobs and careers during the three-year period before their release. The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. ET on June 10, 2010.

• Second Chance Act Reentry Demonstration Program: Targeting Offenders with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, U.S. Department of Justice

  • On April 19, 2010, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the solicitation for the Second Chance Act Reentry Demonstration Program: Targeting Offenders with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders. Funding under this solicitation is available to help state and local government agencies and federally recognized Indian tribes establish or enhance residential substance abuse treatment programs in correctional facilities that include aftercare and recovery supportive services. The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. ET on June 3, 2010.

• Second Chance Act Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment Program, U.S. Department of Justice

  • On April 19, 2010, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the solicitation for the Second Chance Act Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment Program. Funding under this solicitation is available to help state and local government agencies and federally recognized Indian tribes establish or enhance residential substance abuse treatment programs in correctional facilities that include family supportive services. The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. ET on June 3, 2010.

• Second Chance Act Reentry Court Initiative FY 2010 Competitive Grant Announcement, U.S. Department of Justice

  • On April 14, 2010, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the solicitation for the BJA FY2010 Second Chance Act Reentry Court Initiative. Funding under this solicitation is available to help state and local government agencies and federally recognized Indian tribes establish state, local, and tribal reentry courts to monitor offenders and provide them with the treatment services necessary to establish a self-sustaining and law-abiding life. The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. ET on June 3, 2010.

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  Announcements & Events

  May 05 Alliance Hosts Webinar on Targeting, Outcomes, and Evaluation in a Family Rapid Re-Housing System

  Representatives from Cincinnati, Ohio, will discuss their community's rapid re-housing system on an Alliance webinar titled "Targeting, Outcomes, and Evaluation in a Family Rapid Re-Housing System: Strategies from Cincinnati, OH."

  May 11 The National Institute of Corrections and the Urban Institute announce the release of the Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Implementation Toolkit.

  The National Institute of Corrections and the Urban Institute announce the release of the Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Implementation Toolkit. This web-based learning resource is designed to guide jurisdictions through implementation of the TJC model. A webinar will be held on May 11, 2010, to help you learn more about this tool.

  May 12 Using Evidence to Promote Public Safety: Practical Considerations for Prosecution

  The Crime and Justice Institute at Community Resources for Justice and the National Institute of Corrections has now released its comprehensive eight-part series of papers known as the Box Set (available for free download at http://cjinstitute.org/boxset).

  May 13 Strengthening NYC's Labor Force

  The Workforce Professionals Training Institute, along with the Community Service Society and the National Hire Network, will be holding a workshop for legal advocates and reentry providers focusing on criminal record-based employment issues. For information and to RSVP, please click here.

  APPA Announces the 2010 Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week Resource Kit

  The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) today launches its resource kit for the 2010 Probation, Parole and Community Supervision week celebration during the week of July 18-24, 2010! The kit includes a new poster with this year's theme as well as numerous ideas on how to commemorate the week and new web banners for use on agency websites. The kit can be found on the APPA website at http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/Resources/PPCSW_10/.

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  Publications

  Cost-Benefit Analysis of Reclaiming Futures

  This study examines the costs and benefits of the "Reclaiming Futures initiative," showing that the initiative created a foundation for improving substance abuse interventions for youth.

  Transitional Jobs: Background, Program Models, and Evaluation Evidence

  This paper reviews transitional jobs models that are operating today, includes evidence on the effectiveness of this approach and other subsidized employment models, and offers some suggestions regarding the next steps for program design and research. The paper was produced for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by MDRC as part of the Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ project.

  Representing Juvenile Status Offenders

  The American Bar Association has collaborated with experts in the field of juvenile criminal justice to produce a policy book surrounding issues common to juveniles in contact with the criminal justice system.

  Positive Youth Justice: Framing Justice Interventions Using the Concepts of Positive Youth Development

  This report explores the potential of helping court-involved youth develop their pro-social strengths and attributes, and increasing their abilities to contribute to healthy, safe family and community life.

  RTI and Urban Institute Release Suite of Evaluations on Serious Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) Programs

  RTI and the Urban Institute have released a series of documents reviewing SVORI programs.

  The Obama Administration’s 2011 Budget: More Policing, Prisons, and Punitive Policies

  The Justice Policy Institute takes a look at the Department of Justice's Fiscal Year 2011 budget. Funding is allocated for various reentry, diversion and criminal justice/mental health programs.

  Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force Video

  The IACP, in partnership with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, has produced a video highlighting the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force.

  DASH's Empowerment Project: Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence

  Between 2007 and 2008, DASH piloted the Empowerment Project, a transition-in-place program that provided families with time-limited rental assistance and case management to help them quickly transition to housing in the community. This document provides an overview of the successes of this project.

  Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Implementation Toolkit

  The National Institute of Corrections and the Urban Institute announce the release of the Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Implementation Toolkit. This web-based learning resource is designed to guide jurisdictions through implementation of the TJC model.

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  Reentry in the News

  Articles from newspapers around the country covering reentry issues can be found on the National Reentry Resource Center website. Some recent headlines from the homepage are posted below.

  Harvard Kennedy School of Government— Hard facts on prisoner reentry

  4/23/10 — "Prisoner reentry programs have sparked great interest in recent years—among academic scholars, policy analysts, and politicians alike. With the success of President Bush's 'Second Chance Act,' the current administration has called for a further expansion of reentry programs nationwide.

  Courier Post (NJ) — Inmates to get help with life on outside

  4/23/10 — Camden County corrections officials say they hope to boost prison re-entry efforts here with $250,000 in federal grant funding coming their way.

  Burlington Free Press (VT) — At-risk Vermont youths get help

  4/21/10 — Across Vermont, 2.3 percent of youths whose parents have been in prison go on to involvement with the criminal justice system as well. Officials are looking for a way to put a stop to these trends.

  The News Star (LA) — Out-4-Life holds public event

  4/19/10 — "The revolving door of the region's prison system has compelled police, parole officers, pastors and officials from Ouachita Parish to Washington, D.C., to seek ways to reduce the high recidivism rate." Louisiana explores the use of a new reentry program.

  The Daily Sentinel (TX) — Prisoner rehab programs in the works

  4/16/10 — "What started as a life mission to help rehabilitate and reintegrate first-time criminal offenders into society has taken off and will soon lead to three accredited colleges and dormitories for men, women and juveniles."

  The Herald Tribune (FL) — Helping inmates succeed on release

  4/15/10 — To help combat recidivism, a Florida woman has recently started the nonprofit Project 180 program, partnering with the Office of Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Court and FSU's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice Center for Criminology and Public Policy.

  The Crime Report— Is there a better way to spend anti-crime money?

  4/12/10 — Several states have embraced 'justice reinvestment' as a way of reducing prison populations.