RPC Newsletter - 4/22/2009

FEATURES

Texas Justice Reinvestment Policies Reduce Corrections Spending and Strengthen Supervision

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center released a new report, "Justice Reinvestment in Texas: Assessing the Impact of the 2007 Justice Reinvestment Initiative," that finds the justice reinvestment policies enacted in 2007 by the Texas legislature are averting state prison population growth and increasing public safety.

Read the full story

Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Solicitation

The National Institute of Corrections and the Urban Institute announce solicitations for four new "Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) Initiative" sites. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice Conducting Survey to Assess Interest in Prisoner Reentry Course

The Prisoner Reentry Institute (PRI) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice has constructed a survey to assess individuals' interest in a certificate course or program on issues related to prisoner reentry. The link to the survey is provided below. PRI asks for responses that can assist them in determining the demand and need for reentry skill development, and to help them develop a course or program that meets the field's needs. The voluntary survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.

To take the survey, please click here.

HILL UPDATE

House Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearings On Prisoner Reentry

During the week of March 9, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science held seven hearings focusing on prisoner reentry issues that reflect Capitol Hill's high level of interest in safe and successful reintegration. Congressman Allan Mollohan (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee, conducted the hearings with ranking member Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA).

"It is becoming more and more apparent that effective reentry programs are the key to reducing recidivism and the strains on our communities and prison resources associated with recidivism," said Chairman Allan Mollohan. Mollohan added that the Second Chance Act was a good starting point for dealing with substance abuse issues in prisons.

"Over the last two months, the Commerce, Justice, and Science subcommittee has held some of the best hearings on corrections reform and prisoner reentry that I have participated in during my time in Congress. We have heard from a number of witnesses about innovative state and local programs, including the Pew-CSG Justice Center effort, and I firmly believe we must focuses on sharing and replicating best practices nationally," said Congressman Wolf.

Read the full announcement.

Second Chance Act

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, will soon release solicitations for Second Chance Act grants for reentry demonstration projects targeting youth (under Section 101) and grants to nonprofit organizations for mentoring and other transitional services (under Section 211). The Justice Center will send out updates as soon as those solicitations are released.

  • For more information about the Second Chance Act grant programs, click here.
  • For an updated fact sheet about the mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations, click here.

    • Congress is now working on the appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010. In his preliminary budget for fiscal year 2010, President Obama requested $109 million for prisoner reentry programs, including $75 million for Second Chance Act programs. This month, 60 House Members, and 270 organizations from around the country, have submitted letters to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies to request full funding for the Second Chance Act in fiscal year 2010. Members of the Senate are now working on a letter requesting funding for the Second Chance Act to submit to their appropriators in May 2009.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

    The Released

    Frontline (PBS)
    April 28, 2009, 9 P.M. EST


    2009 Community Voices Freedom's Voice Conference: Strengthening Families During Incarceration and Homecoming Healthcare for the Underserved of Morehouse School of Medicine
    April 30-May 1, 2009
    Atlanta, Ga.

    The 2009 Raising the Bar, Ex-Offender Reentry Conference: Building Bridges by Breaking Stereotypes
    PowerNet of Dayton
    April 30-May 2, 2009
    Dayton, Ohio

    *Justice Center staff will be conducting a workshop on the Second Chance Act at this conference on Friday, May 1, at 8:30 A.M.

    Occasional Series on Reentry Research: The Impact of Incarceration on Future Criminal Behavior Prisoner Reentry Institute at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
    May 1, 2009
    New York, N.Y.

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    FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

    Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program--Priority to Veterans

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for the 2009 fiscal year for the Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program - Priority to Veterans grants. The purpose of this program is to support local implementation and state or Tribewide expansion of trauma-integrated jail diversion programs to address the needs of individuals with mental illness such as post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related disorders involved in the justice system. In recognition of the dramatically higher prevalence of trauma-related illnesses among veterans, this program will prioritize eligibility for veterans.

    Application Deadline: April 28, 2009

    Section 1115 Demonstration Grants - Projects in Support of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative

    The Administration for Children and Families Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) invites a limited number of State IV-D agencies to submit proposals for the jurisdictions in their states that are sites for Prisoner Reentry Initiative projects funded through the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Labor. The OCSE grants are designed to help develop systematic approaches to addressing and resolving as many child support case issues as possible so that the parents with criminal records are able to meet their child support obligations and custodial parents can depend on child support to care for their children.

    Application Deadline: May 4, 2009

    Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity for Adult Drug Courts

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for fiscal year 2009 Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Adult Drug Courts. The purpose of this program is to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment services in "problem solving" courts which use the treatment drug court model in order to provide alcohol and drug treatment, recovery support services supporting substance abuse treatment, screening, assessment, case management, and program coordination to defendants/offenders.

    Application Deadline: May 8, 2009

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