RPC Newsletter - 2/27/2009

FEATURES

Solicitation for Second Chance Act Grants to State and Local Governments Released Today

On February 27, 2009, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the solicitation for Second Chance Act grants to state and local governments for adult reentry demonstration projects (Section 101). Funding under this section is available to help state and local agencies implement programs and strategies to reduce recidivism and ensure the safe and successful reentry of adults released from prisons and jails.

To download the solicitation, or find out more about the grant program, click here

The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. e.t. on April 20, 2009.

Inquiries about the solicitation should be directed to Gary L. Dennis, Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance at 202-305-9059 or gary.dennis@usdoj.gov.

For more information about downloading the solicitation, applicant eligibility requirements, instructions on registering for the online grant application system, and other application materials, click here

The solicitation for the nonprofit grants (Section 211) will be released by BJA at a later date. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will issue a separate solicitation in the coming weeks for Juvenile Demonstration Project grants for state and local governments and Indian tribes.

Coming soon: The Justice Center’s Second Chance Act Toolkit

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is working with its reentry partners to develop a toolkit to help potential applicants. This toolkit will include a number of useful materials:

  1. A checklist that will help state and local governments meet application requirements
  2. FAQs about the Second Chance Act and Section 101
  3. Fact sheets about the grant programs authorized by Section 101, Section 211, and Section 212 of the Second Chance Act
  4. A resource guide listing other publications, reports, and tools that may be helpful in developing a successful reentry initiative

This toolkit will be available in the coming weeks on the Reentry Policy Council website. The Justice Center also is planning a series of webinars to help potential applications understand the solicitation for Second Chance Act grants and answer common questions. The dates and times for these webinars will be released in an upcoming announcement.

To sign up for the Reentry Policy Council listserv to receive announcements about SCA and reentry resources developed by the Justice Center, click here

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HILL UPDATE

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Over $133 Million for Prisoner Reentry in FY 2009, including $25 Million for the Second Chance Act

On February 25, 2009, the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, which includes funding for the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The omnibus bill (H.R. 1105) is now under consideration in the Senate. Democratic leaders hope to take action on this bill by the end of next week, as the continuing resolution currently providing funding expires on March 6, 2009.

Read the full story

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

On February 17, 2009, the President signed into law H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This stimulus bill provides nearly $4 billion for criminal justice grant programs.

To read more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, click here

President Obama Requests $75 Million for the Second Chance Act in FY 2010

In the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2010 released on February 26, 2009, President Obama requested $109 million for prisoner reentry programs, including $75 million for Second Chance Act programs. “I am indeed pleased that the President’s proposed budget includes $75 million for Second Chance and I applaud him,” said Second Chance Act sponsor Rep. Danny Davis (IL). “This investment of $75 million will bring tremendous returns. However, throughout the budget and appropriation processes, I shall be advocating and working for more.”

For more information about the Second Chance Act, visit the Reentry Policy Council website.

Sign Letter to Support SCA Funding

A national reentry working group is leading the effort to secure funding for the Second Chance Act for fiscal year 2010, which begins on October 1, 2009. The working group is circulating a sign-on letter asking Congress to fund Second Chance Act programs in FY2010. “We have all worked so hard to get this legislation passed, but we know it will not accomplish what it is intended to do without sufficient funding. We must encourage policy makers to appropriate the needed funds,” said working group member Jane Browning of the International Community Corrections Association. According to fellow working group member Gene Guerrero of the Open Society Policy Center, "it is important for organizations that support the Second Chance Act and federal funding for reentry programs to sign this letter of support." Organizations that want to sign the letters should email scainfo@csg.org by March 13.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Smart on Crime Policies: Increase Public Safety, Reduce Costs, and Improve Lives
Hosted by the Hon. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA),Chair, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
March 3, 2009
Washington, DC

First Tuesdays Forum: Forensic Failure: Case Reopened
The Urban Institute
March 3, 2009
Washington, DC

Community Safety Through Successful Offender Reentry, A Training Opportunity
Center for Effective Public Policy
Applications due March 16, 2009

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

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative

The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition individuals make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. Section 101 provides grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated.

Application Deadline: April 20, 2009

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program seeks to increase public safety through innovative cross-system collaboration for individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking joint justice and mental health applications from eligible applicants to plan, implement, or expand a justice and mental health collaboration program.

Application Deadline: March 12, 2009

Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP)

The Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provides funding and technical assistance to federally recognized tribal governments to plan, implement, or enhance tribal justice strategies to address crime issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. Priority will be placed on law enforcement-led strategies which focus on controlling and preventing alcohol and substance abuse in Indian Country.

Application Deadline: March 12, 2009

Adult Drug Court Planning and Training

The Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Adult Drug Court Planning and Training Program supports the Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (42 U.S.C. 3797u et seq.), which assists communities to develop effective drug court strategies for nonviolent1 substance-abusing offenders through two components. The first component, the Adult Drug Court Initiative, assists jurisdictions in the planning and development of new drug court programs; the second component, the Adult Drug Court Training Initiative, offers a menu of training options to access and incorporate into local, regional and, statewide drug court training events.

Application Deadline: March 26, 2009

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REENTRY NEWS

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PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

In this Issue

 Our Publications

Repaying Debts

This publication discusses how policymakers can increase accountability among people who commit crimes, improve rates of child support collection and victim restitution, and make people’s transition from prisons and jails to the community safe and successful.

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