Developing Blueprints for Statewide Reentry Continuums

This application is submitted for the FY 2021 BJA Visiting Fellows Program, Focus Area 4: Improving Corrections and Reintegration under the Second Chance Act. The service areas include two states and the nation. The project proposes to create statewide blueprints to strengthen the reentry continuum that centers the voices of formerly incarcerated people (FIP). The fellow will also create a council of FIP to inform federal discussions on reentry funding and policies. The goals of this project are to increase reentry coordination efforts that centers the needs of FIP and to include FIP in reentry policy and funding discussions. The objectives are to enhance the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) capacity to improve reentry; advance and translate knowledge about reentry coordination, policy, and funding; bring real world experience and knowledge to BJA; and support the development of criminal justice partners to advance BJA’s mission. Deliverables for this project include a white paper, statewide reentry continuum blueprints, presentations and webinars, and a council of FIP. Beneficiaries of this project include FIP as well as local, state, and federal justice system stakeholders.