Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $450,000)
The Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) is designed to provide funding to state units of government to develop and implement institutional and community corrections-based offender reentry programs. The PRI strengthens urban communities characterized by large numbers of returning offenders. The PRI is designed to reduce recidivism by helping returning offenders find work and assess other critical services in their communities. The PRI supports strategies to deliver pre- and post-release assessments and services, and to develop transition plans in collaboration with other justice and community-based agencies and providers for supervised and non-supervised offenders.
The North Carolina Department of Corrections will use its grant award to focus resources on the initial release of offenders with assistance in prison during the pre-release planning phase. The project will target at least 250 high-risk, high-need male and female offenders and offer a variety of wraparound services, including job training and employment programs.
The reentry model includes a three-phased approach of 1) assessment and case planning, 2) interventions based in work, treatment, and program activities, and 3) transition preparation and planning for release back into the community.
In addition, the grant resources will support dedicated offender job developer positions in One-Stop Career Centers in three counties. The main services provided during the post-release phase will be job search assistance, job coaching, job placement services, and follow-up contacts after placement.
CA/NCF