Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $449,646)
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 Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) will use FY2007 Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) funds to implement the Franklin County PRI project that will serve adult men and women with diagnoses of mental illness who have been convicted as adults and are imprisoned at six facilities in geographic proximity to Franklin County. These facilities include the Correctional Reception Center, Ohio Reformatory for Women, Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Ross Correctional Institution, Franklin Pre-release Center, and Pickaway Correctional Institute. Individuals will receive services 90-120 days prior to their return to the Franklin County community and up to 180 days post-release. Adults diagnosed with mental illness were selected as the target population because ODRC recognizes the greater risk of re-offending that persons with mental illness face. Project implementers believe that meeting the behavioral health needs of offenders and ex-offenders through collaborative diversion and support will contribute to the individual's wellness, reduce recidivism and improve public safety.
Beginning at sentencing and extending beyond release, the reentry project will assess, identify, and link offenders with services specific to their needs, including program modules on job readiness, mental health treatment, housing services, and life skills training. Funds will be used to hire project staff, secure service contracts, support travel to required conferences and training, and procure project equipment and supplies.
CA/NCF