Community Integration and Socialization Program (CISP)

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The County of Portage will support the Community Integration and Socialization Program (CISP) to provide assistance to low to moderate risk, highly motivated felony offenders that are unemployed or underemployed and in need of basic education skills. CISP will be implemented by the Adult Probation Department under the direction of the Common Pleas Court Judges and is designed to reduce recidivism. CISP will offer rehabilitative services with the expectation that offenders will become contributing members of society. Education, social skill growth, and job training will enhance the offenders' opportunity to obtain productive employment. Successful social and educational integration of the offenders, with monitoring by the Common Plea Courts, is critical to the achievement of long-term changes in thinking and behavior. In turn, offenders will have the opportunity to gain stable employment, obtain adequate housing, develop a sense of self-worth and accomplishment, and be able to meet individual financial obligations such as child support, restitution, and household expenses, thereby greatly reducing the chance of recidivism.

NCA/NCF