Marion County Reentry Initiative

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) reflects a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities. There are currently 2.3 million people serving time in our federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition people make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. Section 101 of the Act, in addition to providing grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration reentry projects, also allows for the establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center.

The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative provides funding to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Funded demonstration projects will use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders.
Projects will provide offenders in prisons or jails with all necessary services to facilitate reentry into the community. In addition, the projects will develop procedures to ensure that dangerous felons are not released from prison prematurely and provide services that address treatment needs and protect communities against dangerous offenders Allowable uses of funds to enhance a successful transition include: pre-release assessment and case planning, mentoring, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management and supervision.

Marion County will use the FY 2009 Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative to support the Marion County Sheriff's Office with the Marion County Reentry Initiative. The grant funds will be used to expand and enhance service delivery to the target population by: (1) aligning state and locally administered pre-release assessments; (2) expanding state and local pre-release services: (3) increasing offender participation in 'success planning' prior to release and post-release; and (4) integrating service delivery by multiple agency partners. The project is grounded in evidence-based principles and practices from assessments to contracted programs that include substance abuse and mental health treatment and case management services. The implementation plan was developed with broad community input, including consumer and victim perspectives. Community Corrections and St. Vincent de Paul are jointly responsible for executing the plan. Community Corrections is responsible for monitoring assessments, supervision, and contracted services. St. Vincent de Paul is responsible for monitoring prison reach-ins and wraparound services. The plan ensures that at least 350 offenders will be identified to participate in the initiative with another 350 selected at random as a control group, totaling 700 participants for evaluation and cost/benefit analysis.

CA/NCF