Note:
This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $677,674)
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.
County of San Mateo will use the FY 2009 Second Chance Prisoner Reentry Initiative funds to plan and implement a reentry system that reduces recidivism among County jail inmates at high risk for re-offending. The Reentry Steering and Planning Committees reviewed information on evidence-based re-entry models and selected the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative model to apply and adapt to the needs of San Mateo County jail inmates and existing programs and resources in the County. This model consists of three phases: (1) Getting Ready; (2) Going Home; and (3) Staying Home. The Getting Ready phase will entail describing of the events and responsibilities that occur during the inmate's incarceration. This phase will involve screening, assessment and classification, and inmate programming. The next phase, Going Home, will begin before the inmate's target release date. Specific re-entry plans will be organized to address housing, employment, and services which handle addiction and mental illness. This phase will entail inmate release preparation, and development of a probation plan. The final phase, Staying Home, will start once the inmate is released from jail and will continue until discharge from community probation supervision. The three major focus points of this phase are: (1) providing flexible and firm supervision and services; (2) using graduated sanctions to respond to behavior; and (3) determining community responsibility to 'take over' the case.
CA/NCF