Prison Re-entry Initiative

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Trinity Community Development and Empowerment Group, Inc. will apply fiscal year 2009 Congressionally Selected Awards Program funding towards its prison reentry program, which aims to reduce current recidivism rates by providing counseling, mentoring, and social networking services to the formerly incarcerated residing in the East New York, Oceanhill/Brownsville, and Fort Greene/Bedford-Stuyvesant areas of New York City. It is anticipated that graduates of the program will return to serve as mentors and role models for newly enrolled participants. Program success will be measured by the percentage of participants returning to incarceration following their completion of the program.

NCA/NCF