Arizona Department of Corrections Transition Project

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail into communities and the subsequent challenges communities face as offenders attempt to reintegrate into society. 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.

Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) will use grant funds for a Transition Project to target two offender groups: 1) non-violent offenders who qualify for early release through the currently operating Transition Services for Non-Violent Drug Offenders Post-Release Program; and 2) offenders with co-occurring disorders (Co-Occurring Program) who do not qualify for the Transition Program. This Project will provide pre-release seminars and 90 days of contracted post-release case management, service delivery, and referral for services to a total of 558 offenders. In addition, offenders released to Community Corrections will be supervised an average of six months. The ADC is a participating member of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office and composed of over 60 federal, state, local, and community stakeholders. The LECC is partnering with ADC in this Project to function as the Re-entry Task Force. Based on the LECC Re-entry Recommendations, ADC has developed a Re-entry Strategic Plan.

CA/NCF