Alameda County Reentry Demonstration Project: reentry planning starting at sentencing for high-risk inmates at county jail; wraparound continuous services pre- and post-release; analysis and advocacy.

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.

The County of Alameda will use their FY 10 Second Chance Act: State Demonstration funds ($749,949) to support the Alameda County Probation Department. The Probation Department and its partners will establish the Second Chance Demonstration project. This project will target 100 inmates at Santa Rita County Jail, who have been sentenced to at least 4 months of incarceration, have been assessed as High Risk by the LS/CMI assessment, and will be released under probation supervision to the target communities. Wrap-around support services will be provided to help decrease recidivism rates for the high risk program participants. This program will also seek to reduce the crime rate in the target areas, help participants find and keep a job, locate stable housing opportunities, and if necessary, enroll participants in substance abuse and mental health treatment programs.

CA/NCF