Hudson County Community Reintegration Initiative

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.

With the assistance of the grant funds, and taking advantage of the Hudson County Reentry Task Force, Hudson County Correctional Center (HCCC) will provide pre- and post-discharge services to 180 male and female offenders. The target population will have a diagnosed mental health and/or substance use disorder, have been arrested, incarcerated and sentenced to HCCC more than once, and be a resident of Hudson County, New Jersey. The services will include substance abuse education, adult education classes (life skills, literacy, ABE, ESL, and GED), pre-vocational training, family life education, and parenting education. The funds will be expended for salary and benefits for project staff, travel/training, contracts for substance abuse program development, case management, substance abuse treatment, risk/needs assessment system, housing, and general purpose funds for short-term needs of the participants.

CA/NCF