City of Boston: Boston Reentry 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.

The Boston Reentry Initiative (BRI) will use their FY 2010 Second Chance Act grant funds to target high risk male offenders, 12 each month, from the Suffolk County House of Corrections between the ages of 17 and 30 with documented histories of gang and gun violence who committed crimes in and/or will return to one of Boston's 3 main hotspot areas. The goal is to reduce recidivism among participants by 50 % over the next five years. The BRI is composed of representatives and cooperative efforts from: Boston Police Department; Suffolk County Sheriff's Department; District Attorney; U.S. Attorney; the Massachusetts Departments of Probation, Parole, and Revenue; Community Resources for Justice; Youth Options Unlimited; Boston Ten Points Coalition; Whittier Street Health Center; and, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation. The grant funds will be spent for BRI staff salaries and benefits, travel/training, contract services (case management, mentoring, treatment, housing, and employment), utilities, and indirect costs.

CA/NCF