DeKalb 2nd Chance 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.

DeKalb County will use the grant funds to support the Consortium of the DeKalb Offenders Reentry Partnership (DORP). The project aims to combat recidivism by building individual capacity of high-risk ex-offenders to be a crime-free productive member of his/her community. The mission is to improve public safety by facilitating successful reentry of ex-offenders, with the goal of reducing recidivism of the target population by at least 50%, from the current level of 65% to 30% by 2015. The DORP aims to achieve these activities through the following correlating objectives: (1) Promote successful reentry for 285 target participants (TPs); (2) provide a residential program along with case management to 285 TPs; (3) assist 100% of TPs to obtain jobs or other sustainable income; (4) provide substance abuse treatment and other needed services for 100% of the TPs; (5) ensure sustainability and development of project resources; and(6) enhance community understanding and support for reentry.

CA/NCF