Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $250,000)
The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.
The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) will use the grant funds to provide legal information and assistance to low-income people with criminal records. The goal of the project is to work in collaboration with the courts, district attorney, public defender, probation department, and community-based organizations to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration by removing civil barriers to jobs, education, housing, and civic participation for people who have completed their sentences. The activities implemented to achieve this goal are to provide multi-layered, comprehensive legal advocacy and community education by utilizing existing laws and administrative codes to access all available criminal records remedies for clients through services provided at the Breaking Through Barriers Program in Oakland, the Hall of Justice in Hayward, and the offices of EBCLC.
NCA/NCF