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The reentry court allows for individualized treatment intervention in the 13th judicial circuit.

Award Information

Award #
2010-RM-BX-0005
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2010
Total funding (to date)
$979,563

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $346,022)

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. Section 111 of the Second Chance Act authorizes the creation of state, local, and tribal reentry courts to monitor offenders and provide them with the treatment services needed to establish a self-sustaining and law-abiding life.

The Second Chance Act State, Local, and Tribal Reentry Courts Grant Program 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. Reentry courts are specialized courts that help reduce recidivism and improve public safety through the use of judicial oversight to apply graduated sanctions and positive reinforcement; to marshal resources to support the prisoner's reintegration; and to promote positive behavior by the returning prisoners. The goal of a reentry court is to establish a seamless system of offender accountability and support services throughout the reentry process. These courts may be implemented as part of an overall drug court program. Focused on the back-end of the criminal justice system, the reentry court should be designed to leverage partnerships between courts and corrections to facilitate successful offender reintegration. While reentry court approaches vary based on the laws and needs of a jurisdiction, the core components of a reentry court are standard and must include: 1) assessment and planning; 2) active oversight; 3) management of support services; 4) accountability; 5) graduated, swift-and-certain sanctions; and 6) rewards for success.

Missouri Office of State Courts Adminitrator will use the FY 2010 grant funds to enhance the current Reentry Court Reintegration Program to allow for more individualized treatment intervention in the 13th judicial circuit. The OnTrack program is an enhancement of an existing Reintegration Program and was designed to replace the existing model. To meet this goal, the grantee will draw upon the scientific literature and experience to create an enhanced reentry court designed to improve public safety and reduce recidivism. The program will serve a minimum of 100 unduplicated offenders returning to Boone County, on probation status, having completed 120-day prison-based treatment program. A court administrator will be hired to assist the judge in the daily operation of OnTrack. The grant will also fund two part time positions, including the OnTrack case manager and the employment specialist. The program will have a split sentencing/prison to probation structure that relies upon probation, rather than parole, to provide services and monitoring. Substance abuse treatment will be provided during an initial four month prison term. OnTrack participants will remain supervised from prison to their first court visit by the Reality House, a secure community corrections facility. It is expected that the program will provide a solid infrastructure and systems so those released on probation will have the same access to area resources as those released on parole, only with judicial oversight.

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 1, 2010