Pinellas Re-Entry Court

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 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. 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.

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners will provide clients with comprehensive assessment and planning both pre and post release from incarceration; active, consistent, and constant judicial oversight through the re-entry process; proper and tailored support services managed both for the client and systematically; and accountability for clients that brings both swift and certain sanctions for those who choose not to participate appropriately as well as rewarding those who embrace what the program has to offer successfully.

NCA/NCF

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 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. 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.

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners will utilize Second Chance Act funds to provide clients with comprehensive assessment and planning both pre- and post-release from incarceration; active, consistent, and constant judicial oversight through the re-entry process; proper and tailored support services managed both for the client and systematically; and accountability for clients that brings both swift and certain sanctions for those who choose not to participate appropriately as well as rewarding those who embrace what the program has to offer successfully.

NCA/NCF

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners will utilize their FY14 Second Chance Act funds to support their local Second Chance Act Reentry Program. Supplemental funds will be utilized to provide clients with comprehensive assessment and planning both pre- and post-release from incarceration; active, consistent, and constant judicial oversight through the re-entry process; proper and tailored support services managed both for the client and systematically; and accountability for clients that brings both swift and certain sanctions for those who choose not to participate appropriately as well as rewarding those who embrace what the program has to offer successfully. NCA/NCF