Montana Mentoring Project

The Second Chance Act grant programs are designed to strengthen jurisdictions characterized by large numbers of returning offenders. "Reentry" is not envisioned to be a specific program but rather an evidence-based process that begins with initial incarceration and ends with successful community reintegration, indicated by lack of recidivism. Per the Second Chance Act, funded mentoring projects should use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders included in the project's target population. Program components must include mentoring adult offenders during incarceration, through transition back to the community, and post-release; transitional services to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community; and training regarding offender and victims issues.

Grant recipients must demonstrate their capability to deliver or broker the provision of transitional services proposed to be offered in conjunction with the core mentoring component. Examples of "transitional services" designed to increase success in reentry and thus reduce recidivism might include the establishment of a pre-release mentoring relationship, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management. Per the Second Chance Act, funded mentoring projects should use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders included in the project's target population.

This funding will be used to develop a mentoring program for female inmates incarcerated in and returning to Billings, Montana. The Montana Mentoring Project will serve at minimum 60 offenders during both the pre- and post-release periods, providing participants with both group and individual mentoring to women reentering the Billings community.

CA/NCF