National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center

The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad of needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities. Section 201 of the Second Chance Act authorizes federal awards to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to improve the provision of treatment to adult offenders in prisons and jails during the period of incarceration and through the completion of parole or other court supervision after release into the community. Section 101 of The Second Chance Act, in addition to providing federal awards to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration reentry projects, also authorized the establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center (National Reentry Resource Center, NRRC). The primary purpose and goal of the NRRC is to advance the reentry field by enhancing and promoting evidence-based practices, which includes: providing proactive, comprehensive, user-friendly Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) services; developing uniform protocols for the assessment and delivery of TTA, as well as tracking, evaluation, and follow-up; using TTA strategies that include developing tools and resources for grantees, such as distance learning, peer-to-peer consultations, onsite Technical Assistance (TA), and ongoing TA by phone and e-mail; and planning and hosting grantee meetings.

The Council of States Governments will utilize their FY 2013 Second Chance Act supplemental funding to continue administration of the National Reentry Resource Center. Funding will enable the National Reentry Resource Center to: 1) provide a one-stop, interactive source of current, user-friendly reentry information; 2) identify and promote evidence-based practices and translate reentry research into user-friendly materials; 3) deliver individualized, targeted technical assistance to Second Chance Act grantees to maximize the likelihood that they achieve proposed results; 4) advance the reentry field through training, distance learning, and knowledge development; and 5) support Second Chance Act grantees and the reentry field in defining, measuring, and tracking recidivism, setting meaningful recidivism reduction goals, and designing and implementing programs, policies, and practices that will reduce recidivism. NCA/NCF

The Council of States Governments will utilize their FY 2014 Second Chance Act supplemental funding to continue to operate the National Reentry Resource Center. Funding will enable the National Reentry Resource Center to: 1) provide a one-stop, interactive source of current, user-friendly reentry information; 2) identify and promote evidence-based practices and translate reentry research into user-friendly materials; 3) deliver individualized, targeted technical assistance to Second Chance Act grantees to maximize the likelihood that they achieve proposed results; 4) advance the reentry field through training, distance learning, and knowledge development; and 5) support Second Chance Act grantees and the reentry field in defining, measuring, and tracking recidivism, setting meaningful recidivism reduction goals, and designing and implementing programs, policies, and practices that will reduce recidivism. NCA/NCF

The Council of States Governments (CSG) will utilize their FY 2015 Second Chance Act supplemental funding to continue operating the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) and providing training and technical assistance to Second Chance Act (SCA) grantees. The CSG Justice Center will ensure that the NRRC serves the needs of the field by accomplishing these objectives: 1) support SCA grantees in applying evidence-based principles to daily practice and planning for sustainability, 2) examine special topics in responsivity and strategies to respond to specific needs among grantees and advance the field, 3) provide tailored TTA to counties to focus on unique issues in jail reentry, and 4) uphold the NRRC’s role as a national clearinghouse for the latest news and information for the reentry field.

NCA/NCF