Enhanced Reentry Program

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and returning to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure that the transition individuals make from prison, jail, or juvenile residential facilities to the community is successful and promotes public safety. The Second Chance Act Programs are designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by offender reentry and recidivism reduction. "Reentry" is not a specific program, but rather an evidence-based process that starts when an offender is initially incarcerated and ends when the offender has been successfully reintegrated in his or her community as a law-abiding citizen. The reentry process includes the delivery of a variety of evidence-based program services for every program participant in both a pre- and post-release setting. Section 101 of the Act authorizes grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration.

The goal of the Second Chance Act Two-Phase Adult Reentry Demonstration Program: Planning and Implementation, under Section 101 of the Second Chance Act, is to provide support to eligible applicants for the development and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by reentry to increase public safety and reduce recidivism. This process should provide the individual with appropriate evidence-based services including addressing individual criminogenic needs based on a reentry plan that relies on a risk/needs assessment that reflects the risk of recidivism for that offender. The reentry plan should reflect both specific and ongoing pre-release and post-release needs, and a strategy for ensuring that these needs are met throughout the duration of the reentry process.

The grantee will use the grant to support a reentry program and provide comprehensive services to 75 sentenced male inmates. The program will: (1) objectively assess criminogenic risks and needs; (2) enhance intrinsic motivation; (3) target higher-risk offenders; (4) address the greatest criminogenic needs; (5) utilize cognitive-behavioral interventions; and, (6) implement the appropriate dosage and intensity of services. Pre-release services will include substance abuse treatment, vocational training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mental health counseling, anger management, and education. Upon release the participants will receive programming and case management pertaining to health, mental health, substance abuse, housing, employment, and transitional needs for up to twelve months. Collectively, these strategies will serve to reduce recidivism.

CA/NCF