Project Blue Community Reentry Initiative

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 grant funding is designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism reduction. “Reentry” is not a specific program, but rather a process that starts when an individual is initially incarcerated and ends when he or she has been successfully reintegrated in the community as a law-abiding citizen.

Section 211 of the Act authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for comprehensive evidenced-based wrap-around services/programs. The goal of the Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program is the use of reentry plans that address the identified needs of the individuals and is supported by trained mentors to promote the safe and successful community reintegration of adults who have been incarcerated. These needs are often related to housing, employment, substance abuse, and mental health.

The Second Chance Act Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program supports organizations providing comprehensive reentry services to program participants who are screened, assessed, and identified for program participation pre-release. During the post-release phase of the reentry program, participants will receive case management services and be connected to evidence-based programming designed to ensure that the transition from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful.

The recipient will utilize grant funding for Project Blue, which is the shared vision of the Erie County Sherriff’s Office and Hope of Buffalo Inc., to address recidivism at a more localized level, prior to state involvement. Project Blue’s innovative approach will provide comprehensive reentry services to 150 individuals, beginning inside the local jail and completing after successful community reintegration.

CA/NCF