Richmond Retooled Comprehensive Second Chance Reentry Program

The purpose of the Innovations in Reentry Initiative (IRI): Reducing Recidivism Through Systems Improvement is to provide local jurisdictions and Indian tribes with the resources and training and technical assistance (TTA) necessary to identify assets and gaps in their local reentry systems and to develop capacity and partnerships with other justice agencies to provide services that prevent recidivism, reduce crime, and improve public safety in their jurisdictions.

IRI is part of BJA’s Innovations in Public Safety portfolio, also known as the “Innovations Suite.” The Innovations Suite of programs invests in the development of practitioner-researcher partnerships that use data, evidence, and innovation to create strategies that are effective and economical. This data-driven approach enables jurisdictions to understand the full nature and extent of the crime challenges they face and to direct resources to the highest priorities. Successful partnerships between practitioners and researchers require investments of planning, time, communication, complementary skills, and adequate resources.

The overall objective of the IRI is to support the development and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative reentry strategies to reduce recidivism among reentering offenders who are at medium to high risk for recidivating and to improve public safety.

The recipient will utilize grant funding to improve the capacity and effectiveness of its reentry services to increase the success of offenders returning to their communities from incarceration by expanding the Recovering from Everyday Addictive Lifestyle (REAL) program. The goal will be accomplished by a targeted systems approach which will leverage the services available from a wide array of community partners throughout the reentry process to ensure successful community reintegration.

CA/NCF