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Minnesota Statewide Initiative to Reduce Recidivism - Employment Matters!

Award Information

Award #
2018-RQ-BX-0005
Funding Category
Competitive Discretionary
Location
Congressional District
Status
Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
2018
Total funding (to date)
$2,803,135

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2018, $189,909)

The Second Chance Act (Public Law 110–199) seeks a comprehensive response for incarcerated adults who are released from prison or jail, and returning to their communities. Over 2.1 million individuals are incarcerated in federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycle through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all offenders incarcerated in state prisons will eventually be released.

Securing meaningful employment can facilitate successful reentry for offenders leaving correctional facilities. However, there are many barriers that offenders with criminal records encounter as they attempt to re-enter both the community and the workforce. Improving employment outcomes for this population may contribute to recidivism reduction and increased public safety. However, some communities simply do not have enough resources for corrections, reentry, and workforce development to provide every adult offender leaving incarceration with services that may assist them in reentering the community.

The purpose of the Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program is to fund the development of strategic plans that are comprehensive, collaborative, and multisystemic in their approach to increase public safety by reducing recidivism and improving employability in offenders returning to communities from incarceration. These plans should include an assessment of the current system and propose solutions to make assessment-driven referrals to ensure successful transition from correctional facilities to the community.

The recipient will use award funds to collaborate with state, county, and community partners to form the Minnesota Statewide Initiative to Reduce Recidivism (MNSIRR, "Employment Matters!" project. This unified effort will build a seamless approach to employment, training, and services to prisoners returning to communities from Minnesota prisons.

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 29, 2018