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2009-09-22

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--- [] The Department of Labor (DOL) is sponsoring three informational meetings across the country for potential applicants for recently announced DOL funding available under the federal Prisoner Reentry Initiative. The meetings will present detailed information on the program design and application requirements, and answer questions from the field. The <a href="http://www.doleta.org" target="_blank">Department of Labor (DOL)</a> is sponsoring three<a href="http://www.pri-conference.com" target="_blank"> informational meetings</a> across the country for potential applicants for recently announced <a href="http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga/SGA%2004-08%20mod1.pdf" target="_blank">DOL funding</a> available under the federal Prisoner Reentry Initiative. The meetings will present detailed information on the program design and application requirements, and answer questions from the field. The conferences will take place in Los Angeles on May 12, in Dallas on May 19, and in Washington, DC on May 26. Grant applications are due on July 13. DOL expects to make approximately 30 awards, averaging around $660,000. Under the Prisoner Reentry Initiative, DOL announced April 1, 2005 that it will provide approximately $20 million to strengthen urban communities characterized by large numbers of returning prisoners, through employment-centered programming that incorporates mentoring, job training, and other comprehensive transitional services. DOL will award grants to faith-based and community organizations to provide such programming; The <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov" target="_blank">Department of Justice (DOJ)</a> will make subsequent awards to state agencies to provide pre-release services to prisoners returning to the communities served. The Prisoner Reentry Initiative is a multi-year, multi-agency initiative. DOL initial awards will be for one year, but may be extended for up to three years. In future years, funding under the Prisoner Reentry Initiative will also be available from DOJ, the <a href="http://www.hud.gov" target="_blank">Department of Housing and Urban Development</a> and the<a href="http://www.hhs.gov" target="_blank"> Department of Health and Human Services</a>. Click <a href="http://www.pri-conference.com/register.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> to register for one of the informational meetings. Click <a href="http://www.doleta.gov/sga/sga/SGA%2004-08%20mod1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to see the Prisoner Reentry Initiative grant announcement from DOL. <a href="#top">Back to top </a> Announcements 21230

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Council of State Governments (CSG), coordinator of the Reentry Policy Council, in collaboration with the TAPA Center for Jail Diversion, recently convened a forum on ensuring prompt access to benefits for eligible individuals with mental illness who are released from prison. The forum, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Department of Justice, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), was attended by a select group of high-level state officials including directors of correction and mental health departments as well as representatives from SAMHSA, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Council of State Governments (CSG), coordinator of the Reentry Policy Council, in collaboration with the <a href="http://www.gainsctr.com/b/tapa/about/default.asp">TAPA Center for Jail Diversion</a>, recently convened a forum on ensuring prompt access to benefits for eligible individuals with mental illness who are released from prison. The forum, supported by the <a href="http://www.macfound.org/">MacArthur Foundation</a>, the <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/">Department of Justice</a>, and the <a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)</a>, was attended by a select group of high-level state officials including directors of correction and mental health departments as well as representatives from SAMHSA, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many individuals with a serious mental illness who are in US prisons or jails are eligible for Medicaid and/or SSI/SSDI when they enter the facility; few, however, are enrolled in these federal benefit programs upon release. As a result, their access to medications and treatment – typically essential to compliance with conditions of release for people with mental illnesses – is severely limited, presenting a significant obstacle to their transition from prison or jail to the community. At the forum, nearly 50 state legislators, researchers, and mental health and criminal justice officials met to improve understanding of these problems in order to maximize the value of local, state, and federal responses. Representatives from federal agencies explained their rules to relevant state stakeholders and highlighted their agencies' commitment to this issue. State teams from Minnesota, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania discussed what their states have done to streamline the enrollment process, and to determine successful ways to further improve their efforts. In addition to collaborating to ensure access to federal benefits for eligible individuals, CSG and TAPA have collaborated to promote judicial leadership and improve understanding of the fiscal implications of the disproportionate involvement of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. To read more information on the issue and the forum, see this <a href="http://www.csgeast.org/pdfs/ercmonthlyoct2004.pdf">Issue Brief</a> published on the Council of State Governments / Eastern Regional Conference website. In partnership with another CSG initiative, the <a href="http://www.consensusproject.org/" target="_blank">Consensus Project </a>, the Reentry Policy Council is in the process of developing documents explaining the relevant federal regulations and describing promising practices for each of the participating states. These documents, which provide valuable guidance for any state looking to address this issue, will soon be available on the Reentry Policy Council website. <a href="102904-csgconvenesforumonfederalbenefits.php">Back to top </a> Announcements 21229

2009-09-22

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--- [] A new policy brief from the National Governors Association's (NGA) Center for Best Practices outlines prisoner reentry issues and challenges facing the states and suggests strategies that governors and other policymakers can employ to initiate long-term improvements. The brief builds on the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council and the work of NGA's Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy. A new policy brief from the <a href="http://www.nga.org/">National Governors Association's</a> (NGA) <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.50aeae5ff70b817ae8ebb856a11010a0/?vgnextoid=e0dcaf4def7d0010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Center for Best Practices</a> outlines prisoner reentry issues and challenges facing the states and suggests strategies that governors and other policymakers can employ to initiate long-term improvements. The brief builds on the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/About">Report of the Reentry Policy Council</a> and the work of NGA's <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=c223303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy</a>. <a href="http://preview.nga.org/Files/pdf/0509PRISONERREENTRY.PDF">Click here to view "Improving Prisoner Reentry through Strategic Policy Innovations" from NGA.</a> The policy brief recommends the following steps for governors and other policymakers to promote successful prisoner reentry: <ul type="circle"> <li>- Raising the profile of prisoner reentry as a public safety issue and not solely a corrections issue </li><li>- Improving the decision making processes by which individuals are sent to prison </li><li>- Improving how individuals are prepared in prison for release </li><li>- Improving the process by which individuals exit prisons so that key supports and services are in place during the initial transition </li><li>- Developing reentry initiatives that build on key social relationships--such as family, friends, and the faith community--and improve access to other community-based supports and services </li><li>- Targeting and supporting high-risk communities to which the majority of prisoners return </li></ul> This policy brief is the latest in a <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.6398ca27f6d963268a278110501010a0/?vgnextoid=6c239286d9de1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=publications">series</a> of reentry-related publications from NGA on prisoner reentry. Additional publications include: "<a href="http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/REENTRYBACKGROUND.pdf">Challenges and Impacts of Prisoner Reentry</a>," and "<a href="http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/REENTRYNATIONAL.pdf">National and Federal Initiatives on Prisoner Reentry</a>." NGA's <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=c223303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy</a> works with seven states in an effort to help Governors and other state policymakers develop and implement statewide prisoner reentry strategies that reduce recidivism rates by improving access to key services and supports. The seven states participating in the academy are <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1253303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Georgia</a>, <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=09d5303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Idaho</a>, <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1ee5303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Massachusetts</a>, <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=83e5303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Michigan</a>, <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=35f3303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">New Jersey</a>, <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=da55303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Rhode Island</a>, and <a href="http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1065303cb0b32010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD">Virginia</a>. <a href="#top">Back to top </a> Announcements 21228

2009-09-22

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--- - Minnesota A bill under consideration in the Minnesota state legislature would define collateral sanctions for individuals convicted of crimes and require the creation of table cataloging and cross-referencing such sanctions across existing state statutes. The bill has been introduced in both the House (H.F. 734) and Senate (S.F. 607). The bill is sponsored in the House by Representatives Doug Meslow, Tony Cornish, John Lesch, and Ron Latz; the Senate version is sponsored by Senator Leo T. Foley.  A bill under consideration in the <a href="http://www.leg.state.mn.us/">Minnesota state legislature</a> would define collateral sanctions for individuals convicted of crimes and require the creation of table cataloging and cross-referencing such sanctions across existing state statutes. The bill has been introduced in both the House (<a href="http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0734.0&session=ls84">H.F. 734</a>) and Senate (<a href="http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0607.1&session=ls84">S.F. 607</a>). The bill is sponsored in the House by Representatives Doug Meslow, Tony Cornish, John Lesch, and Ron Latz; the Senate version is sponsored by Senator Leo T. Foley. <a name="OLE_LINK1">As defined by the bill, a collateral sanction is a "legal penalty, disability, or disadvantage…that is imposed on a person automatically when that person is convicted of or found to have committed a crime, even if the sanction is not included in the sentence." Collateral sanctions do not include direct consequences of the crime, such as criminal fines, restitution, or incarceration.</a> Common examples of collateral sanctions include, among others, restrictions on the following: <ul> <li> Employment and occupational licensing; </li><li> Driving privileges; </li><li> Eligibility for public services or benefits; </li><li> Property and civil rights and remedies.</li></ul> The purpose of the bill is to provide a single reference for identifying the entire range of collateral sanctions that may be imposed upon individuals. This objective follows the standards for collateral sanctions legislation set forth by the <a href="http://www.abanet.org/">American Bar Association</a> (ABA) in 2003. The ABA also recommends that states: <ul> <li> limit collateral sanctions imposed upon conviction to those that are specifically warranted by the conduct constituting a particular offense; </li><li> prohibit certain collateral sanctions that, without justification, infringe on fundamental rights, or frustrate a convicted person's chances of successfully reentering society; </li><li> provide the means by which information concerning the collateral sanctions that are applicable to a particular offense is readily available; </li><li> require that the defendant is fully informed, before pleading guilty and at sentencing, of the collateral sanctions applicable to the offense(s) charged; </li><li> require that the defendant is fully informed, before pleading guilty and at sentencing, of the collateral sanctions applicable to the offense(s) charged; </li><li> provide a judicial or administrative mechanism for obtaining relief from collateral sanctions.</li></ul> Additional Resources <ul> <li> The <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/About">Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council</a> addresses collateral sanctions in a number of sections, including: the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/PartII/Epilogue">Epilogue to Part II: Integration into the Community</a>; <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/PartII/ChapterII-D/PolicyStatement24">Policy Statement 24: Identification and Benefits</a>; and several other policy statements relating to specific aspects of reentry. Collateral sanctions are also discussed in a previous Reentry Policy Online feature: "<a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/announcements/new_jersey_institute_of_social_justice_convenes_symposium_on_legal_barriers_to">New Jersey Institute of Social Justice Convenes Symposium on Legal Barriers to Reentry</a>." </li><li> The <a href="http://www.lac.org/">Legal Action Center</a>: "<a href="http://www.lac.org/lac/index.php">After Prison: Roadblocks to Reentry</a>." </li><li> Margaret Colgate Love: "<a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/rights-restoration.cfm">Relief from the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction: A State-by-State Resource Guide</a>." (to be published by William S. Hein & Co.; executive summary available online through the <a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/">Sentencing Project</a>.) </li><li> <a href="http://www.abanet.org/">American Bar Association</a>: "<a href="http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/standards/collateral_toc.html">Collateral Sanctions and Discretionary Disqualification of Convicted Persons</a>."</li></ul> Announcements 21227

2009-09-22

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--- - Vermont Six municipalities in Chittenden County (VT) have endorsed a strategic and targeted response to address the housing needs of people returning to the county from jail and prison. The Housing Plan was developed by a Regional Advisory Group convened by the Burlington Housing Authority.  Six municipalities in Chittenden County (VT) have endorsed a strategic and targeted response to address the housing needs of people returning to the county from jail and prison. The Housing Plan was developed by a Regional Advisory Group convened by the <a href="http://www.burlingtonhousing.org/" target="_blank">Burlington Housing Authority</a>. <a href="http://reentry.microportals.net/reentry/Document_Viewer.aspx?DocumentID=1395" target="_blank">Download the Housing Plan for Offenders Returning to Chittenden County.</a> A Regional Advisory Committee comprised of municipal officials, law enforcement, corrections personnel, and service providers studied the current housing needs of re-entering individuals and the availability of other services and resources. The group realized that the lack of appropriate housing helps to drive prison overcrowding: a significant number of the state's Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates are held beyond their minimum sentence pending the identification of appropriate housing. Components of the plan include: <ul> <li>- Creating and funding a housing specialist position charged with assessing the needs of returning offenders and helping them secure housing (a specialist at the Burlington Housing Authority has been providing this type of support since January 2005 through a DOC grant); </li><li>- Creating 30 - 35 more transitional housing units (beds which come with supportive services) to meet ongoing demand by supporting two pending projects; and </li><li>- Beginning comprehensive reentry planning well before prisoners are released by expanding jail-based transition units that day-furlough inmates may use to look for housing and employment.</li></ul> The group also identified goals, indicators to measure success, quantified the housing need within this population, and created an implementation strategy that delegated responsibilities to different partners. The Reentry Policy Council (RPC) periodically features efforts to address different aspects of prisoner reentry. For more on reentry and housing you may visit policy statements <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/PartII/ChapterII-D/PolicyStatement19">19 (Housing)</a> and <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/PartIII/PolicyStatement30">30 (Housing Systems)</a> in the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/About">Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council</a>, and read about the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_housing" target="_blank">RPC's Reentry and Housing Initiative.</a> Announcements 21226

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Second Chance Act of 2005, federal legislation designed to promote safe and successful prisoner reentry, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday, October 28. The bill, S1934, was introduced by Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA), along with Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and enjoys bipartisan support from additional co-sponsors, including Senators James Talent (R-MO), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Barack Obama (D-IL).  The Second Chance Act of 2005, federal legislation designed to promote safe and successful prisoner reentry, was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday, October 28. The bill, S1934, was introduced by Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA), along with Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and enjoys bipartisan support from additional co-sponsors, including Senators James Talent (R-MO), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Barack Obama (D-IL). The provisions of the Second Chance Act include, among others: <ul> <li>Authorization of reentry demonstration and mentoring grants to states;</li> <li>Creation of a federal reentry taskforce; and</li> <li>Establishment of a national reentry resource center.</li></ul> <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f%3As1934is.txt" target="_blank">Click here to see the text of the Second Chance Act of 2005 as introduced in the Senate</a>. Companion legislation (HR1704) has already been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, where the bill will receive a hearing before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on Thursday, November 3. <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.21&filename=h1704ih.txt&directory=/diskb/wais/data/109_cong_bills" target="_blank">Click here to see the text of the bill as introduced in the House of Representatives</a>. <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx" target="_blank">Click here to see streaming video of the hearings (9:30 a.m., November 3)</a>. In his testimony introducing the bill, Senator Specter noted that "there is ample evidence that well-designed reentry programs reduce recidivism…These programs pay for themselves by reducing future correction costs associated with re-housing these individuals upon their return back into the institution." Senator Biden followed, stating, "It's time we face the dire situation of prisoners reentering our communities with insufficient monitoring, little or no job skills, inadequate drug treatment, insufficient housing, lack of positive influences, a paucity of basic physical and mental health services, and deficient basic life skills. The bill we introduce today is about providing a second chance for these ex-offenders, and the children and families that depend on them. It's about strengthening communities and ensuring safe neighborhoods." Senator Brownback, the final speaker, concluded his remarks by saying, "we have an incredible opportunity to re-shape the way in which this nation's prison systems operate…we have a chance to make real and effective change in an area where change is sorely needed." Announcements 21225

2009-09-22

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--- [] The House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security heard testimony in support of the Second Chance Act of 2005 on November 3, 2005. Several witnesses, including Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, and U.S. Representatives Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Christopher Cannon (R-UT), praised the bill, which aims to ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community.  The House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security heard testimony in support of the Second Chance Act of 2005 on November 3, 2005. Several witnesses, including Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, and U.S. Representatives Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Christopher Cannon (R-UT), praised the bill, which aims to ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. Three members of the subcommittee--Committee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC), Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Representative William Delahunt (D-MA)--called for fast-tracking the legislation. Representative Delahunt called the bill "the most sensible piece of criminal justice legislation that I've seen in this Committee since I have been [in congress]." Representative Waters also praised the Second Chance Act, saying "we have an opportunity to correct many of the mistakes we have made in the past…This is the most progressive piece of legislation that I've seen in years." The Second Chance Act of 2005 was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1704), and enjoys broad, bipartisan support from 91 co-sponsors. <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.21&filename=h1704ih.txt&directory=/diskb/wais/data/109_cong_bills" target="_blank">Click here to see the text of the bill as introduced in the House of Representatives</a>. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate (S. 1934) by a bipartisan coalition, including Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA). Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), another sponsor, called the bill "an incredible opportunity to re-shape the way in which this nation's prison systems operate… a chance to make real and effective change in an area where change is sorely needed." <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f%3As1934is.txt" target="_blank">Click here to see the text of the Second Chance Act of 2005 as introduced in the Senate</a>. In his testimony to the subcommittee, Governor Ehrlich emphasized the impact of the Second Chance Act on states: "This Legislation authorizes much needed assistance to state and local governments for projects that enhance a person's ability to find a job and receive housing or substance abuse and mental health treatment." He continued, "Just as important, the bill creates a federal task force from various agencies to identify ways to collaborate and remove barriers to successful reentry." Testifying before her colleagues, Representative Tubbs Jones noted, "Prisoner reentry is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is a common sense issue.The facts are clear – meaningful reentry programs significantly diminish the chance that ex-offenders will return to prison. These programs save taxpayer dollars and increases public safety. So why not invest in enhancing reentry services in order to end the cycle of recidivism? That is the purpose of the Second Chance Act." <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings.aspx?ID=127" target="_blank">Click here to view available testimony from the House subcommittee hearing.</a> Announcements 21224

2009-09-22

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--- [] The US Department of Labor awarded 30 grants, totaling nearly $20 million, for employment programs targeted at individuals re-entering communities from prison or jail. The grants, distributed under the President’s Reentry Initiative, will go to faith- and community-based organizations in urban centers and other areas of greatest need. The Department of Labor made the anouncement on November 8, 2005.   The US Department of Labor awarded 30 grants, totaling nearly $20 million, for employment programs targeted at individuals re-entering communities from prison or jail. The grants, distributed under the President's Reentry Initiative, will go to faith- and community-based organizations in urban centers and other areas of greatest need. The Department of Labor made the anouncement on November 8, 2005. <a href="http://dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20052123list.htm" target="_blank">Click here to see a list of the grantees.</a> According to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, "Communities benefit when non-violent ex-offenders become contributing members of society…This $20 million in grants will fund projects in 20 states to provide job training, mentoring and other services to prepare returning ex-offenders for new lives as productive workers." <a href="http://dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20052123.htm" target="_blank">Click here to read the press release from the Department of Labor.</a> The President's Reentry Initiative was introduced in the 2004 State of the Union Address, and is a collaboration of the Departments of Labor, Justice, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services. <a href="http://dol.gov/cfbci/reentryfactsheet.htm" target="_blank">Click here to read more about the President's Reentry Initiative.</a> Announcements 21223

2009-09-22

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--- [] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is soliciting applications for grants totaling up to $9 million for reentry programs. The grants, part of the multi-agency Prisoner Reentry Initiative, will go to state justice agencies working in partnership with faith- or community-based organizations that have received similar grants from the Department of Labor (DOL). Only jurisdictions which have received grants from DOL are eligible to apply, and applications are due January 26, 2006.   The <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov" target="_blank">US Department of Justice</a> (DOJ) is soliciting applications for grants totaling up to $9 million for reentry programs. The grants, part of the multi-agency <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reentry/" target="_blank">Prisoner Reentry Initiative</a>, will go to state justice agencies working in partnership with faith- or community-based organizations that have received similar grants from the <a href="http://www.dol.gov" target="_blank">Department of Labor</a> (DOL). Only jurisdictions which have received grants from DOL are eligible to apply, and applications are due January 26, 2006. <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/06PRIsol.pdf" target="_blank">Click here to read the solicitation announcement.</a> The Prisoner Reentry Initiative, announced by President Bush in 2004 seeks to strengthen urban communities characterized by large numbers of re-entering, nonviolent prisoners. The initiative is designed to reduce recidivism by helping people released from prison find work and access other critical services in their communities. <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reentry/" target="_blank">Click here for information on the Prisoner Reentry Initiative.</a> In November 2005, DOL awarded 30 grants totaling nearly $20 million to faith- and community-based organizations to develop employment-centered programs for re-entering individuals. <a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20052123list.htm" target="_blank">Click here for a list of 2005 DOL grantees.</a> These new grants from DOJ will be made to state agencies to provide pre-release assessment, programming and services, transition planning, and post-release supervision and coordination of services for prisoners returning to communities served by DOL grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will also assist in the design and implementation of the initiative as it involves substance abuse and mental health treatment. Eligible agencies may apply online. <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/HowToApply.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for information on how to apply.</a> Announcements 21222

2009-09-22

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--- [] The President released his FY 2007 budget request on February 6, 2006. Below is a breakdown of the President's proposal for criminal justice programs. Additional agency breakdowns and program budgets will be added to this page as they become available. The President released his FY 2007 budget request on February 6, 2006.  Below is a breakdown of the President's proposal for criminal justice programs. Additional agency breakdowns and program budgets will be added to this page <a href="FY07.Budget.php"></a> as they become available. Funding Chart (in millions) <table cellspacing="0" border="3" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="0"> <tr v bgcolor="#000000"> <td width="319">Program</td> <td width="84">FY05</td> <td width="72">FY06</td> <td width="108">FY07 Budget Request</td> <td width="96">Increase/ Decrease</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Program</td> <td v width="84">---</td> <td v width="72">$5</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$5</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Offender State and Local Reentry Demonstration Projects</td> <td v width="84">$10</td> <td v width="72">$5</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$5</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants</td> <td v width="84">$542</td> <td v width="72">$327</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$327</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Byrne Discretionary Grants</td> <td v width="84">(unknown)</td> <td v width="72">$317</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$317</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">DNA Analysis Backlogs</td> <td v width="84">$110</td> <td v width="72">$109</td> <td v width="108">$234</td> <td v width="96">+125</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) </td> <td v width="84">$606.446</td> <td v width="72">$478.3</td> <td v width="108">$0*</td> <td v width="96">-$478.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Drug Courts</td> <td v width="84">$40</td> <td v width="72">$9.9</td> <td v width="108">$69.2</td> <td v width="96">+$59.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Weed and Seed</td> <td v width="84">$62</td> <td v width="72">$49.5</td> <td v width="108">$49.3</td> <td v width="96">-$0.2</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Residential Substance Abuse and Treatment </td> <td v width="84">$25</td> <td v width="72">$10</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$10</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">Prisoner Reentry Initiative (DOJ, DOL, HUD)</td> <td v width="84">$30</td> <td v width="72">$24</td> <td v width="108">$59</td> <td v width="96">+$35</td> </tr> <tr> <td v width="319">State Criminal Alien Assistance Program</td> <td v width="84">$305</td> <td v width="72">$405</td> <td v width="108">$0</td> <td v width="96">-$405</td> </tr> </table> *COPS Law Enforcement Technology Grants were eliminated with the Byrne Discretionary Grants. Budget Process The President's budget proposal is just the first step in a long process to pass a final budget.  The next step in the process is passage of a concurrent Budget Resolution in the House and Senate.  The Budget Resolution will include the total amount available for discretionary spending and a non-binding statement of Congress's spending priorities.  The Budget Resolution will not include funding levels for specific programs. After the Budget Resolution is passed, each appropriations subcommittee will receive a specific allocation. In each chamber, the subcommittee's responsibility is to allocate its funds among the various programs within its jurisdiction. Finally, after all the subcommittee bills are passed, a final appropriations bill will be considered. The federal fiscal year ends on September 30, although for the past several years, Congress has not passed an appropriations bill by that date. <a href="#top">Back to top </a> Announcements 21221

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--- [] On February 9, 2006 the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security heard testimony in support of the substance abuse treatment provisions in the Second Chance Act (H.R. 1704). The panel witnesses included Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse; Ken Batten, Director of the Office of Substance Abuse Services at the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Substance Abuse Services; Pamela Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities; and Lorna Hogan from the Rebecca Project for Human Rights. On February 9, 2006 the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security heard testimony in support of the substance abuse treatment provisions in the Second Chance Act (H.R. 1704). The panel witnesses included Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse; Ken Batten, Director of the Office of Substance Abuse Services at the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Substance Abuse Services; Pamela Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities; and Lorna Hogan from the Rebecca Project for Human Rights. Follow these links for witness testimony from the hearing: <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/volkow020806.pdf" target="_blank">Dr. Nora Volkow</a>; <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/batten020806.pdf" target="_blank">Ken Batten</a>; <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/HearingTestimony.aspx?ID=355" target="_blank">Pamela Rodriguez</a>; <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/HearingTestimony.aspx?ID=354" target="_blank">Lorna Hogan</a> Committee Chairman Howard Coble (R – NC) in his opening statement laid the groundwork for the expansion of drug treatment resources in the Second Chance Act, which was introduced last year in the House of Representatives. The bill enjoys broad, bipartisan support from 100 co-sponsors. <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/HearingOpeningStatement.aspx?ID=46" target="_blank">Click here to read Chairman Coble's opening statement</a> Dr. Volkow spoke to the importance of providing comprehensive options during and after prison-time to people who require substance abuse treatment. She emphasized that such treatment can significantly reduce the likelihood of repeat offense: "In one study, those who participated in prison-based treatment followed by aftercare were 7 times more likely to be drug free and 2 times more likely to be arrest-free after 3 years than those who received no treatment." In his testimony before the subcommittee, Ken Batten noted the cost savings that could be associated with expanded substance abuse treatment for people involved in the criminal justice system: "for every $1 spent on treatment for offenders, there is up to a $7 crime-related cost savings." Pamela Rodriguez also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of substance abuse treatment as well as the importance of organizations outside the prison system to engage in treatment, especially during the reentry process: "As stakeholders with a vested interest in public safety and the health and well-being of all of its citizens, community providers are in a unique position to affect the successful reentry of its incarcerated population as individuals return from prison and jail. The Second Chance Act engages community non-profits, including faith-based providers, in serving and empowering their own populations in successful reentry." The human face of addiction and reentry struggles was shown in Lorna Hogan's testimony. A mother of four and in recovery for 5 years, Lorna spoke of her initial experience being released from jail without sufficient treatment: "When I was released there were no referrals to aftercare treatment programs. I was released to the street at ten o'clock at night with four dollars in my pocket. I still didn't know where my children were. I went back to doing the only thing I knew, which was using drugs." Hogan went on to tell of a later experience with family-based treatment, which provided the recovery, parenting and child services needed to stabilize her family. The House Judiciary Committee is considering the inclusion of a family-based treatment component in the bill as well. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate (S. 1934) by a bipartisan coalition, including Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). Announcements 21220

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--- [] Several new resources are now available from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the Reentry Policy Council (RPC), and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for policymakers and practitioners seeking to address housing and reentry issues. Ensuring that people released from prison or jail find safe places to live is critical to reducing existing rates of homelessness and crime and to ensuring stable housing situations for the children, families, and neighbors of each released prisoner. But these same people often struggle to get and maintain access to appropriate housing because of individual and systemic obstacles. Several new resources are now available from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the Reentry Policy Council (RPC), and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for policymakers and practitioners seeking to address housing and reentry issues. • New supportive housing and reentry initiative: CSH has received a three-year, six million dollar grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the Returning Home Initiative. With this investment, CSH will gather evidence that supportive housing reduces recidivism and examples of reinvestment of criminal justice system resources in supportive housing; develop supportive housing champions within the criminal justice system, and re-grant funding to locally-based non-profit organizations to stimulate the creation of additional supportive housing for people released from prison and jail.Click <a href="http://www.csh.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=3659" title="" target="_blank">here</a> to read the press release from CSH • Training for Housing Providers: LISC's Community Safety Initiative (CSI) has introduced a new training program for organizations aiming to safely and responsibly provide housing to formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. The program offers a day-long on-site session with experts from the housing, social service, law enforcement, and corrections fields, and is targeted at a wide range of professionals.Click <a href="http://www.lisc.org/rhode_island/programs/initiative_6624.shtml" title="" target="_blank">here</a> for more information from LISC CSI • Assessment Guide: Reentry Policy Online, the RPC's website, has been redesigned and updated with targeted new resources for the housing-focused audience. Visitors to the site can find a variety of housing-related reentry resources, including new articles, publications, and a guide to the Report of the Reentry Policy Council, as well as a set of questions for anyone interested in housing and reentry to assess the effectiveness of their community's response to these issues.Click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_housing" title="" target="">here</a> to view the RPC's reentry housing resources • HUD "SuperNOFA": HUD has released its comprehensive Notice of Funds Available for financial year 2006. Funding is available for a wide variety of housing-related programs, including the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program, which is particularly relevant to reentry housing.Click <a href="http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm" title="" target="_blank">here</a> for more information on the SuperNOFA from HUDClick <a href="http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr06-027.cfm" title="" target="_blank">here</a> to read the press release from HUD describing the SuperNOFA Announcements 21219

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--- [] Utah’s Salt Lake County has developed a pilot project—the Homeless Assistance Rental Project (HARP)—to take advantage of existing housing stock to immediately provide housing for homeless people. The project is intended to decrease the jail population, and is made possible through an allocation of $300,000 to the county housing authority. Utah's Salt Lake County has developed a pilot project - the Homeless Assistance Rental Project (HARP) - to take advantage of existing housing stock to immediately provide housing for homeless people. The project is intended to decrease the jail population, and is made possible through an allocation of $300,000 to the county housing authority. Under this agreement, the county divisions of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Criminal Justice Services, the jail, and Youth Services will provide client referrals and supportive services to individuals who are within the target population for the project. Upon referral, the housing authority will find and facilitate appropriate housing. The county plans to place approximately 80 clients in housing through HARP. Other benefits of the project include: • A housing specialist dedicated to Salt Lake County, and access to ongoing housing expertise through the Housing Authority; • Training for 75 to 100 county case managers on housing issues; • Savings to the county and state through decreased use of the county Adult Detention Center, residential substance abuse treatment, and state prison. Information about project implementation will be presented to housing authorities and other housing community stakeholders throughout Utah at the April 14 Utah National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) conference, which will also feature a plenary on the significance of prisoner reentry to the housing community. Presenters will include staff from the Reentry Policy Council, representatives from government agencies including Salt Lake County, the Salt Lake County Housing Authority, and the Department of Corrections, and a HARP program participant. <a href="http://www.slcoedcr.org/html/endhomelessness.html" title="" target="_blank">Click here for more on Salt Lake County's efforts to end homelessness.</a> <a href="http://www.mayor.slco.org/doctopdf/200603AtoI.pdf" title="" target="_blank">Click here for Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon's white paper on alternatives to incarceration.</a> Announcements 21217

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--- [] On April 6th, the Reentry Policy Council (RPC), in cooperation with the Bureau of Justice Administration and the National Institute of Corrections, convened a group of stakeholders, including legislators, federal agency officials, corrections officials, judicial branch members, victim advocates, child support enforcement officials, and nonprofit organizations, in Washington, D.C. to discuss these issues and work on establishing practical solutions. Individuals leaving prison or jail often have significant debts to repay upon their release including restitution, court fees, and child support. Many of these people have little or no income and lack housing, making it difficult for them to meet their financial requirements, and to successfully re-enter the community. At the same time, people and agencies who depend on the revenue generated by fines and fees imposed on re-entering individuals typically receive little or no payment. Developing a balance among individual accountability, ability to pay, and actual support (for the child, the victim, or the criminal justice system) is key to policymakers hoping to address this issue. On April 6th, the Reentry Policy Council (RPC), in cooperation with the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute of Corrections, convened a group of stakeholders, including legislators, federal agency officials, corrections officials, judicial branch members, victim advocates, child support enforcement officials, and nonprofit organizations, in Washington, D.C. to discuss these issues and work on establishing practical solutions. The group reviewed a set of draft policy recommendations and identified key additional points for the RPC's forthcoming Guide to Prioritizing Financial Obligations. Stakeholders considered an individual's ability to pay and amounts that are realistically collectible; prioritizing financial obligations to victims and families over those to third parties or the states; and identifying alternate sources of revenue. The discussion also included identifying alternatives to monetary payment, such as community service, for people who are truly unable to pay their financial obligations. "At some point, we have to be able to say to people who have been incarcerated, and served time on probation or parole upon release, you have paid your debt to society," said Sen. Alan Cropsey (R-MI), who serves as both Judiciary Chair and Appropriations Committee member. "We have got to help people move on to leading productive lives." The RPC's Guide to Prioritizing Financial Obligations, due in summer 2006, will help policymakers develop policies that increase the likelihood of prisoners' safe and successful reentry and ensure their accountability to victims, families, and the criminal justice system. Announcements 21213

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--- - Florida On April 25, 2006, Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida issued an executive order charging state executive agencies with producing a report on employment restrictions and disqualifications based on criminal records that are under their jurisdiction, and encouraging them to eliminate such barriers to successful reentry. On April 25, 2006, Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida issued an executive order charging state executive agencies with producing a report on employment restrictions and disqualifications based on criminal records that are under their jurisdiction. Agencies are asked to report on such restrictions and procedures used to determine and review disqualifications within 60 days. Within 90 days, agencies are charged with reporting the impact of disqualifications and restrictions and the impact of case-by-case review. Executive agencies, as well as other state agencies and the private sector, are encouraged "to eliminate or modify such disqualifications that are not tailored to protect the public safety, and to create case-by-case review mechanisms to provide individuals the opportunity to make a showing of their rehabilitation and their qualifications for employment." This order follows the recommendation of the <a href="http://exoffender.myflorida.com/" target="newwindow">Ex-Offender Task Force </a> created by Gov. Bush in February 2005. <a href="http://www.floridajobs.org/pdg/memos/ExOffenderRpt_Atchmnt1_ExOrdr_050306.pdf#search=%22the%20Ex-Offender%20Task%20Force%20Executive%20Order%20(06-89)%22">Click here to view the executive order. </a> Questions should be addressed to Governor Bush's press office, (850) 488-5394. Announcements 21210

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--- [] The Criminal Justice Program of the Council of State Governments' (CSG) Eastern Regional Conference announces that Fred Osher, M.D. will soon join its team. Dr. Osher will serve as the Criminal Justice Program's Director of Health Systems and Services Policy and work from the program's new offices in Bethesda, Maryland. The Criminal Justice Program of the Council of State Governments' (CSG) Eastern Regional Conference announces that Fred Osher, M.D. will soon join its team. Dr. Osher will serve as the Criminal Justice Program's Director of Health Systems and Services Policy and work from the program's new offices in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, he will provide guidance to existing and future projects that have major health components. He will also provide technical assistance to state and local governments across the country that are seeking to improve the response to the millions of people who have a mental health and/or substance use disorder and are involved in the criminal justice system. The Chair of CSG/ERC's Criminal Justice Program, Rep. Mike Festa (MA), stated: "Fred has been an extraordinary resource for CSG over the past six years. At the forefront of community psychiatry in this country, and known nationally for his expertise on issues surrounding people with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders and their interaction with the criminal justice system, he has provided invaluable assistance to our Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project and Reentry Policy Council." Festa added, "Policymakers and practitioners across the country have found his unique combination of clinical expertise, nuanced understanding of services and systems-integration, and straightforward communication skills extraordinarily helpful. His arrival increases our capacity to assist state and local governments grappling with health issues and their interface with the criminal justice system. We're very excited that he is becoming part of our organization." Dr. Osher is currently the Director of the Center for Behavioral Health, Justice, and Public Policy and is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His previous positions include Director of Community Psychiatry at the University of Maryland; an appointment as a member of President Clinton's Task Force on Health Reform; Acting Director of the Division of Demonstration Programs at the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA; and Deputy Director of the Office of Programs for the Homeless Mentally Ill at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Osher has published extensively in the areas of homelessness, community psychiatry, co-occurring mental and addictive disorders, and effective approaches to persons with behavioral disorders within justice settings. He received his B.A. from Harvard University and his Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State University. In addition to Dr. Osher's work for CSG, he will maintain a part-time practice serving homeless individuals with psychiatric needs at Health Care for the Homeless, Baltimore. He starts his new position with CSG on September 5, 2006; until then, he will continue to serve as a consultant to CSG. His current contact information is <a href="mailto:fosher@psych.umaryland.edu" style="COLOR: #815f38">fosher@psych.umaryland.edu</a>. His updated contact information with CSG will be available in September. CSG is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership association, serving elected and appointed officials in all three branches of state government. The Criminal Justice Program coordinated by CSG's Eastern Region serves policymakers across the country, recently focusing its efforts on issues concerning people with mental illness involved in the justice system, prisoner reentry, and "justice reinvestment" strategies. Please visit our project web sites: <a href="http://www.consensusproject.org" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">www.consensusproject.org</a> <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">www.reentrypolicy.org</a> Announcements 21209

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--- [] This week, the House Science, State, Justice, Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittee reserved $5 million in its fiscal year 2007 appropriations bill for a grant program authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA). This week, the House <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees&SubcommitteeId=5" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Science, State, Justice, Commerce </a> (SSJC) Appropriations Subcommittee reserved $5 million in its fiscal year 2007 appropriations bill for a grant program authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA). The bill has passed both the SSJC Subcommittee and full Appropriations Committee. The measure will now move to the House floor for consideration. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chairman of the SSJC Subcommittee, has been a key supporter of the grant program. Other supporters include MIOTCRA cosponsors Representatives Ted Strickland (D-OH) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), who worked closely with colleagues to ensure continued funding for the program in FY '07. The Senate <a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38"> Commerce Justice State Subcommittee</a> will consider its FY '07 appropriations bill later in the summer. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) has been a key supporter of the authorizing legislation as well as continued funding. The grant program, which is administered by the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a> (BJA), provides grants to states to improve collaboration between criminal justice and mental health agencies. The program received $5 million in FY '06 and BJA recently closed its solicitation for applications for this fiscal year. <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/06MIOsol.pdf" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Click here</a> to view the solicitation. For more information on MIOTCRA, please <a href="http://consensusproject.org/infocenter/legislation/" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">click here</a> or contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38">Hope Glassberg</a>. Announcements 21208

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--- [] On June 29, the House passed its fiscal year 2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce (SSJC)appropriations bill. Highlights from the bill include $5 million for mental health courts and adult and juvenile collaboration program grants, authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act. On June 29, the House passed its fiscal year 2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce (SSJC) appropriations bill. Highlights from the bill include: <ul><li>$5 million for mental health courts and adult and juvenile collaboration program grants, authorized by the <a href="http://consensusproject.org/infocenter/legislation/MIOTCRA" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act</a>. These grants provide funding to states to improve collaboration between criminal justice and mental health agencies; please <a href="http://consensusproject.org/infocenter/features/miotcra-07-approp" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">click here</a> for more information. </li><li>$2 million for prisoner reentry initiatives was added through an amendment to the bill by SSJC Chairman Frank Wolf (R – VA), who stated on the House floor, "I think that [reentry] programs help offenders to move back into their communities and be productive citizens." The amendment did not specify which programs or initiatives would receive the $2 million. </li><li>$5 million for grants for residential substance abuse treatment for state prisoners</li></ul> Please <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.05672:" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">click here</a> for more information on the appropriations bill including its full text, amendments, and cosponsors. The <a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Senate Commerce Justice Science Subcommittee</a> will consider its FY '07 appropriations bill later in the summer. For more information on FY '07 appropriations, please contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38">Hope Glassberg</a>. Announcements 21207

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--- [] In an effort to develop a cohesive national effort to address correctional health issues, the Community Voices: Health Care for the Underserved program of the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has partnered with the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). MSM and NASHP convened two meetings of national experts, service providers, and people who have been incarcerated. The goal of the two meetings was to develop recommendations for the public health field, correctional systems, and relevant community agencies concerning prisoner reentry. Millions of people with serious mental health, physical health, and substance abuse issues are admitted to US jails and prisons each year. Without continuity of care, there is an increased likelihood that people with these health issues will resume the behavior after release that led to their initial incarceration. In an effort to develop a cohesive national effort to address these issues, the Community Voices: Health Care for the Underserved program of the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has partnered with the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). (MSM recently received a $4.5 million grant from the Kellogg Foundation to address the health aspects of prisoner reentry.) MSM and NASHP convened two meetings of national experts, service providers, and people who have been incarcerated. The first meeting, "Developing an Action Agenda for Prisoners Reentering the Community - Reconnecting to Health Services," was on March 17, 2006 in Washington, DC; the second, "Facilitating an Action Agenda for Prisoners Reentering the Community - Reconnecting to Health Services," was on May 31, 2006 in Atlanta, GA. Council of State Governments (CSG) staff, representing the Reentry Policy Council (RPC), participated in each. Click <a href="http://www.communityvoices.org/Article.aspx?ID=388" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">here</a> for additional information on the May meeting. The goal of the two meetings was to develop recommendations for the public health field, correctional systems, and relevant community agencies in three issue areas concerning prisoner reentry: 1) behavioral/mental health; 2) oral/dental health; and 3) access to Medicaid and other benefits to support successful reentry. In addition, meeting organizers sought to design a plan in which MSM, a historically black institution committed to training minority and other students to meet the primary healthcare needs of the underserved, would facilitate the implementation of these recommendations. CSG was pleased to be a part of MSM's efforts. As a school helping to set the policy agenda for public health, MSM recognizes that both health and corrections agencies must be a part of the solution for meeting the needs of people with serious health issues who have been incarcerated. That is also the thrust of site-specific technical assistance that CSG and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) are jointly providing to the Kansas Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). CSG and NIC are developing a written case study of efforts in Kansas, which is scheduled to be released soon. For more information on this project, please <a href="http://consensusproject.org/downloads/nic-one-pager.pdf" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">click here</a>. Another project that CSG administers that has direct relevance to MSM's efforts concerns access to Medicaid and SSI/SSDI and prisoner reentry. For more information on this project, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_federal_benefits" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">here</a> or contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38"> Hope Glassberg</a>. Announcements 21205

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--- [] The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) conducted a Net/Teleconference on the Report of The Reentry Policy Council on Wednesday, February 2, 2005. Participants joined Elizabeth Nevins and Richard Cho, Program Officer for CSH and member of the RPC Steering Committee, via telephone and internet connections to learn more about the RPC’s recently released Report. Sponsored by CSH, the presentation focused on the content and structure of the report, highlighting features particularly relevant to housing service providers. The <a href="http://www.csh.org/">Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)</a> conducted a Net/Teleconference on the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/">Report of The Reentry Policy Council</a> on Wednesday, February 2, 2005. Participants joined Elizabeth Nevins and Richard Cho, Program Officer for CSH and member of the RPC Steering Committee, via telephone and internet connections to learn more about the RPC's recently released Report. Sponsored by CSH, the presentation focused on the content and structure of the report, highlighting features particularly relevant to housing service providers. After introductions from moderator Nancy McGraw, CSH's Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mr. Cho and Ms. Nevins set the context for the conference. Mr. Cho, who co-chaired the Supportive Health and Housing Advisory Group for the RPC, opened with a review of CSH's role in the development of the Report, and Ms. Nevins followed with an overview of the development of the RPC and its report. Mr. Cho then highlighted two of the report's 35 policy statements that focus most directly on housing issues: PS 19: Housing offers specific recommendations for meeting reentry housing needs of individuals who are nearing completion of their term of incarceration. Policy Statement 19 features a comprehensive and detailed overview of the housing options and includes a condensed matrix of housing options, their features, benefits, and potential limitations that Mr. Cho said he hoped service providers could "photocopy and put on their walls as a checklist." PS 30: Housing Systems addresses larger issues that affect the provision of housing services to low-income populations, including those recently released from prison or jail. This policy statement includes the identification and elimination of barriers to the development, distribution, and preservation of affordable housing. Ms. Nevins followed with a presentation of Part I of the report, outlining its structure and detailing its contents. Divided into two chapters, Chapter A: Getting Started and Chapter B: Addressing Core Challenges, Part I contains seven policy statements essential to crafting a successful reentry initiative. Ms. Nevins then concluded with "Nine Ways to Use the Report," a guide included in the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/Preview">Report Preview</a> that suggests creative and meaningful ways that policy makers and practitioners can take advantage of the report. The conference concluded with an extensive question and answer session, accepting questions via both email and telephone. The final call, a question regarding the intersection between housing and workforce development highlighted the need for a multi-systems approach in any reentry initiative. CSH helps communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness, and was one of ten project partners that worked with CSG to develop the report. Notes from the Net/ Teleconference will be available soon on both the RPC and CSH websites. Announcements 21204

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--- [] On Wednesday, July 19, 2006 H.R. 1704, the Second Chance Act (SCA), was brought to the full House of Representatives Judiciary Committee for a vote. Members of the Judiciary Committee accepted several amendments to the bill, including a large substitute amendment that provides for additional drug treatment programs, family-based treatment resources, and an elderly non-violent offender pilot program. On Wednesday, July 19, 2006 H.R. 1704, the Second Chance Act (SCA), was brought to the full <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/default.aspx" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">House of Representatives Judiciary Committee</a> for a vote. Members of the Judiciary Committee accepted several amendments to the bill, including a large substitute amendment that provides for additional drug treatment programs, family-based treatment resources, and an elderly non-violent offender pilot program. Debate over a final amendment by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) to include additional faith-based language in the bill was met with much concern by both sides. The bill authors stated during the mark-up that "the current language is the result of a delicate compromise reached after much negotiation between Republicans, Democrats, and faith-based groups and is good for faith based groups since they will qualify to receive funding, [and it is language Democrats will support]." Due to floor votes and timing, the Committee adjourned until next Wednesday, July 26, at which point they will resume discussion and vote on the SCA, clearing it for the consideration on the House floor. The SCA, with the new amendments, allocates $176 million towards a variety of reentry programs. One of the main components of the bill is the funding of demonstration projects that would provide ex-offenders with a coordinated continuum of housing, education, health, employment, and mentoring services. Senate Judiciary staff expect to hold a hearing on the companion bill, S. 1934, in the next several months. For more information on the SCA, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" name="undefined" title="Second Chance Act of 2005" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">here</a>. For more information on outreach to members of Congress around the SCA, please contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38"> Hope Glassberg</a>. Announcements 21203

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--- [] With funding from the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Council of State Governments (CSG) has developed informational documents that target two important players in meeting the housing needs of these individuals. National and local leaders convened last week at a conference in Washington, DC to discuss important issues contributing to homelessness, including prisoner reentry. While there is a shortage of affordable housing for people in the general population who need it, there are even fewer options for people with criminal records. Of the more than two million people in prison and jail at any time, an estimated 10 percent were homeless in the months before their incarceration. Finding these people a place to live is critical to reducing homelessness and crime, and to ensuring health and safety for their children, families, and neighbors. A variety of housing providers in the community can play a role in addressing the shortage of affordable housing available for former prisoners. (For a chart of different housing options from the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council, click <a href="http://tools.reentrypolicy.org/housing" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38"> here.</a>) With funding from the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Council of State Governments (CSG) has developed informational documents that target two important players in meeting the housing needs of these individuals. <ul><li><a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/1576;file" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Homelessness and Prisoner Reentry </a>: This document, created in partnership with the National Alliance to End Homelessness <a href="http://www.endhomelessness.org/" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">(NAEH)</a>, outlines the intertwined challenges of homelessness and prisoner reentry, and offers examples of housing initiatives geared toward preventing homelessness among people leaving prison. </li><li><a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/1578;file" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and Prisoner Reentry </a>: This document, created in partnership with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials <a href="http://www.nahro.org/index.cfm" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">(NAHRO)</a>, highlights the impact on PHAs of the growing number of people released from prison and jail, and offers examples of ways PHAs can help them obtain appropriate places to live.</li></ul> Corrections administrators and service providers who help prisoners prepare for their return to the community may use these documents to approach housing partners and encourage their involvement in efforts to find adequate places to live. Housing practitioners can use these documents to help launch their own reentry housing programs or to inform existing ones. NAEH and CSG released the Homelessness and Reentry document on July 17, 2006, at a conference coordinated by the NAEH, <a href="http://www.endhomelessness.org/FamConf2006" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">"Ending Homelessness - Plan, Act, Succeed"</a>, that included a workshop focusing on homelessness and prisoner reentry. Reentry Policy Council staff presented at the workshop, along with Commissioner Martin Horn from the New York City's Department of Correction, Stanley Richards from the Fortune Society (NY), and LaRochelle Young from the office of US Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). The Reentry Policy Council has developed an interactive housing guide that highlights important research and recommendations from the Report of the Reentry Policy Council. To access this guide, click <a href="http://tools.reentrypolicy.org/housing" name="undefined" title="Offer Safe Places to Live" style="COLOR: #815f38" target="newwindow"> here</a>. For more information on CSG's work on reentry housing, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/housing_project" style="COLOR: #815f38">here</a>. Announcements 21202

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--- [] The Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) has recently sent to federal agencies two letters addressing legal and logistical barriers that prisoners face in obtaining identification and public benefits. The Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) has recently sent to federal agencies two letters addressing legal and logistical barriers that prisoners face in obtaining identification and public benefits. These barriers can stand between health services and individuals who need them during the critical period immediately following their release. The letters are a part of ASCA's efforts to ensure that people who are released from corrections facilities become productive members of the community. <ul> <li><a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/1367;file" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">Replacement social security number (SSN) cards for eligible inmates (letter to Social Security Administration, May 19, 2006) </a> Inmates typically lose access to important identification documents such as SSN cards. Without such identification, they are often unable to find employment, secure housing, or apply for public benefits that may be necessary to obtain medication or other treatment upon release. However, SSA recently announced that it will no longer enter into agreements with corrections agencies to help prisoners obtain replacement SSN cards. ASCA's letter urges SSA to restore this practice. <li><a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/1345;file" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">The role of Medicaid in continuity of care and successful reentry (letter to Medicaid Commission, July 7, 2006) </a> ASCA explains in this letter that an interruption in treatment after release can increase the likelihood that people with serious health issues will resume the behavior that led to their initial incarceration. ASCA urges the <a href="http://aspe.hhs.gov/medicaid/" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38"> Medicaid Commission</a> (established in 2005 by the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services) to take steps to ensure prompt enrollment in Medicaid to support continuity of treatment for eligible individuals upon release.</li></ul> For more information on access to federal benefits, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_federal_benefits" name="undefined" title="Access to Federal Benefits" style="COLOR: #815f38" target="newwindow">here </a> or contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38">Hope Glassberg</a>. Announcements 21201

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--- [] On July 26, 2006 members of the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1704, the Second Chance Act (SCA), by voice vote, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. During the mark-up of the bill, the Committee accepted a substitute amendment offered by the Crime Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) that provides additional drug treatment programs, family-based treatment resources, and an elderly non-violent offender pilot program. On July 26, 2006 members of the <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/default.aspx" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">House Judiciary Committee</a> passed H.R. 1704, the Second Chance Act (SCA), by voice vote, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. During the mark-up of the bill, the Committee accepted a substitute amendment offered by the Crime Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) that provides additional drug treatment programs, family-based treatment resources, and an elderly non-violent offender pilot program. Also accepted were amendments from Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), which added, respectively, reentry courts, resources for electronic monitoring of parolees, and continuity of medical care for mentally ill and chronically ill offenders. Committee members voted down several amendments proposed by Rep. Gohmert to add faith-based language into the bill. Many committee members voiced concerns over any amendment or action that would jeopardize bipartisan support around the bill. "The language in the bill is the result of compromise and hard work from Republicans, Democrats, and faith-based organizations to make sure our prisons are not just revolving doors and to improve prisoners' chances of becoming productive, contributing citizens when they re-enter the community," said Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT), member of the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Cannon introduced the Second Chance Act with Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (R-OH). "I commend my colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee for working together in a bipartisan manner to pass the Second Chance Act," said Rep. Tubbs-Jones. "Today's action by the Judiciary Committee means that the Second Chance Act is one step closer to becoming law and assisting the ex-offender community in changing their lives for the better." The SCA, with the new amendments, allocates $176 million to fund a variety of reentry programs, including faith-based programs. One of the main components of the bill is the funding of demonstration projects that would provide ex-offenders with a coordinated continuum of housing, education, health, employment, and mentoring services. For more information on the bill including a list of its 112 cosponsors, please click <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.01704:" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38"> here</a>. To view SCA news, frequently asked questions, and overview documents, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow" style="COLOR: #815f38">here</a>. For more information on outreach to members of Congress around the Second Chance Act, please contact <a href="mailto:lkane@csg.org" style="COLOR: #815f38"> Leah Kane</a>. Announcements 21200

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--- - Pennsylvania Most prisoners are released into the community under some type of conditional community supervision, usually parole, yet there are still gaps in our understanding of how supervision can contribute to successful reentry. With more than two-thirds of prisoners rearrested within three years of their release, state departments of corrections and other organizations have a strong incentive to fill in those gaps. Two recent efforts come from the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP) and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Most prisoners are released into the community under some type of conditional community supervision, usually parole, yet there are still gaps in our understanding of how supervision can contribute to successful reentry. With more than two-thirds of prisoners rearrested within three years of their release, a rate that has not changed in 30 years, state departments of corrections and other organizations have a strong incentive to fill in those gaps. Two recent efforts come from the Center for Effective Public Policy (<a href="http://www.cepp.com/" target="newwindow">CEPP</a>) and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. <a href="http://www.cepp.com/documents/A%20Call%20to%20Action%20for%20Parole.pdf" ow target="newwind">CEPP's "Successful Transition and Reentry for Safer Communities: A Call to Action for Parole" </a> This July 2006 report highlights a growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of various treatment programs, and the availability of validated assessment instruments for matching programs to individuals released from prison. It also offers principles to guide effective management of programs and oversight of parolees. Finally, the report outlines an agenda for action for criminal justice policymakers, parole, state legislative bodies and governors, and funding organizations. CEPP argues for increasing levels of supervision and targeting treatment programs for higher risk offenders. Its report finds that many people return to prison because they fail to comply with a condition of supervised release, including through technical violations-actions that, were the individual not on parole, would not be considered criminal. CEPP urges parole agencies to analyze critically their handling of parole violations. In particular, CEPP advocates reserving revocation to prison for more serious violations, and offering a system of lesser sanctions and incentives to encourage successful reentry. For more on CEPP's recommendations to improve parole, click <a href="http://www.cepp.com/documents/A%20Call%20to%20Action%20for%20Parole.pdf" target="newwindow">here </a>. <a href="http://www.cor.state.pa.us/stats/cwp/view.asp?a=384&q=135530&statsNav=|" ow target="newwind">Pennsylvania Department of Corrections' Parole Violator Study </a> The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) has taken the initiative to collect and analyze data in order to inform the design of more effective supervision. In 2002, facing increasing parole violation admissions to Pennsylvania prisons, the state DOC decided to collect information from people who succeeded and failed on parole in Pennsylvania, as well as from its own employees, to drive its parole and programming policies. DOC initiated a three-part study on parole violators; the results for phase three of this study were released in June 2006. Phases 1 and 2 surveyed nearly 550 parole violators returning to prison and a comparison group of parolees who successfully remained in the community. The responses suggested that: <ol><li>Parole violators tend to hold unrealistic expectations of what life in the community will be like; </li><li>They tend to maintain attitudes, values, and beliefs associated with a higher risk of re-offending; and </li><li>They tend to lack adequate coping and social problem-solving skills necessary for life outside of prison.</li></ol> Click <a href="http://www.cor.state.pa.us/stats/lib/stats/ParoleViolatorStudy.pdf" target="newwindow">here</a> for more information on phase 1 and 2 of the study. Phase 3 of the study polled parole officers and community corrections providers to gain their perspective on factors relating to success or failure on parole. Parole staff identified substance abuse, employment problems, family problems, and negative environments as primary factors leading to failure on parole. Motivation and desire to change, family support, employment, and sobriety were seen as primary factors leading to success on parole. Click <a href="http://www.cor.state.pa.us/stats/lib/stats/ParoleViolatorStudy3.pdf" target="newwindow">here</a> for more information on phase 3 of the study. Announcements 21199

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--- - Michigan Officials from the Michigan Department of Corrections have taken steps to address these issues by developing programs in collaboration with human services agencies for children and families through the Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative. According to the US Department of Justice, more than seven million children in America have a parent who is incarcerated or under criminal justice supervision. Researchers at the Oregon Social Learning Center report that these children may be at greater risk for depression, aggressive behavior and withdrawal, and criminal involvement. At the same time, caregivers for children of incarcerated parents often do not have sufficient resources to meet their basic needs. Effective programs and strategies to support the needs of prisoners and their families are essential to reducing delinquency and intergenerational incarceration. Indeed, prisoners who maintain family ties have shown to be less likely to recidivate. <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,1607,7-119-9741_33218---,00.html" w target="newwindo">Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative </a> Officials from the Michigan Department of Corrections have taken steps to address these issues by developing programs in collaboration with human services agencies for children and families through the Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative (MPRI). Last December, MPRI representatives participated in a forum hosted by CSG in San Diego to help state corrections and human services administrators identify ways to improve outcomes for incarcerated parents and their families. Following the meeting, MPRI outlined its goals regarding children and families in its Issue Brief, "Children and Families: Coping with Prisoner Reentry." The Issue Brief, which draws heavily on the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council, can be viewed <a href="http://reentry.microportals.net/reentry/ASP.Net/Components/AX.CMS.DocumentViewer/Download.aspx?DocumentID=1369" target="newwindow">here</a>. MRPI recently received technical assistance from CSG, with the help of expert consultant Dee Ann Newell, co-founder of <a href="http://www.arkansasvoices.org/" target="newwindow">Arkansas Voices for Children Left Behind </a>, to develop a family advocacy program in Michigan. The family advocacy program will ensure that families not only have access to legal assistance, but also to support groups, child-centered visits, parenting classes, and family reunification sessions in order to strengthen relationships between the children, parent, and caregiver. CSG will continue to provide Michigan with technical assistance to support the program's implementation. To learn more about the policy recommendations of the Reentry Policy Council on including children and families in the reentry process, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/children_families_communities_br_affected_by_reentry">here </a>. Announcements 21198

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--- - Alabama - Connecticut - Hawaii - Idaho - Illinois - Kansas - New Hampshire - Tennessee - Virginia - Washington In response to growing concern over public spending, community safety, and high recidivism rates, Republican and Democrat state legislators across the U.S. are tackling a wide range of issues relating to the successful reentry of individuals released from prison and jail. CSG has identified several different legislative approaches to addressing reentry issues that have been signed into law this past year. In response to growing concern over public spending, community safety, and high recidivism rates, Republican and Democrat state legislators across the U.S. are tackling a wide range of issues relating to the successful reentry of individuals released from prison and jail. CSG has identified several different legislative approaches to addressing reentry issues that have been signed into law this past year. The following statutes do not necessarily reflect the views of CSG members, and CSG does not promote any of these statutes as a model. CSG has not conducted an empirical investigation of the effects of the statutes described below or a comprehensive review of all related state legislation in this area. There may be states not identified in this article that passed legislation in 2006 related to the issues discussed below. To suggest other legislation relevant to prisoner reentry that passed this year, please email <a href="mailto:editors@reentrypolicy.org">editors@reentrypolicy.org</a>. Though states passed legislation on a variety of reentry issues this year, the following examples focus on <a href="#JobTrainingandEmployment">Job Training and Employment </a>, <a href="#Women">Incarcerated Women and Family Services </a>, <a href="#MedicalRecordsandContinuityofHealthcare">Medical Records and Continuity of Healthcare </a>, <a href="#ReentryStudiesandTaskForces">Reentry Studies and Task Forces </a>, and <a href="#SexOffenders">Sex Offenders </a>. <a name="JobTrainingandEmployment">Job Training and Employment</a> According to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, recidivism rates of individuals who participate in prison education, vocation, and work programs are 20 to 60 percent lower than those who did not participate in such programs. But even those who do participate often struggle to apply the work experience they gained during incarceration and to find stable employment after release. Legislatures this year sought ways to connect releasees as smoothly as possible to the job market. <a href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+sum+HB691" target="newwindow">Virginia House Bill 691 </a>, signed into law on March 23, 2006, requires the Department of Corrections to provide each prisoner upon release with verification of the individual's work history during incarceration and in-prison educational and treatment programs completed. Other legislation relating to reentry job training and employment that passed this year: <a href="http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1279&GAID=8&GA=94&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=18347&SessionID=50" target="newwindow">Illinois Senate Bill 1279 </a> <a href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/ACT/PA/2006PA-00001-R00HB-05684-PA.htm" target="newwindow">Con necticut House Bill 5846 </a> <a href="http://www.statescape.com/SSBillText/TN2006/TN_2006_SB_002557_Current_7613.pdf#xml=http://www.statescape.com/Billsearch/SSsearchResult.asp?cmd=pdfhits&DocId=151111&Index=f%3a%5cSSBillText%5cssbilltext2002&HitCount=0&hits=&hc=0&req=" target="newwindow">Tennessee Senate Bill 2557 </a> <a href="#top"> > Back to top</a> <a name="Women">Incarcerated Women and Family Services</a> While women are still a relatively small minority of the national inmate population, the rate of incarceration for women is rapidly increasing. Many women face particular gender-related challenges while incarcerated, including those involving childcare. In response to the increasing number of women incarcerated in Hawaii, which tripled between 1985 and 1995, <a href="http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/status/SB467.asp" target="newwindow">Hawaii Senate Bill 467 </a> was signed into law on April 29, 2006. The law appropriates funds to support gender-responsive community-based programs that address substance abuse, family relationships, vocational education, work, prior victimization, and domestic violence. Other legislation relating to incarcerated women and family services that passed this year: <a href="http://www.statescape.com/SSBillText/AL2006/AL_2006_HJR_000015_Current_4128.pdf#xml=http://www.statescape.com/Billsearch/SSsearchResult.asp?cmd=pdfhits&DocId=1708&Index=f%3a%5cSSBillText%5cssbilltext2002&HitCount=0&hits=&hc=0&req=" target="newwindow">Alabama House Joint Resolution 15 </a> <a href="http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2006/SB0262.html" target="newwindow">New Hampshire Senate Bill 262 </a> <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=75&GAID=8&DocTypeID=HJR&LegId=22603&SessionID=50&GA=94" target="newwindow">Illinois House Joint Resolution 75 </a> <a href="#top"> > Back to top</a> <a name="MedicalRecordsandContinuityofHealthcare">Medical Records and Continuity of Healthcare</a> Millions of people with serious mental health, physical health, and substance abuse issues are admitted to U.S. jails and prisons each year. Corrections agencies spend enormous amounts of money to provide healthcare for these individuals, but that investment may be wasted, and public safety jeopardized, if information about their medical conditions and treatment doesn't follow them through the criminal justice system and into the community when they are released. In order to address some of these issues, Washington State passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2573" target="newwindow">House Bill 257 3</a> on March 17, 2006 to improve health care outcomes and contain the costs of providing health care. The bill directs the Department of Corrections to coordinate a strategy that will integrate electronic health records in two jails and one prison to facilitate the transfer of inmate health information between state and local correctional facilities. Other legislation relating to medical records and continuity of healthcare that passed this year: <a href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=061&typ=bil&val=hb1093" w target="newwindo">Virginia House Bill 1093 </a> <a href="http://search.state.id.us/search97cgi/s97_cgi.exe?action=View&VdkVgwKey=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3%2Estate%2Eid%2Eus%2Foasis%2F2006%2FH0430%2Ehtml&doctype=raw&Collection=2006+Session+Legislation" target="newwindow">Idaho House Bill 430 </a> <a href="#top"> > Back to top</a> <a name="ReentryStudiesandTaskForces">Reentry Studies and Task Forces</a> Acquiring a clear understanding of the challenges facing, and posed by, men and women returning to a particular jurisdiction upon release from prison or jail is crucial to designing an effective reentry strategy. Policymakers should develop a knowledge base of existing reentry efforts, and explore data about the people that return from prison and the communities to which they return. Such efforts can help policymakers determine which initiatives will make the best use of limited state funds, and facilitate collaboration across state agencies that are involved in prisoner reentry. On May 16, 2006, <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=80&GAID=8&GA=94&DocTypeID=HJR&LegID=23049&SessionID=50" target="newwindow">Illinois House Joint Resolution 80 </a> was passed to fund a long-term study to determine whether life without parole and sentences over 30 years contribute to public safety and are an acceptable use of state funds. The bill establishes the Long-Term Prisoners Study Committee, which will hold a public hearing to present a report of its findings and recommendations before June 1, 2007. Other legislation relating to reentry studies and task forces that passed this year: <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6308&year=2006" target="newwindow">Wash ington Senate Bill 6308 </a> <a href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=061&typ=bil&val=sj126" target="newwindow">Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 126 </a> <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/2555.pdf" target="newwindow">Kansas House Bill 2555 </a> <a href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=5781&which_year=2006&SUBMIT1.x=17&SUBMIT1.y=12" target="newwindow">Connecticut House Bill 5781 </a> <a href="#top"> > Back to top</a> <a name="SexOffenders">Sex Offenders</a> No category of offenders has received more recent media attention than sex offenders. Such highly publicized crimes as the rape and murder of Jessica Lunsford in Florida have led legislatures across the country to revisit penalties and sex offender registration laws, and to restrict where sex offenders can live in an attempt to address increasing concerns about public safety. In Louisiana, <a href="http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=405978#search=%22Louisiana%20Act%20No.%20663%22" target="newwindow">Act No. 663 </a> was signed into law on June 29, 2006. This law requires a restriction code to appear on the driver's license of any convicted sex offender. It also requires every sex offender to notify the local police department and neighborhood residents of his or her name, address, crime for which he or she was convicted, and his or her place of employment (among other things) within 21 days of establishing residency in Louisiana, or within 21 days after release from prison. In addition, the law provides, through the Sex Offender Registry Technology Fund, for the development of an electronic alert system that will notify local law enforcement officials when a sex offender is released from prison or jail. Other legislation relating to sex offenders that passed this year: <a href="http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=1328" target="newwindow">Ar izona Senate Bill 1328 </a> <a href="http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2006&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1155" target="newwindow">Indiana House Bill 1155 </a> <a href="http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/_session.asp?chamber=S&type=++&number=669&year=06" target="newwindow">New Mexico Senate Bill 669 </a> <a href="http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb1059.htm" target="newwindow">Georgia House Bill 1059 </a> For more on reentry legislation, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/legislation" target="newwindow">here</ a>. </a> Announcements 21197

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--- [] On September 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Rehabilitation and Corrections held a hearing “Oversight of Federal Assistance for Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reentry in Our States” to discuss how federal agencies are contributing to and evaluating state reentry initiatives. On September 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Rehabilitation and Corrections held a hearing "Oversight of Federal Assistance for Prisoner Rehabilitation and Reentry in Our States" to discuss how federal agencies are contributing to and evaluating state reentry initiatives. Witnesses included Roger Werholtz, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections; and Diane Williams, President and CEO of the <a href="http://www.saferfoundation.org/viewpage.asp?id=4" target="newwindow">Safer Foundation </a>. Additional witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), Chairman of the Committee, ran the hearing along with ranking member Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) were also in attendance. To view the full witness list and submitted testimony, click <a href="http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=2072&wit_id=5761" target="newwindow">here</a>. Senator Coburn questioned witnesses from the federal agencies on ways that various agencies coordinate their efforts to measure outcomes of multi-agency reentry initiatives such as the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) and the President's Reentry Initiative (PRI). "What's the metric we use to measure whether programs are effective? We need to track re-incarceration, not just re-arrests to measure this effectiveness and states should anticipate that they have to provide this data," said Senator Coburn. Regina Scofeld, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, indicated that all federal grants now have evaluative components built in and that an independent agency is conducting multi-year evaluations of select SVORI grantee sites. In his remarks, Senator Durbin commended the Safer Foundation's work in Illinois in providing a range of education, employment and support services to individuals with a criminal record. He also spoke of the need for educational resources, such as G.E.D.and college credit courses, for individuals in prisons and jails to ensure that they have marketable skills once released. Witnesses all emphasized the importance of continued federal support of reentry initiatives. Secretary Werholtz commented on how federal grant money that constituted less than 1% of the entire fiscal year corrections budget, in combination with state, local and private funds, had enabled the Kansas Department of Corrections to develop additional services for crime victims and assist in the successful reintegration of offenders with their families, among other efforts. "Federal agencies provide funding to organizations such as mine that allow us to pursue innovations or put in place resources that would otherwise be beyond our reach." said Secretary Werholtz. He also noted that over a two year period, the state had reduced parole and probation revocations by 26 percent in part because of such federal support. Senator Brownback closed the hearing by emphasizing the importance of bipartisan initiatives like the Second Chance Act, which is a piece of federal legislation that would provide demonstration grants to states to develop a wide variety of initiatives to ensure successful reentry. For more information on the Second Chance Act, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21196

2009-09-22

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--- [] Attempts to pass the Second Chance Act (H.R. 1704, S. 1934), federal prisoner reentry legislation, before the Congressional recess in early October were not successful. Key sponsors are currently examining other options to see the bill pass during the lame-duck session in mid-November. In July, the Second Chance Act passed the House Judiciary Committee by voice vote. The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support, with 112 cosponsors in the House and 34 cosponsors in the Senate. For more information on the bill, including an overview, FAQs, and other news, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21195

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice has awarded 27 grants in 19 states under its Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. The <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/" target="newwindow">Bureau of Justice Assistance </a>(BJA), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice has awarded 27 grants in 19 states under its <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/JMHCprogram.html" target="newwindow">Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program </a> . The 2006 grantees will receive funding through the program to plan, implement, and expand collaborations to improve responses to people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. The program was authorized by the <a href="http://consensusproject.org/infocenter/legislation/fed-leg-MIOTCRA/" target="newwindow"> Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 </a> (MIOTCRA). Click <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/06MIOawards.pdf" target="newwindow">here</a> to see the full list of 2006 grantees. The purpose of the program is to increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment, and substance abuse systems to increase access to treatment for people with mental illness. The Council of State Governments and the <a href="http://www.naco.org/" target="newwindow">National Association of Counties </a> will provide technical assistance to the new grantees. Key congressional supporters of the grant program are working closely with colleagues to ensure continued funding for the program in fiscal year 2007. Over the summer, the House of Representatives passed its FY '07 Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations bill, which reserved $5 million for the program. The Senate appropriations committee also reserved $5 million in its FY '07 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill. Click <a href="http://consensusproject.org/infocenter/legislation/fed-leg-MIOTCRA/miotcranews" target="newwindow">here</a> for more information on FY '07 appropriations and contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org">Hope Glassberg </a> for more information on outreach to members of Congress. Announcements 21193

2009-09-22

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--- [] Office of Child Support Enforcement, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, recently released two reports that offer strategies for working with parents who are incarcerated or who have been released from prison or jail to ensure that they meet their child support responsibilities. Child support payments serve as an important means for parents who do not live with their children ("noncustodial parents") to support their children and contribute to the costs of childrearing. In most states, parents who go to prison accumulate child support arrears throughout incarceration, despite having little or no means with which to make payments. Further, upon release from prison or jail, parents often have difficulty finding and maintaining employment that is crucial to their ability to meet their child support obligations. From a reentry perspective, overwhelming child support fees may cause parents to be more likely to recidivate. According to a 2003 report by the Center for Law and Social Policy, child-support pressures may help drive some less-educated, low-skilled parents into the underground economy in order to increase their income or to avoid formal enforcement. High levels of debt can also create an additional barrier to family reunification and parent-child contact. In response to this problem, the <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/" target="newwindow">Office of Child Support Enforcement </a>, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, recently released two reports that offer strategies for working with parents who are incarcerated or who have been released from prison or jail to ensure that they meet their child support responsibilities. <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/pubs/2006/guides/working_with_incarcerated_resource_guide.pdf" target="newwindow">Working with Incarcerated and Released Parents: Lessons from OCSE Grants and State Programs </a> The first of the two reports presents promising practices that states have employed to help parents make payments towards child support and to ensure successful reentry. The report details several strategies: <ul> <li>Educating incarcerated parents about their child support obligations </li><li>Modifying or suspending child support obligations during periods of incarceration </li><li>Helping parents secure employment upon release </li> </ul> The report also offers "Building Blocks for Successful Child Support / Incarceration Programs" for child support enforcement and corrections agencies: <ul> <li>Conducting periodic data matches to identify parents who are incarcerated and who have child support obligations </li><li>Inquiring about child support obligations during the intake process to a correctional facility </li><li>Providing informational sessions to parents who are incarcerated about the process of modifying child support orders </li><li>Collaborating with community-based reentry programs that provide assistance to released parents with employment, housing, and family reintegration </li> </ul> <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/pubs/2006/reports/incarceration_report.pdf" target="newwindow">Incarceration, Reentry and Child Support Issues: National and State Research Overview </a> The second of the two reports draws on key research to describe characteristics of incarcerated and released noncustodial parents and their families. The report offers a range of findings from the field: <ul> <li>Forty percent of parents in state prisons and 28 percent of parents in federal prisons have neither a high school diploma nor a GED, suggesting that their earnings capacity prior to intake and upon release may be limited. </li><li>The majority of families of incarcerated parents (i.e., custodial parents and children) with child support cases in Texas and Massachusetts are currently receiving Medicaid or public assistance, or received one or both in the past; percentages range from 55 percent in Texas to 92 percent in Massachusetts. This suggests that parents will likely need access to federal benefits upon release and assistance with enrollment in these services. </li><li>Many noncustodial parents enter prison with child support debt. A study of 213 Colorado inmates with child support orders showed that they owed an average of $10,249 in past due child support when they entered prison. A similar study of incarcerated noncustodial parents in Massachusetts in 2001 found that the parents each owed an average of $10,543 at the time they entered prison. </li> </ul> The report identifies family support and employment as components of successful reentry that are particularly important for parents released from prison or jail. It also highlights the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council as a good source of bipartisan recommendations that promote collaboration between child support enforcement agencies and Departments of Correction. For more information on the topic of reentry and child support from the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/children_families_communities_br_affected_by_reentry" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21192

2009-09-22

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--- [] Many people who are incarcerated lose access to important identification documents, such as social security cards, upon their admission to prison or jail. These documents are typically not replaced at the time of release. Without such identification, individuals released from incarceration are often unable to find employment, secure housing, or apply for public benefits that may be necessary to obtain medication or other treatment in the community. Prior to December 2005, SSA established written agreements, or memoranda of understanding (MOUs), with corrections agencies to help prisoners obtain replacement social security cards. However, SSA announced that it would no longer enter into new MOUs last December. The decision was made pending a review of SSA's compliance with new Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) guidelines that impose more stringent identity verification requirements for federal benefits applicants. At CSG's suggestion, the Association of State Correctional Administrators sent a letter to SSA in response to this announcement, urging the administration to restore its practice of entering into MOUs with corrections agencies. Shortly after this letter was sent, the Office of the Inspector General, an independent body within SSA, completed an audit of SSA's policies for issuing replacement SSN cards to prisoners. The results were featured in their <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/oig/communications/eyeonoig/eyeoig200610.htm" target="newwindow">October newsletter </a>. The audit report detailed key findings: <ul> <li>Prison officials did not always adequately review and certify information about prisoners' identities before submitting this information with replacement card applications. </li><li>Local SSA offices did not periodically perform on-site reviews of prison procedures for submitting replacement social security card applications and required evidence. </li> </ul> The report also offered recommendations to SSA in the event that the administration restores its MOU policy: <ul> <li>Perform a review at each prison with which it is considering executing an agreement to ensure the facility's procedures for establishing prisoner identity are sufficient to ensure social security number integrity and compliance with new IRTPA requirements. </li><li>Require that local SSA offices perform annual onsite reviews of prison procedures for submitting prisoner replacement social security card applications and required evidence, and take corrective action as needed. </li> </ul> SSA has formed a workgroup to implement these recommendations, which may facilitate the reinstatement of its policy of entering into MOUs with corrections agencies to assist prisoners in obtaining replacement SSN cards. To view the complete audit report, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/1349;file" ta rget="newwindow">here</a>. For more information on CSG's work regarding access to federal benefits for individuals released from prison or jail, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_federal_benefits" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21190

2009-09-22

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--- [] On Thursday the Senate came closer to passing the Second Chance Act as members of Congress returned to Washington for the “lame duck” session to elect leadership for the newly controlled Democratic House and Senate. On Thursday the Senate came closer to passing the Second Chance Act as members of Congress returned to Washington for the "lame duck" session to elect leadership for the newly controlled Democratic House and Senate. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) led the effort to queue up the measure for a vote. The renewed interest in the bill better positions the Second Chance Act for a vote in early December when Members return to work on the federal spending bills and other unfinished business. House leaders have committed to act on the legislation if the Senate is successful. If the bill is not passed during the lame duck session, bill sponsors plan to reintroduce the measure in the 110th Congress. The Second Chance Act is the first piece of comprehensive legislation to address multiple challenges related to the return of incarcerated persons from prisons to their communities. Despite the many partisan battles in the 109th Congress, particularly related to Judiciary issues, the Second Chance Act was authored with bipartisan cooperation in both chambers. The Second Chance Act is supported by over 200 organizations and enjoys broad bipartisan support, with 113 cosponsors in the House and 34 cosponsors in the Senate. For more information on the Second Chance Act, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21189 Corrections

2009-09-22

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--- - Connecticut Policymakers in Connecticut recently generated savings by decreasing existing criminal justice costs and reinvesting in a variety of reentry efforts. State officials worked with CSG’s Criminal Justice Program staff to analyze the state’s prison population and spending patterns in the communities to which people released from prison most often return. Many states have had difficulty developing and implementing the programs and policy needed to improve outcomes for people returning to the community from prison or jail. Often these difficulties stem from the prohibitive cost of starting new programs or improving existing programs and protocol. However, states across the country are taking steps to mitigate these costs by generating strategic savings in other aspects of the criminal justice system and reinvesting in communities to increase their capacity to receive individuals released from incarceration. Policymakers in Connecticut recently generated savings by decreasing existing criminal justice costs and reinvesting in a variety of reentry efforts. State officials worked with CSG's Criminal Justice Program staff to analyze the state's prison population and spending patterns in the communities to which people released from prison most often return. Among other things, the analysis found that parole and probation technical violators accounted for 25 percent of the prison population on any given day. In 2004, Republican and Democratic legislators, the governor, and agency leaders worked together to enact measures to streamline the parole process, reduce parole and probation violations by 20 percent, and require the state to develop a comprehensive reentry strategy. In response to these measures, probation officials established two innovative programs, the Technical Violations Unit (TVU) and the Probation Transition Program (PTP), to reduce the number of people incarcerated as a result of technical violations during the probation period. Legislators were also able to cancel Connecticut's contract with the Virginia Department of Corrections for 2,000 additional prison beds, which yielded $30 million annually in averted costs. From these savings, approximately $13 million was reinvested in reentry programs and initiatives. One million dollars of the savings was used to develop pilot reentry projects in New Haven and Hartford. Since the reinvestment, probation violations are on the decline, dropping from over 400 per month in July 2003 to less than 200 in September 2005. The state also saw a four percent decline in the prison population between mid-year 2003 and mid-year 2006. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which is coordinated by CSG, is developing a forthcoming case study on Connecticut's efforts to reduce spending on the state's prison system, reinvest in reentry programs, and curb the growth of the state's prison population. For more information on the Justice Reinvestment Initiative's work in Connecticut, contact <a href="mailto:cgarland@csg.org">Crystal Garland </a>. For more information on managing the growth of prison populations and measuring savings from the Report of the Reentry Policy Council, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/Report/PartI/ChapterI-B/PolicyStatement6" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21188

2009-09-22

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--- [] Today Congress reconvenes for the last week of the 109th Congressional session. Sponsors of the Second Chance Act are intent to see the bill passed during the limited time left. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, plans to send the Second Chance Act to the floor for a vote this week, with the strong support of Senators Biden and Brownback and 31 other Senate cosponsors. Today Congress reconvenes for the last week of the 109th Congressional session. Sponsors of the Second Chance Act are intent to see the bill passed during the limited time left. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, plans to send the Second Chance Act to the floor for a vote this week, with the strong support of Senators Biden and Brownback and 31 other Senate cosponsors. The Second Chance Act, which has had significant bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, faces opposition from Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R). Senator Coburn has threatened to block a Senate vote on the Second Chance Act by placing a hold on the bill, which is an informal way a Senator can prevent a bill from reaching the floor for consideration. Senator Coburn objects to the bill on grounds that there is no federal role in prisoner reentry and contends that states – including Oklahoma – have the resources to reduce recidivism and improve reentry without federal support. Key staff and other supporters of the legislation are working with Senator Coburn to address his concerns and ultimately ask that the Senator step aside and allow a vote. "If he doesn't care to vote for it, I understand that," commented John Selph, CEO of the Volunteers of America of Oklahoma in an article that ran this weekend. "But at least allow it to stand or fall on its own merits." This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from experience that if they can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit a crime and return to prison. The Second Chance Act aims to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and help states and communities to better address the growing population of prisoners returning to communities. It is the first piece of comprehensive legislation to address multiple challenges related to the return of incarcerated persons from prisons to their communities. The bipartisan Second Chance Act has wide support in Congress, the White House and among stakeholder groups. For more information on the Second Chance Act, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21187

2009-09-22

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--- [] In a final attempt to pass the Second Chance Act (S. 1934/H.R. 1704) before the end of the 109th Congress, Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Joe Biden (D-DE) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) tried to fast track the bill for passage. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), however, stalled that process by putting a hold on the bill. In a final attempt to pass the Second Chance Act (S. 1934/H.R. 1704) before the end of the 109th Congress, Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Joe Biden (D-DE) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) tried to fast track the bill for passage. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), however, stalled that process by putting a hold on the bill. Key staff redrafted some of the language to reach a compromise with Senator Coburn, but all efforts at negotiations failed. Senator Coburn's hold on the bill prevents the legislation from being considered on the floor and will ultimately halt any further movement during the 109th Congress. Over the past few months the cosponsors of the Second Chance Act and other supporters of the legislation have worked with Senator Coburn to address his concerns. He objects to the bill on grounds that there is no federal role in prisoner reentry and contends that states – including Oklahoma – have the resources to reduce recidivism and improve reentry without federal support. Senator Coburn was the only Senator that requested a hold on the bill. Bill sponsors plan to reintroduce the measure in the 110th Congress and will continue to reach out to Senator Coburn and his staff to reach a compromise on the measure. For more information on the SCA, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21186

2009-09-22

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--- [] Council of State Governments Justice Center Launches has developed a web-based tool to help users learn more about different reentry housing options available for people released from prison or jail. The chart compares housing types on several dimensions including potential funding sources, level of availability in the community, typical length of stay, and potential barriers to accessing a particular option. With funding support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Council of State Governments Justice Center has developed a web-based tool to help users learn more about different reentry housing options available for people released from prison or jail. The chart compares housing types on several dimensions including potential funding sources, level of availability in the community, typical length of stay, and potential barriers to accessing a particular option. It also offers descriptions of programs that have successfully housed individuals returning to the community from prison or jail, and provides links to the programs' websites when available. Ensuring that people released from prison and jail find appropriate places to live is critical to public safety and healthy families and communities. People who do not find stable housing in the community are more likely to recidivate than those who do. One study, conducted by the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2003, determined that, with each move after release from prison, a person's likelihood of rearrest increased by 25 percent. However, finding viable housing placements for these individuals is a daunting task. This chart attempts to help policymakers, corrections administrators, and transition planners to understand the housing options available in the community and develop feasible housing plans for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. To view this interactive chart, visit: <a href="http://tools.reentrypolicy.org/housing/" target="newwindow">http://tools.reentrypolicy.org/housing/</a>. For more information on housing and reentry, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_housing" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21185

2009-09-22

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--- - Illinois - Michigan - Missouri - Tennessee - Virginia Most people in prison or jail have low levels of educational achievement. About 75% of state prison inmates and 69% of jail inmates did not complete high school. Yet, barely half of all state prisoners participate in any educational programs during their incarceration, a proportion that has been decreasing over time. In response to this trend, several states have implemented incentive systems to promote participation in basic adult education programs during incarceration. Most people in prison or jail have low levels of educational achievement. According to a <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ecp.htm" target="newwindow">2003 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics </a>, about 75% of state prison inmates and 69% of jail inmates did not complete high school, while only 18% of the general population age 18 or older did not complete high school. Yet, barely half of all state prisoners participate in any educational programs during their incarceration, a proportion that has been decreasing over time. In response to this trend, several states have implemented incentive systems to promote participation in basic adult education programs during incarceration: <ul> <li>According to a December 2006 survey conducted by the <a href="http://www.asca.net/" target="newwindow">Association of State Correctional Administrators </a>, Michigan and Missouri require that nearly all prisoners achieve some level of education certification before they can be considered for discretionary release. Michigan state law requires prisoners to obtain their GED, and Missouri requires them to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent to be considered for parole. </li><li>On January 10, 2007,<a href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+sum+SJ327" target="newwindow">Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 327 </a> was introduced to the state legislature. This bill seeks to establish a joint subcommittee to study options for increasing the number of education programs available to incarcerated individuals. The subcommittee would be charged with identifying program needs, recommending solutions for increasing enrollment, and reviewing prisoner education programs in other states, among other things. </li><li>Last year, both Tennessee and Illinois passed legislation awarding 60-day sentencing credits to individuals who earned certain degrees during incarceration. <a href="http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/info/Leg_Archives/104GA/bills/BillStatus/SB2557.htm" target="newwindow">Tennessee Senate Bill 2557 </a> offers incarcerated individuals a 60-day sentence credit for earning a graduate equivalency diploma or a high school diploma, a two- or four-year college degree, a two- year or four-year certification in applied sciences, or a vocational education diploma. <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0744" target="newwindow">Illinois Senate Bill 2320 </a> offers the sentencing credit if they pass the GED while incarcerated. </li></ul> Recent studies have shown that in-prison educational programs can reduce recidivism. The <a href="http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/" target="newwindow">Washington State Institute for Public Policy </a> conducted a comprehensive statistical review of all criminal justice program evaluations conducted for the last 40 years in the United States and other countries to identify which programs were found to reduce crime. The 2006 study, <a href="http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/pub.asp?docid=06-01-1201" target="newwindow">Evidence-Based Adult Corrections Programs: What Works and What Does Not </a>, found that basic adult education programs in prison reduced recidivism by 5.1%. For more information on education and employment from the Reentry Policy Council website, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/education_employment" target="newwindow.<u">here</a>. Announcements 21184

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center and National Institute of Corrections announced the release of case studies on corrections/mental health initiatives in Kansas and Orange County, Florida. This resource is available for corrections administrators, mental health officials, and others interested in improving the response to people with mental illnesses transitioning from jail or prison to the community. <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org" target="newwindow">The Council of State Governments Justice Center</a> and <a href="http://www.nicic.org/" target="newwindow">National Institute of Corrections (NIC)</a> announced the release of case studies on corrections/mental health initiatives in Kansas and Orange County, Florida. This resource is available for corrections administrators, mental health officials, and others interested in improving the response to people with mental illnesses transitioning from jail or prison to the community. <ul> <li><a href="http://consensusproject.org/downloads/kansas-case-study.pdf" target="newwindow">Click here to download the Kansas case study</a></li> <li><a href="http://consensusproject.org/downloads/orange-county-case-study.pdf" target="newwindow">Click here to download the Orange County, Florida case study</a></li> </ul> In 2004, Kansas and Orange County, Florida were identified as jurisdictions where lessons learned about collaboration between the corrections and mental health systems could be of value to other communities. "Leaders of state and local government will appreciate what the extraordinary collaboration between corrections administrators and mental health officials in Kansas and Orlando has yielded," said NIC Director Morris Thigpen. "The challenges these leaders have faced are familiar to all counties and states whose jails and prisons are housing a growing number of people with mental illnesses." In Kansas, nearly 20 percent of the prison population had significant mental health needs; people with mental illnesses were 67 percent more likely than others to be reincarcerated within six months of their release. The Kansas case study describes how leaders of the Departments of Corrections and Social and Rehabilitation Services collaborated to jointly fund a specialized transition planning program, establish partnerships between the Department of Corrections and specific community mental health service providers, improve data sharing between agencies, and develop and manage specialized mental health parole caseloads. In Orange County, a number of mental illness- and substance abuse-related deaths at the jail prompted sustained media coverage and urgent calls for reform. The Orange County case study describes how these incidents led to the formation of a Jail Oversight Commission, the construction of a central receiving center for individuals with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders who would normally be taken to jail or local emergency rooms, specialized law enforcement response teams, a pre-trial services program; and a post-booking treatment diversion program. "The frank discussions in these documents about the significant obstacles that leaders in Kansas and Orange County continue to face provide valuable lessons for the field," said Dr. James Reinhard, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services and Justice Center charter group member. "The case studies show the importance of developing meaningful collaborations with people who have a shared vision for successfully increasing public safety and improving outcomes for people with mental illnesses." Announcements 21183

2009-09-22

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--- [] The President released his FY 2008 budget request on February 5, 2007. Aid to state and local governments is cut significantly from current-year spending levels in his request to Congress. Funding for U.S. Justice Department programs take the biggest hit, with the President’s budget proposing an overall cut of nearly 79 percent, according to the National Journal. The President released his FY 2008 budget request on February 5, 2007. Aid to state and local governments is cut significantly from current-year spending levels in his request to Congress. Funding for U.S. Justice Department programs take the biggest hit, with the President's budget proposing an overall cut of nearly 79 percent, according to the National Journal. Justice funding is reconfigured in the budget request, consolidating many individual programs into three large competitive grant programs: the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership Initiative, the Byrne Public Safety Protection Program, and a new juvenile grant program called the Child Safety Juvenile Justice Program. In this consolidation, funding for individual programs was eliminated, including the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), and the Weed and Seed Program. The COPS program would be cut by 94 percent. Overall, the budget includes $64.6 million for the President's reentry initiatives. The Department of Labor's budget includes $39.6 million for prisoner reentry by combining the Prisoner Reentry and the Responsible Reintegration of Youthful Offenders programs into a single program that would "provide mentoring and job training to promote the successful return of adult and juvenile ex-offenders into mainstream society." The Housing and Urban Development budget also includes $25 million for Reintegration of Ex-Offenders to be used in collaboration with the Departments of Justice and Labor initiatives. In addition, the new Byrne Public Safety program identifies seven priorities for funding, including "improving and expanding prisoner reentry initiatives." Below is a breakdown of the President's proposal for criminal justice programs. Additional agency breakdowns and program budgets will be provided as they become available. Justice Funding Chart (in millions) <table border="2"> <tr> <td>Program</td><td>FY06 actual</td><td>FY07 est.</strong< td></td><td>FY08</td><td>Increase/ Decrease</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Program</td><td>$5</td><td>$4*</td><td>$0</td><td>-$5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Offender State and Local Reentry Deomstration Projects</td><td>$5</td><td>$0</td><td>$0</td><td>--</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Byrne Justice Assistance Grants</td><td>$513</td><td>$375</td><td>$0</td><td>-$375</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Byrne Discretionary Grants</td><td>$212</td><td>$195</td><td>$0</td><td>-$195</td> </tr> <tr> <td>DNA Backlogs</td><td>$109</td><td>$234</td><td>$0</td><td>-$234</td> </tr> <tr> <td>COPS</td><td>$478.3</td><td>$428</td><td>$32</td><td>-$396</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Drug Courts</td><td>$8</td><td>$9</td><td>$0</td><td>-$9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Weed and Seed</td><td>$49.5</td><td>$55</td><td>$0</td><td>-$55</td> </tr> <tr> <td>RSAT</td><td>$10</td><td>$8</td><td>$0</td><td>-$8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>SCAAP</td><td>$295</td><td>$661</td><td>$0</td><td>-$661</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Prisoner Reentry Initiative (DOJ, DOL, HUD)</td><td>$25</td><td>$30</td><td>$64.6</td><td>+$24.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Prison Rape Prevention and Monitoring</td><td>$25</td><td>$51</td><td>$0</td><td>+$51</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Violent Crime Reduction Partnership Initiative</td><td>--</td><td>--</td><td>$200</td><td>+$200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program</td><td>--</td><td>--</td><td>$350</td><td>+$350</td> </tr> </table> *While the President's Budget estimates $4 million for the program for FY 2007, both House and Senate Appropriations bills for this fiscal year include $5 million of program funding for the project. For more information on the President's FY2008 budget release, please contact <a href="mailto:jnickel@csg.org">Jessica Nickel</a>. Announcements 21182 Corrections

2009-09-22

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--- [] On Wednesday, February 14, 2007, The Public Safety Performance Project, an operating project of the Pew Charitable Trusts, unveiled a new report, "Public Safety, Public Spending: Forecasting America’s Prison Population 2007 – 2011". The report offers a national prison population projection with a state-by-state assessment of prison growth over a five year period as well as the financial implications of this growth. On Wednesday, February 14, 2007, the <a href="http://www.pewpublicsafety.org" target="newwindow">Public Safety Performance Project</a>, an operating project of the Pew Charitable Trusts, unveiled a new report, <a href="http://www.pewpublicsafety.org/pdfs/PCT%20Public%20Safety%20Public%20Spending.pdf" target="newwindow">Public Safety, Public Spending: Forecasting America's Prison Population 2007 – 2011</a>. The report offers a national prison population projection with a state-by-state assessment of prison growth over a five year period as well as the financial implications of this growth. According to the report, state and federal prisons will grow by 13 percent to more than 192,000 prisoners over the next five years at a cost of about $27.5 billion to build and operate new facilities to accommodate this growth. Stricter sex offender laws, mandatory minimum sentences, and declining parole grants rate are identified as factors driving the increase in the prison population. In addition to releasing the "Public Safety" report, the Public Safety Performance Project held a panel discussion to identify correctional challenges facing states and highlight innovative approaches to managing prison growth and increasing public safety. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and State Representative Jerry Madden (R-TX) were on hand to speak at the press conference and participate in the panel discussion, respectively. The Public Safety Performance Project helps states advance fiscally sound, data-driven policies and practices in sentencing and corrections that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and control corrections costs. The project works closely with the <a href="http://www.justicereinvestment.org" target="newwindow">Justice Reinvestment Initiative</a>, a national project of the <a href="http://www.justicecenter.csg.org/" target="newwindow">Council of State Governments Justice Center</a>, and other partners to provide nonpartisan research, analysis and expertise to states. To view the full press release, click <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/downloads/PewPressRelease_2007_02_14.pdf" target="newwindow">here</a> (pdf). For more information about Justice Reinvestment, contact <a href="mailto:cgarland@csg.org">Crystal Garland</a>. Announcements 21181

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center is undertaking a new project supported by the Departments of Justice and Labor to help state officials improve collaboration with community and faith-based organizations on prisoner reentry initiatives. The Council of State Governments Justice Center is undertaking a new project supported by the Departments of Justice and Labor to help state officials improve collaboration with community and faith-based organizations on prisoner reentry initiatives. The goal of the project is to help improve the environment for collaboration between state governments and community and faith-based organizations. The Justice Center will develop a comprehensive policy guide for state policymakers and community-based service providers to highlight real, everyday challenges; provide practical recommendations and identify policies and programs that illustrate how particular state governments; and communities have operationalized these recommendations. Last week Justice Center staff presented the project overview at the Presidential Prisoner Reentry Initiative Kick-Off meeting sponsored by the Departments of Justice and Labor in St. Louis, Missouri. Conference attendees participated in a discussion of the challenges they face in collaborating with other partners, including community and faith-based organizations and Corrections Departments. The project is a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a division of the Office of Justice Programs in the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives in U.S. Department of Labor. To learn more about the Community and Faith-Based Collaboration Project see the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_partnerships" target="newwindow">project overview</a> or contact <a href="mailto:lkane@csg.org">Leah Kane</a>. Announcements 21180

2009-09-22

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--- [] Federal prisoner reentry legislation, The Second Chance Act of 2007, was reintroduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Danny Davis (D - IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT). The bill, H.R. 1593, which has broad bipartisan support, will help states and communities better address challenges associated with reentry by authorizing grants to support state and local reentry initiatives focused on employment, housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and children and family services. Federal prisoner reentry legislation, The Second Chance Act of 2007, was reintroduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Danny Davis (D - IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT). The bill, H.R. 1593, which has broad bipartisan support, will help states and communities better address challenges associated with reentry by authorizing grants to support state and local reentry initiatives focused on employment, housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and children and family services. The same day the <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/committeestructure.aspx?committee=6" target="newwindow">House Judiciary Committee Crime Subcommittee</a> held a hearing on the bill to discuss the multiple challenges related to the return of people who are incarcerated from prisons to their communities. The majority of members on the Crime Subcommittee are original cosponsors of the bill, which builds on the work from the last two sessions of Congress, and plan to move the bill quickly through the House this year. Cosponsors include Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D - MI), Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R - TX), former Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R - WI), current Chair of the Crime Subcommittee Bobby Scott (D - VA) and Ranking Member Randy Forbes (R - VA), former Crime Subcommittee Chair Howard Coble (D - NC), and Judiciary Committee members Reps. Chris Cannon (D - UT), Steve Chabot (R - OH), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D - TX), Hank Johnson (D - GA), and Adam Schiff (D - CA). To view the list of original cosponsors, please <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f%3Ah1704ih.txt " target="newwindow">click here</a>. "There is a growing need to address rising prison populations and high recidivism rates," said Massachusetts State Representative Mike Festa, chair of the Council of State Governments Justice Center Charter Group. "The reintroduction of the Second Chance Act sends a strong message of federal support for reentry initiatives that have already begun to develop at the state and local levels." The hearing focused on the importance of community-based reentry services and substance abuse treatment for people returning from prisons and jails. Witnesses included Stefan LoBuglio, Chief, <a href="http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/docr/PRC/PRC_GRP.asp" target="newwindow">Pre-Release and Reentry Services for Montgomery County, MD</a>; Dr. Roger Peters, Chairman and Professor, <a href="http://mhlp.fmhi.usf.edu/web/mhlp/index.cfm" target="newwindow">Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida</a>; George McDonald, President of the <a href="http://www.doe.org/" target="newwindow">Doe Fund, Inc.</a>; Steve Lufburrow, President and CEO of <a href="http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about" target="newwindow">Goodwill Industries</a>; and Jack Cowley, National Director, <a href="http://alpha.org/prisons/" target="newwindow">Alpha for Prisons and Reentry</a>. To view the full witness list and submitted testimony, <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=286" target="newwindow">click here</a>. Witnesses all provided an overview of the impact of reentry programs in their states, particularly those targeted at individuals with mental illnesses or co-occuring disorders, and emphasized the importance of modest federal support through legislation like the Second Chance Act in encouraging states to implement or expand such work. "Wardens, parole officers, Sheriffs, line officers, community groups – we are ready to work on reentry. All we need is assistance and good models," said LoBuglio. Chairman Scott commended witnesses for working to improve prisoner reentry processes in their states and requested that other members of Congress pay attention to this issue moving forward. "This is an important issue that affects public safety, state spending, and the well-being of the individuals who cycle in and out of our corrections systems," said Rep. Scott. "The Second Chance Act offers a common sense, smart on crime approach to giving states the tools to slow and, we hope, one day end this cycle." For more information on the Second Chance Act, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21179

2009-09-22

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--- [] On March 28, 2007, just a week after the re-introduction of the bill, members of the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act of 2007. The bill will now be sent to the House floor for consideration, which sponsors say will take place in mid-April. On March 28, 2007, just a week after the re-introduction of the bill, members of the <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/" target="newwindow">House Judiciary Committee </a> passed H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act of 2007 The bill will now be sent to the House floor for consideration, which sponsors say will take place in mid-April. During the mark-up of the bill, members voted down several amendments that would have jeopardized the bipartisan support for the bill. The Second Chance Act would authorize a $65 million reentry grant program administered through the <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/" target="newwindow">Department of Justice </a> for state and county reentry initiatives, and a $15 million reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services. The bill also retains a number of drug treatment provisions that were added to the legislation last session. Last week, the Second Chance Act was reintroduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) and has a growing list of bipartisan co-sponsors. The Senate plans to reintroduce their version of the bill later this week. For more information on the Second Chance Act <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">click here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21178

2009-09-22

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--- - Indiana - Iowa - Kentucky - Missouri - Rhode Island Providing employment opportunities to individuals upon release from prison or jail is a critical step to facilitating their successful return to the community. However, a wide range of legal and logistical obstacles continue to affect the ability of people released from prison or jail to find and maintain employment. In response, several states have recently introduced legislation to that facilitates expungement of criminal records in certain cases. Providing employment opportunities to individuals upon release from prison or jail is a critical step to facilitating their successful return to the community. According to a five-year study conducted by the <a href="http://www.uscourts.gov/fedprob/introduction.htm" target="newwindow">United States Probation and Pretrial Services System </a> and published in 2007, people convicted of federal offenses who are employed are more likely to complete their term of community supervision without revocation for technical violations or new criminal conduct. The study found that the conditional release of individuals under community supervision was seven times more likely to get revoked if they were unemployed at the start and end of supervision. Despite these findings, a wide range of legal and logistical obstacles continue to affect the ability of people released from prison or jail to find and maintain employment. Several states have recently introduced legislation to address some of these barriers. Two states have introduced legislation that facilitates expungement of criminal records in certain cases: <ul><li> <a href="http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/07RS/HB16.htm" target="newwindow">Kentucky House Bill 16 </a>, which was introduced on January 2, 2007, would allow individuals convicted of one Class D felony, or a series of Class D felonies arising from a single incident, to petition for expungement of their felony record ten years after adjudication. </li><li> <a href="http://house.state.mo.us/bills071/bills/HB697.htm" target="newwindow">Missouri House Bill 697 </a>, which was introduced on February 1, 2007, would require the Office of the Missouri State Public Defender to develop brochures, pamphlets, and other materials on the state's expungement procedures, eligibility requirements, and process for obtaining attorney referrals. </li></ul> Other states also introduced legislation relating to expunging and sealing of criminal records this year: <ul><li> <a href="http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Legislation/82ndGA//Bills/SenateFiles/Introduced/SF531.html" target="newwindow">Iowa Senate Bill 531 </a> </li><li><a href="http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2007&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1709" target="newwindow">Ind iana House Bill 1709 </a> </li><li><a href="http://www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillText07/SenateText07/S0194.pdf" target="newwindow">Rhode Island Senate Bill 194 </a></li> </ul> <a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/" target="newwindow">The Sentencing Project </a> has released a new resource, <a href="http://www.sentencingproject.org/PublicationDetails.aspx?PublicationID=486" target="newwindow">Relief from the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction: A State-by-State Resource Guide </a>, which offers a comprehensive survey of laws and practices relating to obtaining relief from penalties that accompany a criminal conviction in each state. The resource includes a state-by-state breakdown of judicial expungement, sealing, and set-aside laws. For more information on removing barriers to employment for people released from prisons and jails, click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/education_employment" target="newwindow">here</a>. Announcements 21177

2009-09-22

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--- [] The vote scheduled in the House this week on H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, has been postponed. Democratic leadership had placed the bill on the suspension calendar, but now have delayed the vote until Republicans can assure enough votes for swift passage. The vote scheduled in the House this week on H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, has been postponed. Democratic leadership had placed the bill on the suspension calendar, but now have delayed the vote until Republicans can assure enough votes for swift passage. The bill's sponsors, Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT), are working closely with leadership to place it back on the calendar for a vote as soon as possible. The Second Chance Act, which has broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, is the first piece of comprehensive legislation designed to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and help ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. The bill authorizes up to $65 million in grants to state and local governments to develop prisoner reentry initiatives and a $15 million reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services for people returning from prison or jail. Cosponsors of the bill include Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D - MI) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R - TX), former Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R - WI), current Chair of the Crime Subcommittee Bobby Scott (D - VA) and Ranking Member Randy Forbes (R - VA), former Crime Subcommittee Chair Howard Coble (R - NC), and Judiciary Committee members Reps. Chris Cannon (R - UT), Steve Chabot (R - OH), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D - TX), Hank Johnson (D - GA), and Adam Schiff (D - CA). For more information on the Second Chance Act <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">click here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements 21176

2009-09-22

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--- - Kansas On May 22, 2007, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, joined by Senator John Vratil, Representative Mike O’Neal, Representative Pat Colloton, and Senator Greta Goodwin, held a bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 14, “An Act Concerning the Department of Corrections.” On May 22, 2007, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, joined by Senator John Vratil, Representative Mike O’Neal, Representative Pat Colloton, and Senator Greta Goodwin, held a bill signing ceremony for <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/14.pdf" style="text-decoration:underline;" target="newwindow">Senate Bill 14</a>, “An Act Concerning the Department of Corrections.” The bill creates a performance-based grant program for community corrections programs to design local strategies to reduce revocations and establishes a 60 day program credit for participants who successfully complete educational, vocational, and treatment programs. To implement SB14, the legislature appropriated $4.4 million for the community corrections grant program while Governor Sebelius included $2.4 million in her budget to fund the expansion of programs for people in prison and on parole supervision, including behavioral health care programs. “Kansas is dedicated to smart and tough criminal justice policy,” said Sebelius. “By holding individuals who committed less-serious crimes accountable for completing treatment and vocational programs, we will ensure we have space in our prisons to keep violent offenders behind bars.” According to an analysis completed by the Kansas Department of Corrections, most people are released from prison without completing programs to reduce their risk to public safety. Seventy-two percent of people in need of vocational education and 52 percent of people in need of substance abuse treatment did not participate in relevant programs prior to their release. The new initiatives that the law establishes resulted in part from a bipartisan, Joint Task Force on Comprehensive Corrections established by House Speaker Melvin Neufeld and Senate President Stephen Morris. Task Force members worked closely with state officials and national experts from the Council of State Governments Justice Center to pursue a justice reinvestment strategy to help manage the growth of the prison population, save the state money, and increase public safety. According to a 2006 projection released by the Kansas Sentencing Commission, the prison population was projected to increase by 26 percent over the next 10 years. By implementing SB14, the state is expected to avert building 1,292 beds for ten years, and save $80.2 million over the next five years, although the actual savings will depend on when the state decides to build additional correctional facilities. “Kansas faced a daunting public safety problem - how to reduce recidivism, help ex-offenders become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, stave off exploding prison growth, and save taxpayers money,” said Adam Gelb, Project Director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Safety Performance Project. “By tackling the issue with a commitment to data-driven policy, strong bipartisan leadership and a focus on fiscal responsibility, Kansas is leading the way in smart-on-crime public policy.” The bipartisan focus on improving outcomes for people released from prison in Kansas has attracted the support of a number of national foundations and associations. The Technical assistance to Kansas policymakers over the past year, including analyses of the prison population were made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Safety Performance Project, U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the National Institute of Corrections. In January 2007, the JEHT Foundation awarded a $4.67 million multi-year grant to the Kansas Department of Correction to support state and local reentry and risk reduction efforts. To learn more about the justice reinvestment strategy and the technical assistance the Council of State Governments Justice Center is providing to Kansas and other states around the country, please visit: <a href="http://www.justicereinvestment.org" style="text-decoration:underline;">www.justicereinvestment.org</a>. Announcements 21175 Corrections

2009-09-22

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--- - Pennsylvania State Republican and Democratic leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly recently requested analyses from the Council of State Governments Justice Center to determine why the prison population is growing and to develop cost-effective strategies to manage this growth. State Republican and Democratic leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly recently requested analyses from the Council of State Governments Justice Center to determine why the prison population is growing and to develop cost-effective strategies to manage this growth. On Monday, June 4, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees held a rare joint hearing at which Dr. Tony Fabelo (senior research consultant to the Justice Center) and Dr. Fred Osher (the Justice Center’s director of health systems and services policy) presented analyses of the factors driving the growth of Pennsylvania’s prison population. The experts also outlined several policy options that could have an immediate impact on the growth. Among the factors contributing to the state’s prison growth, Dr. Fabelo cited county jail overcrowding, limited in-prison program capacity, high rates of revocation among people under community supervision, and the underutilization of state-based diversion strategies, such as the State Intermediate Punishment program. To meet the challenges presented by this burgeoning prison population, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PDOC) proposes a $700 million expansion plan, which includes the construction of three new prisons. During the hearing, however, Dr. Fabelo pointed out that even if the General Assembly approves the PDOC expansion plans, the Department will still be short approximately 9,279 beds by 2013. Using data gathered in cooperation with various state agencies, Dr. Fabelo recommended several policy options that, if adopted, could reduce this capacity shortfall. These recommendations include: <ul> <li>increasing the utilization of state diversion programs, </li><li>expanding capacity of intermediate sanction facilities for parole violators, and </li><li>establishing “risk reduction credits,” which would accelerate parole eligibility for people in prison who successfully complete educational, vocational, and substance abuse treatment programs while they are incarcerated. </li></ul> Dr. Osher also presented the findings of three fiscal impact studies of collaborative criminal justice/mental health diversion programs. The studies, commissioned by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2003, were intended to inform the development of a statewide strategy that would address the growing number of people with mental illnesses coming into contact with the criminal justice system. The studies found that diversion programs can increase public safety, help people with mental illnesses succeed in the community, and save taxpayers money. In light of the study findings, Dr. Osher recommended that the Pennsylvania General Assembly provide a small amount of funding for a statewide competitive grant program to promote and replicate such programs across the state. Officials from the PDOC, the Board of Probation and Parole, and the Department of Public Welfare testified in support of this grant program. The Council of State Governments Justice Center provides technical assistance to Pennsylvania policymakers with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA" style="text-decoration:underline;" target="newwindow">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, <a href="http://www.pewcorrections.org" style="text-decoration:underline;" target="newwindow">The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Safety Performance Project</a>, and the <a href="http://www.nicic.org" style="text-decoration:underline;" target="newwindow">National Institute of Corrections</a>. For more information on the projected growth of Pennsylvania’s prison population, strategies to manage this growth, and copies of the presentation and testimonies given at the June 4 hearing, please visit the <a href="http://www.justicereinvestment.org/states/pennsylvania/pubmaps-pa" style="text-decoration:underline;" target="newwindow">Justice Reinvestment project website</a>. Announcements 21174

2009-09-22

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center convened a meeting in Miami last month to discuss how to improve collaborations between state governments and community and faith-based organizations to serve people released from prisons and jails. The Council of State Governments Justice Center convened a meeting in Miami last month to discuss how to improve collaborations between state governments and community and faith-based organizations to serve people released from prisons and jails. Representatives from federal and state agencies, community and faith-based organizations, and private foundations offered their perspectives on the most significant factors limiting successful reentry partnerships, and what can be done to address them. The Justice Center convened the meeting with support from the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA" target="newwindow" style="text-decoration:underline;">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, U.S. Department of Justice, and the <a href="http://www.dol.gov/cfbci" target="newwindow" style="text-decoration:underline;">Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives</a>, U.S. Department of Labor. Community-based organizations have an extensive history of outreach and service to people involved in the criminal justice system. However, there are numerous challenges that impede efforts by state governments and community and faith-based organizations to work together on reentry issues. Staffs of such organizations may have insufficient training to address the unique needs of people released from prisons and jails, difficulty complying with government regulations and contract requirements, and inexperience tracking and reporting program outcomes. Government agencies may have limited familiarity with small, neighborhood-based organizations and the services they provide, and their requests for proposals may not reach this constituency. Participants at the Miami meeting discussed strategies to overcome these challenges, focusing on five specific areas for improvement: <ul> <li>opening the lines of communication between state governments and community-based organizations</li> <li>providing training and resources to improve services and help organizations navigate state agencies</li> <li>making government agencies more accessible to smaller organizations</li> <li>defining target populations</li> <li>measuring performance outcomes</li> </ul> Co-chairs of the meeting were Justice Center board members Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry (D) and Senator Stephen Wise (R). Aubry is a member of the New York State Assembly and chairs the Assembly’s Correction Committee. Wise is a Florida State senator. He also chairs the Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee in the Florida State Legislature. “People returning home from prison or jail face many obstacles to starting a new life and becoming productive, law-abiding citizens,” Assemblyman Aubry said. “Partnerships between state governments and organizations focused on reentry needs of prisoners can help support this transition, improving not only the lives of people returning home from jail or prison, but also the lives of their friends and families, and the safety of their communities and neighborhoods.” “Community and faith-based organizations have a wealth of experience addressing the safe and successful return of people released from prison or jail, such as helping them find employment, housing, and substance abuse treatment,” Senator Wise said. “The Justice Center’s meeting was an important step toward creating a policy guide that will address recidivism and encourage partnerships between these organizations and state governments.” The Justice Center will use the group’s input to develop a policy guide that will provide recommendations for state governments to improve and expand collaborative efforts with community and faith-based organizations. The guide will also highlight several existing partnerships that are successfully addressing the needs of people released from prisons and jails. For more information about the Justice Center's work to facilitate successful reentry partnerships between state governments and community and faith-based organizations, please download the full <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/issue_areas/reentry_partnerships" target="new window" style="text-decoration:underline;">project description</a> on the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org" target="newwindow" style="text-decoration:underline;">Reentry Policy Council website</a>. Announcements 21173

2009-09-22

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--- [] On August 2, 2007, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee completed the mark-up of S. 1060, the Second Chance Act of 2007. The bill will now be sent to the Senate floor for consideration, which sponsors say will take place shortly after the August recess. On August 2, 2007, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee completed the mark-up of S. 1060, the Second Chance Act of 2007. The bill will now be sent to the Senate floor for consideration, which sponsors say will take place shortly after the August recess. The committee accepted an amendment, introduced by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), which excludes sex offenders from the early release program for elderly prisoners. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) also introduced an amendment which would change the federal matching formula from 75/25 to 50/50. This amendment was voted down in the committee. The bipartisan bill has 30 cosponsors in the Senate, including Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), who have been strong supporters of the bill. "It is vitally important that we do everything we can to ensure that, when people get out of prison, they enter our communities as productive members of society, so we can start to reverse the dangerous cycles of recidivism and violence. I hope that the Second Chance Act will help us begin to break that cycle, and I am glad that the Senate Judiciary Committee reported it favorably with a strong bipartisan vote today," said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). "The Second Chance Act will provide an opportunity for realistic rehabilitation for the more than 650,000 inmates who return to their communities each year," said Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). "The bill's focus on education, job training, and substance abuse treatment is essential to decreasing the nationwide recidivism rate of 66 percent." In the House, key sponsors are working to bring the bill to the floor for a vote when Congress reconvenes in September. The Second Chance Act would authorize a $65 million reentry grant program administered through the Department of Justice for state and county reentry initiatives and a $15 million reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services. The bill also includes drug treatment and mentoring grant programs. For more information on the Second Chance Act, please click <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">here</a> or email <a href="mailto:scainfo@csg.org">scainfo@csg.org</a>. Announcements