RPC Newsletter - 3/25/2008
FEATURES
Employment Plays Crucial Role in Successful Reentry
Early findings from a recent federally funded research evaluation suggest that providing transitional work and supportive employment services to individuals shortly after their release from prison can significantly lessen the likelihood of subsequent convictions and reincarceration. The study also showed that transitional work generated large positive differences in employment rates between program participants and non-participants, although these differences declined sharply by the end of one year.
HILL UPDATE
U.S. Senate Passes Second Chance Act
The U.S. Senate passed the Second Chance Act of 2007 on March 11. This landmark bill, introduced by Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Arlen Specter (R-PA), provides critical resources designed to reduce recidivism and increase public safety. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent and now proceeds to the President's desk for signature.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
2008 National Transitional Jobs Network Conference
"Building Opportunities for Workers, Employers, and Communities"
National Transitional Jobs Network
April 1-2, 2008
Oakland, CA
2008 Defendant / Offender Workforce Development Conference
"Rockin' to Reentry"
National Career Development Association
April 13-16, 2008
Cleveland, OH
4th Annual National Offender Workforce Development Conference
"Breaking Cycles, Changing Lives"
Productive Workforce Development, LLC / National H.I.R.E. Network
April 16-19, 2008
Los Angeles, CA
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Evidence Based Decision Making for Local Criminal Justice Systems
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is seeking proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals to enter into a cooperative agreement with NIC for the 18-month development phase of its new initiative, "Evidence Based Decision Making for Local Criminal Justice Systems." The overall goal of the initiative is to establish and test linkages between local criminal justice decisions (e.g., pretrial release or diversion, plea bargaining, etc.) and the application of evidence-based practices to measurably reduce pretrial misconduct and post-conviction risk of re-offending.
Application Deadline: April 4, 2008
Criminal Justice Technology Evaluation
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking evaluations of technologies designed to prevent and reduce crime and improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. NIJ is specifically interested in evaluations that determine if the application of existing or newly developed technologies works to improve criminal justice outcomes. Applications that focus on the measurable impact of technologies on reduction in crime will be given priority.
Application Deadline: April 4, 2008
REENTRY NEWS
- PA: 3/24/08 - Manchester works to create neighbor-based justice system (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- FL: 3/24/08 - Editorial: Fewer addicts, less crime (Palm Beach Post)
- OH: 3/23/08 - Ohio stops state-funded treatment for paroled sex offenders (Akron Beacon Journal)
- CA: 3/23/08 - Another view: Fix probation to aid prisons (Sacramento Bee)
- TX: 3/19/08 - A new deal: Rehabilitating prisoners (The Economist)
PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
- Health and Prisoner Reentry: How Physical, Mental, and Substance Abuse Conditions Shape the Process of Reintegration (Urban Institute)
- Broken Bonds: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children with Incarcerated Parents (Urban Institute)
- State Sentencing and Corrections Legislation: 2007 Action, 2008 Outlook (National Council of State Legislatures)
- An Assessment of Current Management Practices of Adult Sex Offenders in California (California Sex Offender Management Board)
- Prisoner Reentry Toolkit for Faith-Based and Community Organizations (U.S. Department of Labor)
In this Issue
Our Publications
Homelessness and Prisoner Reentry
Many people released from prison or jail are at risk for homelessness, which can increase the likelihood that they will commit new crimes and return to prison.