Justice Center Resource
New Federal Benefits Online Tools
The Justice Center has just released two new online tools – Federal Benefits Comparison Chart and Keys to Federal Benefit Access – designed to help policymakers, practitioners, and others ensure that more people who are eligible for benefit programs such as SSI/SSDI and Medicaid are enrolled in these programs upon release from jail or prison.
Spotlight Announcements
8/21/2008 – In June the Arizona legislature passed with overwhelming bipartisan support SB 1476, "The Safe Communities Act," which creates a performance funding mechanism for probation departments to employ best practices to reduce crime and violations committed by people under probation supervision.
Michigan Governor Creates Statewide Prisoner Reentry Advisory Council
8/21/2008 – Last month, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm issued Executive Order No. 2008-18, establishing the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Advisory Council. Members of the advisory council represent several state agencies, including the departments of corrections, community health, labor and economic growth, and human services.
Reentry News Clips
Yale Daily News (CT): City focuses on prison reentry
10/9/2008 – In New Haven, prison reentry — the reintegration of former prisoners into society — has been a major focus of legislators and residents over the past year.
10/8/2008 – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the award of 20 new grants for $17.4 million over the next three years to expand the treatment capability of drug courts – special dockets designed to deal with the treatment needs of people who find themselves in the criminal justice system largely because of underlying substance abuse problems.
Other Justice Center Projects
Criminal Justice / Mental Health InfoNet
The Justice Center's online database that provides a comprehensive inventory of collaborative criminal justice/mental health activity across the country.
An unprecedented, national effort to help policymakers improve the response to people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.
A data-driven strategy for policymakers to reduce spending on corrections and increase public safety.