Second Chance Act Funding Announced

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced three funding opportunities through the Second Chance Act. Aimed at reducing recidivism and increasing public safety, the Second Chance Act provides funding for strategies and programs that help ex-offenders – both adult and juvenile - successfully reintegrate into their communities after a period of incarceration. According to DOJ, there are more than 2.2 million individuals serving time in our federal and state prisons and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all offenders incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities, making community-based programs and supports and essential component of an individual’s successful transition.

Adult Reentry Demonstration Program: Planning and Implementation 
This grant opportunity will provide funding for local governments to develop comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges faced by adult offenders as they reenter their communities. Previous initiatives have demonstrated that successful reentry programs begin when the offenders is incarcerated, often providing things such as job training, and conclude after the individual has been successfully reintegrated into the community. This funding will help local governments develop evidence-based reentry strategies that provide the individual with appropriate evidence-based services. Successful applicants under this solicitation will be required to complete a planning phase (up to 6 months) for their projects, and after approval, will be authorized to begin the implementation phase of the project.

Eligible applicants include state and local government agencies and federally recognized Indian tribes. Applications are due June 20, 2013. To learn more about this grant opportunity, click here.


Comprehensive Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction Planning Program 
Recognizing that developing comprehensive and effective strategies is complex, this grant provides funding for state correctional agencies to engage in a 12-month planning period. Throughout this time, agencies will have the funding available to access the data and service delivery systems – including the housing, healthy, employment and education systems – that are imperative to the successful transition of ex-offenders as they reintegrate into their communities. The reentry plans developed should include a particular focus on places where crime and recidivism rates are the highest and include evidenced-based programs and strategies.

Upon the completion of the Statewide Recidivism Reduction Strategic Plan, states may be invited to submit applications for implementation grants from between $1-$3 million.

Eligible applicants are limited to a state correctional agency or the State Administering Agency (SAA). Applications are due June 28, 2013. To learn more about this grant opportunity, click here.


Juvenile Reentry Program 
This grant opportunity will provide funding for local governments to develop comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges faced by juvenile offenders as they reenter their communities. As with the adult programs, previous initiatives have demonstrated that successful reentry programs begin when youth are incarcerated, often providing things such as job training and education, and conclude after the youth has been successfully reintegrated into the community. This funding will help local governments develop evidence-based reentry strategies that provide the individual with appropriate evidence-based services.

Eligible applicants are limited to state and local governments, including federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Applications are due June 17, 2013. To learn more about this grant opportunity, please click here.


Reentry Program for Juveniles with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders 
Recognizing that a disproportionate number of youth in the juvenile justice system have co-occurring chronic substance abuse and mental health disorders, this grant opportunity provides funds to ensure that youth have access to substance abuse and mental health treatments while incarcerated, as well as after their release. Among incarcerated youth with a mental health diagnosis, 60.8% also meet criteria for a substance abuse disorder, according to DOJ. This dual diagnosis requires specific and targeted treatment that promotes healthy development and provides youth with an opportunity to successfully reenter their communities and return to school and/or job training. This grand opportunity will fund programs that improve the provision of evidenced-based services for youth with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders within juvenile facilities.

Eligible applicants are limited to state and local governments, including federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Applications are due June 24, 2013. To learn more about this grant opportunity, please click here.