Second Chance Act Funding Available

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) at the U.S. Department of Justice has announced two Second Chance Act funding opportunities. The Second Chance Act of 2007 aims to provide incarcerated youth and adults with access to supports and opportunities that will ensure they make a safe and healthy transition to their communities. According to BJA, more than 2.2 million individuals are currently incarcerated federal and state prisons. With 95 percent of these individuals expected to return to their communities, the Second Chance Act funding can provide youth and adults with various opportunities, including job skill development and access to substance abuse and mental health services.

Second Chance Act Technology Career Training Grant Program
Recognizing that incarcerated individuals often face barriers to employment upon release, the Technology Career Training Grant Program aims to help youth and adults gain the skills needed to secure jobs and avoid recidivism upon release. Specifically, the job training program will focus job skills in technology-based fields, including computer-assisted design in engineering and construction, information technology, green technology, wireless and broadband deployment and computer science. In addition, funds may be used to support other job training supports, including basic skills training, career counseling and reentry planning.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who:

• Propose training programs that provide participants with industry-recognized certificates;
• Provide ongoing training to employers and potential employers on successful approaches to working with trainees/employees in the program;
• Leverage private, local, state federal or tribal resources (cash or in-kind) to support the program.

To learn more about this opportunity, including the need for applicants to demonstrate their data collection and analysis capacity, check out the grant announcement.

Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior). Applications are due March 17, 2014.

Second Chance Act Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Grant Program
According to BJA, more than 50 percent of incarcerated individuals have reported using drugs prior to their admission to prison. Similarly, BJA reports that 16 percent of incarcerated individuals struggle with mental illness. Recognizing the importance of coordinating substance abuse and mental health treatment with case planning, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Grant Program provides communities with an opportunity to help individuals achieve their treatment goals. Program funds can be used to increase the screening and assessment that takes place during incarceration and improve the provision of treatment to adults with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders after incarceration.

To learn more about this opportunity, including the need for applicants to demonstrate their data collection and analysis capacity, check out the grant announcement.

Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior). Applications are due March 18, 2014.

Update: Additional Grant to Support Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced several grant opportunities that will fund programs that support to ex-offenders – including youth involved in the juvenile justice system - as they reenter their communities. You can learn more about these opportunities on our recent blog post. This post was recently updated to include an additional grant opportunity: the Second Chance Act Reentry Program for Juveniles with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders.

Check out these funding opportunities, as well as the recently launched Juvenile Justice Resource Hub, for more information on how your community can support the healthy development of youth who have been involve with the juvenile justice system.

Juvenile Justice Resource Hub Launched

The Juvenile Justice Resource Hub, a joint initiative of the National Juvenile Justice Network, the MacArthur Foundation and the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, seeks to serve as a comprehensive source for information on current issues and trends related to juvenile justice. The website is being rolled out in phases, but will eventually include data and research on juvenile justice issues, examples of best practices and successful reforms, and tools communities can use to minimize unnecessary youth contact with the juvenile justice system and better support youth who are involved or transitioning from such systems.

The hub will include resources related to areas such as:

• Mental health and substance abuse;
• Evidence-based practices;
• Juvenile indigent defense;
• Community-based alternatives to involvement with the juvenile justice system;
• After-care for youth transitioning back into communities after incarceration;
• Racial-ethnic disparities in contact with the juvenile justice system.

Resources are now available for those interested in responses to promote mental health and reduce substance abuse that don't rely solely on the juvenile justice system, and users can sign up to receive updates about forthcoming resources in other content areas.

To visit the Juvenile Justice Resource Hub, please go here.

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.

ED Announces Funding to Promote Reentry Success through Education

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced $1 million in grant fund – the “Promoting Reentry Success through Continuity of Educational Opportunities” (PRSCEO) program.

According to a new publication from the U.S. Department of Education – A Reentry Education Model: Supporting Education and Career Advancement for Low-Skill Individuals in Corrections – more than 700,000 individuals leave Federal and State prisons each year. Within three years, roughly 40% of these individuals will be incarcerated again as a result of committing new crimes. Furthermore, approximately one in three black men and one in eight white men between the ages of 20 and 34 without a high school diploma are currently incarcerated. Several government agencies, such as the Department of Justice, have funded programs aimed at ensuring that these individuals receive job training and other support programs upon release in an effort to reduce recidivism rates.

The U.S. Department of Education, recognizing the critical connection between workforce training, education and reduced rates of recidivism, has developed the Reentry Education Model – a model that supports incarcerated individuals transition from prison to their communities while receiving the education and training needed to gain stable, living-wage employment upon release from prison.

The grant funding available with PRSCEO will be invested in innovative programs that can successfully implement ED’s Reentry Education Model and its focus on aligning education programs in prisons and in the community, ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to obtain qualify education and career-development services while incarcerated as well as after their release.

Eligible applicants must receive funding from the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA). The U.S. Department of Education estimates that it will make 2-4 awards, with awards ranging from $200,000-$400,000. Applications are due December 26, 2012.

For more information about PRSCEO, please click here.

Summit Highlights Resources for Ex-offenders

Tomorrow, July 31st at 8:30am ET, the Department of Labor (DOL) is hosting a web-based summit focused on approaches supporting the re-entry of ex-offenders into the workforce. Participants will hear speakers discuss state and local approaches to re-entry, challenges to re-entry for special population and model programs from the business community.

This summit--Re-Entering Through Employment: A Comprehensive Approach to Reintegrating the Formerly Incarcerated--is an example of DOL's continued efforts to support the re-entry of ex-offenders. Recently, the Department awarded grants targeting the successful reintegration and development of individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system.

This summit is a great resource for communities that may be struggling to find ways to support re-entry population. For more information and to sign up for the web-based summit, please click here.

Department of Justice Provides Grants to Support Reentry and Community Safety

In recent weeks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced several grant opportunities aimed at building safe communities. Using the criminal justice system as an anchor for improving community safety, DOJ recognizes that several programs, strategies and initiatives are required to meet the comprehensive needs of individuals and communities that interact with the criminal justice system. As a result, DOJ has announced grants that target prevention strategies, improvements to the organization and functioning of programs within the justice system, the successful reentry of former offenders in to their communities and comprehensive community-based violence prevention models.

A critical element of any community change initiative, community safety can be approached in several ways. Below you will find a list of some of opportunities that may be of particular interest to communities as they consider how to improve community safety by addressing the needs of residents who may be at risk of entering the criminal justice systems and the needs of former offenders striving to successfully reenter their communities.

For a comprehensive list of DOJ grant opportunities, as well as more detailed grant descriptions, please click here.

Multi-State Mentoring Initiative
According to DOJ, research throughout the last decade has demonstrated the positive effects of mentoring, including its ability to provide youth with strong, positive role models. In an effort to reduce juvenile delinquency and high-risk behaviors among youth, such as alcohol and drug use and truancy, DOJ is providing funding to help mentoring organizations strengthen and/or expand existing programs in at least five states.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, including faith-based, community-based and tribal-based organizations that have affiliates or chapters in at least five states and have been in existence for three years. Applicants should provide mentoring services to youth 18 and under who are at risk of juvenile delinquency or who reside in communities that lack mentoring programs.  DOJ anticipates making seven awards of up to $2 million.  Applications are due May 16, 2012. For more information, click here.  

Second Chance Act: Adult Offender Comprehensive Statewide Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Program
According to DOJ, roughly 2.3 million individuals are currently incarcerated and 95% of these individuals will eventually return to their communities. The recidivism reduction programs aims to help communities plan for and build the capacity needed to develop a comprehensive strategy that reduces recidivism by providing high-quality services pre- and post-release to individuals who are post likely to commit crimes upon release. The National Reentry Resource Center will provide training and technical assistance to grantees.

Eligible applicants include state departments of corrections. Awards will be made up to $1 million.  Applications are due May 21, 2012.  For more information, please click here.

Second Change Act: Juvenile Offender Reentry Program for Demonstration Projects
According to DOJ, roughly 71,000 youth reside in juvenile detention centers or jails on any given day. The reentry demonstration program aims to ensure that youth can successfully return to their communities by providing pre- and post-release support services. Funds for this program will be used to determine risk factors in the community that may influence youth recidivism, as well as the development of sustained case management and support services that will reduce a youth’s chances of recidivism. These services may include: education, job placement, mental and physical healthy, family reunification and others.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments. Grant awards are estimated to be $750,000. Applications are due May 14, 2012. For more information please click here.


Smart Probation: Reducing Prison Populations, Saving Money and Creating Safer Communities
According to DOJ, roughly 1 in 48 adults was on probation or parole in 2010. Recognizing that recidivism is high among this population – this population accounts for 65% of prison admissions each year – DOJ has announced the Smart Probation program. Aimed at improving probation success rates and community safety, the Smart Probation program will help state and local governments fund evidence-based programs that will help individuals to successfully comply and complete their probation or parole. Funding should be used to help probation agencies improve supervision strategies and expand collaboration between supervision agencies and law enforcement officials.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments. Awards will be made for up to $500,000 and will be awarded for a 24-month period. Applications are due May 21, 2012.  For more information, please click here.


Community-Based Violence Prevention Demonstration Program
Please see our recent blog post to learn more about this program.

OJJDP Adult and Juvenile Mentoring Grants Available

Recently, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) announced the availability of two grant programs that provide mentoring opportunities for adult and juvenile offenders. The grants are made available under the Second Chance Act (2007), which provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and return to communities. The first-of-its-kind legislation, the Second Chance Act awards funding to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism. The following grant opportunities are the most recent announcements of grant funds available under the Second Chance Act:

OJJDP Adult Mentoring Grants to Nonprofit Organizations- The purpose of this program is to promote more effective and successful reentry of offenders through mentorship. The grant delineates two categories of mentoring programs. Category 1 solicits applicants that propose to provide mentoring to adult offenders of a specific target population. For example, programs may target offenders who either have similar demographics (age, gender etc.), return to a specific community or neighborhood, or are housed in the same facility. While Category 2, solicits applicants that propose to focus on a specific subset of adult offenders who are also fathers and mothers. Award amounts are limited to $300,000 for a period of 24 months. Both nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that have experience providing mentoring services should apply for this opportunity. Applications are due April 21, 2011.   

                                                

OJJDP FY 2011 Second Chance Act Juvenile Mentoring Grants-This program provide grants to support mentoring and other transitional services essential to reintegrating juvenile offenders into their communities. Award recipients must use their grants to: mentor juvenile offenders during secure confinement, through transition back to the community and post-release; provide transitional services to assist them in their reintegration into the community; and support training in offender and victim’s issues. Award amounts will be limited to $625,000 for a project period as long as 3 years. Public agencies, including state agencies, units of local government(including federally-recognized Indian tribal governments), public university and colleges, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.  Applications are due May 2, 2011. 

New ETA Grant Opportunities Support Employment for Ex-Offenders

Recently, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration announced the availability of grant funds to improve outcomes for individuals who were once involved with the criminal justice system. The two grant opportunities listed below seek to create opportunities for ex-offenders in ways that will enhance their future success in the labor market. Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply. 

The Civic Justice Corps 

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces the availability of approximately $20 million for the Civic Justice Corps Grants to serve juvenile offenders ages 18 to 24, who were involved with the juvenile justice system at least a year before.  The Civic Justice Corps was designed to support community service projects that will allow young offenders to give back to their communities through service. The research has shown such projects hold promise for reducing the recidivism rate of juvenile offenders by improving their vocational and educational skills and long-term prospects in the labor market. These projects have also been shown to increase their attachment to their community and their sense of community responsibility. These grants will be awarded through a competitive process. ETA intends to fund a minimum of 13 grants. Applicants may submit only one proposal of up to $1.5 million to cover a 30-month period of performance that includes up to four months of planning and a minimum of 26 months of operation. For more information on policies related to reducing juvenile retention visit policyforresults.org.  Applications are due March 15, 2011.  

The Reintegration of Ex-Offenders-Adult Program

Through this notice, ETA announces the availability of approximately $11.7 million in grant funds to provide pre-release and post-release services to ex-offenders returning to high poverty, high-crime communities. These services will include job training and employment preparation, mentoring, and assistance connecting to supportive services such as housing, substance abuse programs and mental health treatment. Specifically, the employment component of the grant will focus on the development of employment opportunities in in-demand occupations, including emerging "green" jobs. These grants will be awarded through a competitive process. The Department expects to award approximately 10 grants of approximately $1,170,000 each for a 27-month period of performance. Applications are due March 17, 2011.

DOJ Grant to Support Youth Reentry

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is seeking applications for the Juvenile Mentoring Initiative, authorized through the Second Chance Act. State agencies, units of local government, institutes of higher education, and private and nonprofit organizations are invited to apply. The grant will provide funding to develop, implement, and expand mentoring programs and transition services for youth returning to their communities. The maximum award is $625,000 for up to 3 years, subject to appropriations. The grant does require a 25% match of cash or in kind contributions as the federal funds awarded may not cover more than 75% of the total costs of the project.  Applications are due May 2, 2011. The full notice can be accessed here.

DOJ Announces $110 million in Grant Awards for the Second Chance Act Program

Recently, Attorney General Eric Holder announced $110 million in funding for the Second Chance Act (SCA) and Justice Reinvestment Initiative for fiscal year 2010. Signed into law in 1988, the Second Chance Act was designed to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. The Department of Justice has selected 188 grantees-states, localities, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations- that support a full range of adult and juvenile reentry programs.

According to the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC), approximately 9 million individuals are released from jail each year and 95% of those individuals who exit state prisons return to their communities. Reentry programs funded through SCA will address a number of critical service areas including job training, education, mentoring, substance abuse and mental treatment, family-based services, literacy classes and housing and employment assistance.

To find out more about reentry programs in your state visit the National Reentry Resource Center.

Congress Approves Appropriations for Key DOJ Second Chance Act Programs

According to the Reentry Policy Council, in the fiscal year 2010, the omnibus bill (H.R.3288) appropriates $114 million for prisoner reentry programs in the Department of Justice, including $14 million for reentry initiatives in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and $100 million for Second Chance Act grant programs including:

• 37 million for reentry demonstration projects under Sec. 101 of the Second Chance Act
• $15 million for mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations under Sec. 211
• $10 million for reentry courts under Sec. 111
• $2.5 million for grants to evaluate and improve education in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities under Sec. 114
• $5 million for technology careers training demonstration grants under Sec. 115
• $13 million for reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration under Sec. 201
• $10 million for reentry research under Sec. 245

For more information visit the National Reentry Resource Center.