In an effort to to reduce recidivism, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded more than $110.7 million to support adults and youth returning to their communities after imprisonment.
Involved are the OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The groups have awarded grants to jurisdictions, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other agencies in support of reintegration.
“We are committed to ensuring that formerly incarcerated individuals get the treatment, training and support they need after returning to their communities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta in a statement. “We must help them reunite with their families, find a place to live, obtain health care services and behavioral health support, get an education and enter the work force. These resources are critical to successful reintegration and promote the health and safety of our communities.”
The Biden-Harris Administration has been taking steps to make the criminal justice system fairer and the Justice Department is trying to eliminate unfair barriers to successful reentry.
“These resources — and investments being made by agencies across the federal government — will help catalyze and bolster systemic solutions to address the substantial reentry needs felt by hundreds of thousands of people across the nation,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP in a statement. “If we truly believe in second chances and the power of redemption, we must provide those who leave our jails, prisons and confinement facilities with the tools and support to assume a positive and productive role in our society.”
The Bureau of Justice Assistance also hired two Second Chance Fellows for their expertise and to provide guidance to BJA and its partners on reentry policies and practices.
Much of the funding will go to improving prison standards, protecting inmates, and a safeguarding communities program designed designed to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in confinement facilities and to achieve and maintain compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act standards.
Once the total funding is decided, information about where its allocated can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.
