The DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) released it’s RFP under Sec.101 of the “Second Chance Act”, providing $37 million in funding for Adult and Juvenile Reentry Demonstation Grants on December 22nd, (with an application deadline of March 4, 2010). We can expect more grants to come on line in the coming weeks and months. This year alone, funding under the “Second Chance Act” has increased nearly 400% to $100 million.
Dr. Gary L. Dennis, Senior Policy Advisor for Corrections, at BJA (and administrator of the “Second Chance Act”), advises that reentry courts are elligible as applicants for 2010 Reentry Demonstartion Grants. Even so, it may be prudent for reentry courts to accesss critical resources through government agency partners that may be more attractive applicants to BJA; such as jails, prisons, probation, parole and rehabilitation services (remember that the 2010 “Second Chance Act” provides $10 million for reentry courts alone).
Don’t forget grant applicability to jail-based reentry courts or pre-entry courts
The recently enacted “Second Chance Act” and other federal reentry legislation recognize the critical importance of keeping the non-violent offender out of prison in the first place. Whether called reentry/drug court, pre-entry court, or jail-based reentry court; a probation-based reentry court that places sentenced felons in custodial programs rather than prison, may access Sec.101 reentry demonstration project funds. [see Reentry/Drug Court Model]
Key Criteria For Reentry Demonstration Project funding:
1. Applicants are limited to state and local government agencies
2. Each grantee must have an active “task force” representing diverse community interests.
3. Applicants must provide description of the role of corrections agencies in reentry
4. Applicants must have a comprehensive, long-term reentry strategy
5. Applicants must provide information on how outcomes will be monitored and tracked
6. Priority is given to applicants focused on areas with large numbers of returnees
7. Priority given to applicants providing effective case management in reentry processes.
8. Priority is given to applicants using graduated sanctions and Incentives as conditions of release or probation
[see BJA’s Complete Reentry Demomonstration Project Application/Critereia]
