'SECOND CHANCE' GRANT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR INMATE SERVICES
The grant, given under the federal Second Chance Act, will provide funding over two years for a broad range of inmate services to transition inmates back to the community prepared to be productive, law abiding citizens.
Sheriff Chris Donelan explained that he has been moving the House of Correction into a more therapeutic direction with enhanced inmate programs, but that this infusion of money will allow programs to move forward. "We will now enhance our counseling and vocational programs, improve our transition and reentry relationships and connect inmates with community resources that will ensure their success upon release," Donelan said. "This grant is very competitive and I view the award as validation of the great work we are all doing here at the Sheriff's Office."
"This highly competitive grant is big news for all of Franklin County," said Congressman Jim McGovern. "I believe Homeland Security begins with hometown security, and the innovative programs offered by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office go a long way to keeping our streets safe, while ensuring that released prisoners can transition into being productive members of our community."
The Second Chance Act of 2007 provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad of needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities.
The goal of these funds will be to provide support to the Sheriff for the development and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by reentry to increase public safety and reduce recidivism.
The objectives of this program are to provide offenders with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders with appropriate evidence-based services. Funds may by used for treating co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders in the Sheriff's jail programs, providing recovery support services, reentry planning and programming, and post-release treatment and aftercare programming in the community through the completion of parole or court supervision.
"All of Franklin County owes a huge debt of gratitude to Congressman McGovern for his support of this funding," Donelan said. "A small percentage of offenders commit the lion's share of crimes in our community. If we are successful in turning those offenders away from crime with the skills and support to succeed with a job and a strong family, we make all of our citizens safer, and we save a lot of time and money throughout the criminal justice system."