Kansas Department of Corrections Media Release
WAASHINGTON — Kansas Secretary of Corrections Ray Roberts, along with teams of policymakers from 13 states, are meeting in Washington today to discuss strategies to improve success rates for people released from prison. The purpose of the forum is for policy makers and administrators to discuss and develop strategic statewide recidivism reduction plans.
Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice are joining the state leaders to highlight how the federal government can work in partnership with states to pursue cost-effective strategies that provide a strong return on investments in public safety. Hosted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, this forum brings together 13 states awarded Statewide Recidivism Reduction planning grants through the Second Chance Act in federal fiscal year 2013: Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia.
The Statewide Recidivism Reduction grant program is a multi-year, multi-phased approach intended to create state centers of excellence that can serve as national models for how to effectively reduce statewide recidivism.
“The Second Chance Act has provided a means for federal, state and local governments to work together to promote public safety in our communities,” said Bureau of Justice Assistance Director Denise O’Donnell. “It is our vision that the final Statewide Recidivism Reduction grantees will become learning sites for other states desiring to implement effective recidivism reduction efforts.”
This forum builds off a national event held in December 2011 where corrections leaders and policymakers from all 50 states committed to furthering the goals of improved reentry and public safety through recidivism reduction. Discussions at today’s event will demonstrate the progress made over the past two years, as well as the need for additional investments to build the capacity of state corrections agencies to effectively bend the curve on recidivism.
“The Statewide Recidivism Reduction planning grant has provided a tremendous opportunity to bring together state leaders and build on our plan to meet the Governor’s goals of reduced recidivism and improved public safety,” Roberts said.
At the forum, participants will also engage in learning exchanges to share successes in how strategic plans can be fulfilled and integrated into crime policy goals and priorities for the states, with or without additional federal funding.
The Second Chance Act has supported state and local investments in effective reentry programs for more than five years. Signed into law on April 9, 2008, legislators designed the Second Chance Act to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. This first-of-its-kind legislation authorizes federal grants 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 Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 was introduced in November of last year.
Today’s forum is hosted by Bureau of Justice Assistance and was planned in partnership with the Council of State Governments Justice Center, Association of State Correctional Administrators, and National Governors Association.