Justice Center Resource
Homelessness and Prisoner Reentry
Many people released from prison or jail are at risk for homelessness, which can increase the likelihood that they will commit new crimes and return to prison. This policy brief presents strategies for state and local government agencies, as well as community-based organizations, to address housing needs and risks in prisoner reentry.
Spotlight Announcements
12/18/2008 – The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-Based and Community Organizations, which offers practical recommendations for how state government officials and community-based service providers can better use limited resources to help people released from prisons and jails to successfully and safely rejoin neighborhoods and families.
Cities across the Country Incorporate Employment-Focused Strategies into Crime-Fighting Initiatives
12/15/2008 – Despite a general nationwide downturn in reported crime since the early 1990s, police departments and local newspapers in some cities across the country reported in 2007 and 2008 that the per capita violent crime rate in their jurisdictions has begun to creep up; in some areas the rate has increased significantly. To reduce crime, local elected officials have unveiled new crime-fighting strategies that include employment initiatives targeting people with criminal records.
Reentry News Clips
REHAB gets results: Sheriff's program helps recovering addicts
1/2/2009 – Starting in January, eight additional jail inmates will get a chance to treat their substance abuse problems more extensively through the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office's 2-month-old intensive inpatient rehabilitation program. Recent success has pushed program officials of Re-entry Housing 4 Addictive Behaviors to do what they hoped to from the beginning - expand participation.
Success spurs expansion in drug program
12/27/2008 – The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office will further expand its drug rehabilitation efforts following the early success of its intensive inpatient drug treatment program created in October.
Other Justice Center Projects
Criminal Justice / Mental Health InfoNet
The Justice Center's online database that provides a comprehensive inventory of collaborative criminal justice/mental health activity across the country.
An unprecedented, national effort to help policymakers improve the response to people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.
A data-driven strategy for policymakers to reduce spending on corrections and increase public safety.