Idaho's Joint Adult and Juvenile Re-entry Program for Young, Serious and Violent Offenders

The Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative Discretionary Grant Program was developed through a federal partnership by the Departments of Justice, Labor, Health and Human Service, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture. The federal partners' goal is to help state and local agencies navigate the complex field of existing state formula and block grants and to assist them in accessing, redeploying and leveraging those resources to support the components of a comprehensive reentry program. In addition to the new funding, the federal partners are identifying funds from their respective agencies that are already available to state and local agencies to provide the necessary services to implement a reentry program.

The Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative Grant Program is designed to provide funding to state and local units of government to develop and implement institutional and community corrections-based offender reentry programs through collaborative partnerships with government, social service, faith-based, and community organizations, in order to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and successfully reintegrate serious and violent offenders back into the community. Reentry programs must be sustained for a 36-month period and are required to partner with a state adult or juvenile correctional agency.

The Idaho Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Corrections (IDOC&JC) will use the FY 2002 funds to fill gaps in reentry programming and services by contracting services to satisfy needs unmet by existing resources. IDOC&JC will develop partnerships among various agencies and community resources to enhance continuity from institution-based to community-based program elements and services, improve accountability and outcomes of offenders served by the initiative.

The IDOC&JC will use funds to address the needs of offenders from 14 to 24 years of age who have committed serious and/or violent offenses. Programming will include substance abuse treatment, mental health services, education, employability and workforce development opportunities, life skills, housing, and counseling. The Department of Corrections will use funding to employ two part-time Senior Parole Officer and one full-time Administrative Assistant.

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