Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2011, $50,000)
The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and are returning to their communities. Approximately 100,000 youthful offenders are confined in juvenile residential facilities on any given day. The FY 2011 Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Reentry Program helps ensure that the transition the youth make from secure confinement facilities to the community is successful and promotes public safety. A secure confinement facility may include a juvenile detention center, juvenile correctional facility, or staff-secure facility. Eligible juveniles must have been confined under juvenile court jurisdiction. This program is authorized by the Second Chance Act, Pub. L. 110-199, (42 U.S.C. § 3797w). The Second Chance Act authorizes grants to states, territories, units of local government and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated or detained.
Palm Beach County (PBC) will develop a juvenile reentry strategic plan that will work towards long-term systemic change so that youth transitioning from detention and residential placement receive support and access to programs and services aimed at reducing recidivism rates and easing the re-entry process. Through the strategic planning process, the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), the Juvenile Reentry Subcommittee and its partners will be able to assess and identify systemic gaps and determine the optimal uses of resources so that services can be delivered efficiently and seamlessly through the collaborative network of treatment and community providers.
The strategic planning process will occur in two phases, an information gathering phase (Phase 1) and a planning phase (Phase 2). Phase 1 will consist of a variety of information gathering techniques, which will result in a comprehensive description of current re-entry services available locally for juveniles under the age of 18 at intake. During Phase 2, a mini summit will be held including participants from across the state, partners from state and local agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and the faith-based community. Summit participants will utilize the six fundamental principles of evidence-based correctional practice to guide their discussion sessions. Following the summit, the project team will conduct an analysis of current re-entry practices compared to available "best practices" and identify a model that will target high-risk offenders through the use of a validated risk/needs assessment instrument.
CA/NCF