Implementation of the Georgia juvenile reentry task force and strategic plan

The Second Chance Act 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. The FY 2013 Second Chance Act Juvenile 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. CATEGORY 1: Planning Projects are targeted for jurisdictions that have demonstrated a commitment to establishing a juvenile reentry program and have made progress on the ten Mandatory Requirements of a Comprehensive Reentry Program but have not yet fully completed each step.

The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (GDJJ) is applying for the Second Chance Act Reentry Program planning grant in the amount of $50,000. Public safety is a top priority for Georgia. The Governor and State Legislature have demonstrated their commitment through the passage of Criminal Justice Reform in both the adult and juvenile justice systems and reentry is greatly impacted by Juvenile Justice Reform. The primary goals of the Georgia Juvenile Reentry Model are to: (1) promote public safety and reduce recidivism through the appropriate implementation of Juvenile Justice Reform; (2) prepare youth and families for transition through a family focused approach that encourages parental involvement in the youth's placement, growth, and preparation for reentry; and (3) effectively prepare youth for reentry through evidence based programs, educational and vocational skill advancement, and appropriate medical and behavioral health services that provide them with the tools for reentry. Under this award, the GDJJ is committed to use all funding awarded to focus on the following priorities/considerations: implementing reentry services in secure facilities located in the Metropolitan Atlanta and Savannah geographic areas; address high-risk juveniles as determined through the use of a validated risk/need assessment instrument (CRN); develop prerelease planning and transition housing; establish prerelease planning procedures to ensure that the eligibility of an individual for federal or state benefits is established before release and those individuals will obtain all necessary referrals for reentry services; and delivery of continuous and appropriate drug treatment, medical care, job training and placement, educational services and any other service or support needed for successful reentry.

CA/NCF