Reforming ReEntry Practices In Virginia

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. Developing a juvenile reentry system that reduces recidivism and improves positive youth outcomes is extremely challenging for even the most sophisticated tate or local juvenile correctional agency. This program will provide funding for 12-month planning grants during which time state or local-level juvenile justice agencies will convene a reentry task force and develop and finalize a comprehensive statewide juvenile reentry systems reform strategic plan. This plan will guide efforts to reduce the historical baseline recidivism rates for youth returning from confinement in state or locally run and/or managed juvenile correctional facilities. The plan will also guide efforts to reform the system to include: (1) improved assessment policies and practices, (2) a more integrated approach to prerelease services and planning and post-release services and supervision that reflects what research demonstrates improves youth outcomes, and (3) enhanced program/policy monitoring, quality assessments, implementation supports, accountability practices, and youth outcome data collection, analysis, reporting, and decision-making. When grantees complete their strategic plan, OJJDP will invite them to submit applications for implementation grants of between $1 and $2 million to implement their plans. Future funding decisions for implementation grants will be competitive and will consider the quality and comprehensiveness of the strategic plan and associated solicitation deliverables.

The Virginia Deparment of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) will seek the expertise of a consultant to thoroughly review the services, programs and resources used to support reentry to the community. A statewide reentry task force will also be developed to include decision making level key players from key organizations such as the Departments of Social Services, Criminal Justice Services, Education and Medical Assistance Services and support from local judges. A comprehensive reentry case planning model will be developed to address the needs of high risk youth and their families statewide. Fidelity of the model will be driven by recommendations incorporated in a 5 year strategic plan that addresses reentry across child serving systems. Over a 12 month period DJJ will make recidivism reduction a priority for Virginia agencies that serve children and young adults and improve reentry outcomes by developing a system of evidence based practices and programs. CA/NCF