Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2015, $190,000)
As many as 100,000 youth younger than 18 years old are released from juvenile correctional facilities every year. These young people often return to their communities with complex needs, such as physical and behavioral health issues and barriers to education and employment. The FY 2015 Second Chance Act Smart on Juvenile Justice: Community Supervision Program will provide planning grants to state and local government agencies and federally recognized Native American/Alaskan Native tribes to support their efforts to develop and finalize a comprehensive juvenile community supervision reform strategic plan that will implement evidence-based supervision strategies to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for juveniles under community supervision.
To assist with reducing the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (GDJJ) recidivism rate, GDJJ will focus on evaluating current services and strengthening the Division of Community Services strategic plan to ensure that the GDJJ is on the right track for reducing the State's recidivism rate. The successful reintegration of committed youth into the community is a problem that can be addressed by providing increased career awareness, educational training, the development of job-seeking skills, placement assistance, and post-release career mentoring. The primary goals of the Community Services Division 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. GDJJ will be partnering with Carl Vinson Institute, and National Council on Crime and Delinquency. CA/NCF