Justice Center Resource
Public Housing Authorities and Prisoner Reentry
A growing number of people are released each year from state prisons and local jails. This phenomenon, prisoner reentry, has a significant impact on housing programs administered by Public Housing Authorities, including public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and other programs.
Spotlight Announcements
More Governors Form Statewide Reentry Task Forces
8/12/2009 – In recent months, governors in at least four states – Delaware, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Dakota – established statewide task forces to tackle issues associated with the growing numbers of adults released from prison and returning to communities.
6/23/2009 – The CSG Justice Center is conducting a project to improve how state and local officials design and implement policies that aim to increase revenues through the assessment and collection of court-ordered fines and fees.
Reentry News Clips
Steubenville Herald-Star (OH): Program will help offenders find work
9/19/2009 – Three justices of the West Virginia State Supreme Court have signed an order authorizing a program aimed at rehabilitating some prisoners with drug abuse and mental health issues by helping them to find work and living accommodations.
Washington Post (DC): OPINION: Land of the Second Chance
9/18/2009 – "What returning felons need most, especially in the first months, is a safe transition zone, including housing, addiction treatment, job experience to begin building a résumé and help with family reunification. All this is expensive -- but not as expensive as imprisonment. The Second Chance Act -- signed by President George W. Bush in 2008 -- encourages these services. President Obama proposes to expand its funding. It is the sort of needed spending that should unite the parties," writes columnist Michael Gerson.
Other Justice Center Projects
Criminal Justice / Mental Health InfoNet
The Justice Center's online database that provides a comprehensive inventory of collaborative criminal justice/mental health activity across the country.
An unprecedented, national effort to help policymakers improve the response to people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.
A data-driven strategy for policymakers to reduce spending on corrections and increase public safety.