OJJDP Seeks Applicants for New Funding Opportunity to Reduce Recidivism

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is accepting applicants for the FY 2014 Second Chance Act Comprehensive Juvenile Reentry Systems Reform Planning Program. This program will support state efforts to reduce recidivism and improve positive outcomes for teens returning to their communities after out of home placement.
The Second Chance Act of 2007 was established to promote community safety through recidivism prevention in response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and youth released from prison, jail or juvenile facilities.
This new grant program provides funding for state or local-level juvenile justice agencies to assemble a reentry task force and develop and finalize a comprehensive statewide juvenile reentry systems reform strategic plan. Goals of the funding include the following:
•Developing comprehensive, evidence-based plans to reform their juvenile reentry systems
•Improving assessment policies and practices
•Enhancing program/policy monitoring, quality assessments, implementation supports, accountability practices, and youth outcome data collection
•Supporting an integrated approach to prerelease services and planning, and post-release services and supervision to improve youth outcomes

Grantees will receive 12-month planning grants up to $100,000 and technical assistance from the National Reentry Resource Center. Upon completion of the planning phase, grantees are eligible to apply for $1-2 million grants to implement systems reform plans.

The deadline to apply for funding is May 13.
For past reporting on juvenile reentry system, visit:
National Reentry Resource Center releases FAQs on Juvenile Justice & Reentry
Juvenile Justice System: Juvenile Reentry in Concept and Practice
Pilot Juvenile Reentry Program in Illinois

Cecilia Bianco is the social and digital communications account coordinator for Prichard Communications. She contributes to the Reclaiming Futures blog regarding topics of juvenile justice reform and substance abuse prevention.