Download Byrne JAG and Community Corrections

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Byrne JAG: Cornerstone for Justice
How States Use Byrne JAG Formula Grants to
Support Community Corrections & Reentry
ABOUT THE BYRNE
JAG PROGRAM
States and local communities use Byrne JAG funds
to balance resources and
address problems across the
entire criminal justice system.
The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program (Byrne JAG) is the cornerstone federal crime-fighting
program, enabling communities to target resources to their most pressing local needs.
Byrne JAG can be used broadly for corrections and community corrections, reentry, law enforcement, prosecution, courts, prevention and education, drug treatment and enforcement, planning,
evaluation and technology, and crime victim and witness programs. This breadth and flexibility
means states and local communities can use Byrne JAG to balance resources and address problems
across the entire criminal justice system.
BYRNE JAG
FUNDING
Many innovative criminal justice practices begun with Byrne JAG funds are replicated nationwide,
such as reentry strategies, drug courts, methamphetamine lab reduction, anti-gang strategies,
and information sharing protocols.
Funding is authorized at
$1.1 billion, but annual
funding levels have hovered
around $500 million. Congress provided $2 billion in
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. In the
past two years, funding has
been cut by about onethird. In FY12, funding for
the formula program was
$352 million. The Administration’s FY13 budget
requests $413 million.
BYRNE JAG &
REENTRY
Community corrections,
reentry programs, and other
alternatives to incarceration
programs received over 20
percent of total (regular and
Recovery Act) Byrne JAG
spending in 2009, or over
$250 million.
The National Criminal Justice Association
Sixty percent of Byrne JAG is allocated by the state criminal justice planning agencies (State Administering Agencies, or SAAs) to local governments and non-profit service providers; 40 percent
goes directly from DOJ/Bureau of Justice Assistance to local law enforcement based on FBI crime
data. Funding is authorized at $1.1 billion, but annual funding levels have historically hovered
around $500 million. Congress provided $2 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. In the past two years, however, funding has been cut by about one-third. In FY12, funding for the formula program was $352 million. The Administration’s FY13 budget requests $413
million for Byrne JAG.
Byrne JAG’s Impact on Community Corrections
and Reentry Programs
In a survey of the State Administering Agencies (SAAs), 49 responding states and territories
reported that community corrections, reentry programs, and other alternatives to incarceration
programs received over 20 percent of total (regular and Recovery Act) Byrne JAG spending in
2009, or over $250 million. In that survey, SAAs provided examples of community corrections
and reentry programs funded by Byrne JAG:
•
In the 18th Judicial District, Colorado, funds are being used in a partnership with the Aurora
Mental Health Center to provide treatment, release planning, and ongoing mental health and
diagnosis services for mentally ill inmates, providing a structured process for appropriately
identifying mentally ill inmates to be transitioned to outpatient treatment and case management services.
•
In Delaware, Byrne JAG Recovery Act funding will allow the Department of Corrections to
fill vacancies for 10 community corrections probation officers, including salaries, benefits,
OECs, equipment and training for 24 months.
•
The District of Columbia is using Byrne JAG to fund an evidence-based residential service,
discharge and reentry service demonstration projects program.
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•
Georgia is using Byrne JAG funds to expedite treatment of convicted felons assessed with
substance abuse problems.
•
Hawaii is expanding its HOPE program, a high-intensity adult probation program targeting
high-risk offenders by imposing immediate intermediate sanctions. Independent evaluation
of this program has shown its effectiveness in reducing recidivism.
•
In Hawaii, Byrne JAG funds will support the development of an adult offender reentry program for inmates with co-occurring disorders using a nationally recognized model.
•
Illinois uses Byrne JAG funds for evidence-based approaches to community-based transitional services for female probationers.
•
Byrne JAG funds will help support a day reporting center operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
•
Indiana has consistently made problem solving courts a priority for Byrne JAG funds
throughout the state. Currently, the State Administering Agency funds 12 drug, two reentry, and one community courts programs.
•
With Byrne JAG, Kansas funds Project CORE, a four-county regional mental health center, to
support its intensive outpatient treatment program for non-violent, mentally ill offenders.
Project CORE provides comprehensive, integrated treatment to people who have at least
one mental disorder and an alcohol or drug use disorder.
•
Maryland uses Byrne JAG to fund numerous victim and prevention initiatives, including
youth and family services, youth mentoring, juvenile and adult diversion and intervention
programs, after care for inmates with mental illness, juvenile drug court, multidisciplinary
intervention, lethality assessment support, and victim services, counseling, and advocacy.
•
Barnstable County, Massachusetts uses Byrne JAG funding for residential substance abuse
treatment for female offenders, replicating its successful model for male offenders. The
program provides substance abuse treatment, education, reentry and aftercare services.
•
The Winona County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Department uses Byrne JAG funds to support the
CARE Program, a jail reentry program, which uses best practices in prisoner reentry, including comprehensive case management, coordinated service delivery and mentoring.
•
New Hampshire will use Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds to assist in restructuring the state
correctional system towards a community corrections approach. State funding has been
allocated to provide for the state level structural changes necessary to start this process and
to provide services to offenders to ensure a successful transition to the community. This
is part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative of the Council of State Governments Justice
Center, which is providing technical assistance and support.
•
The New Jersey State Parole Board uses Byrne JAG to provide a specialized reentry program for female offenders in the Newark area. Participants are provided with an array of
services to assist with the reintegration process and in gaining employment skills, increasing
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their educational and technical skills, and developing life management and coping skills. The
women receive mental and physical health services. Subgrantees are provided support for
program development, coordination of efforts, and technical assistance.
The National Criminal Justice Association
•
New York is using Byrne JAG Recovery Act funding for reentry strategies, especially programs focusing on the creation and sustainability of job opportunities for returning offenders and computer literacy programs for inmates and parolees.
•
North Carolina uses Byrne JAG Act funds to provide 100 ex-offenders in 2010-2011 and
100 ex-offenders in 2011-12 who graduate from StepUP’s jobs program with additional
occupational and education training services in telecommunications, auto mechanics, construction and restaurant services.
•
Ohio is using Byrne JAG funding to expand its evidence based reentry programs. Programs
only receive funding if they incorporate evidence based practices specified in the RFP. The
state provides statewide training and technical assistance free of charge. The state is also
funding an independent evaluation of the reentry programs by the University of Cincinnati.
All reentry programs are required to participate.
•
Oregon has used Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds for the creation of the Governors Alcohol
and Drug Treatment Policy Commission. This Commission is charged with producing a plan
for the effective delivery of alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services across all
human service and public safety agencies.
•
With Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds, Oregon has created drug courts throughout the state,
for repeat property offenders. This program will divert repeat property offenders into an
intensive treatment court. Funds will be used for intensive community corrections supervision and treatment as an alternative to incarceration.
•
Oregon has used Byrne JAG for the creation of three pilot Offender Reentry Transition Centers throughout the state to assist newly released inmates in their transition into community
life and reduce their recidivism. These pilot centers will provide for the immediate safety,
health and communication needs of the participants. They will also assist the participants in
identifying their goals and providing them with a means to successfully transition into the
community. The centers will also provide assistance in housing, jobs, mental and substance
abuse treatments in an effort to reduce drug use and recidivism.
•
Using a 65 percent local match, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania provides education and
other services for returning offenders through a day reporting center (DRC). In-house
services such as drug and alcohol assessment testing, anger management, life skills, adult
education and GED preparation, job readiness and job search, and community service projects are offered to offenders assigned to the DRC. The DRC has become a viable community center and it also provides valuable office space for the Pittsburgh Police Department.
Because of its success, a second center is planned.
•
Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds support the Rhode Island Department of Corrections’ Access to Employment for Transitioning Offenders Project and its Family Reunification Project.
The RI DOC and its reentry partners have initiated efforts that coordinate pre- and post-
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release employment efforts offering comprehensive rehabilitative services, transitional
planning and community resource referrals for offenders who will be released from prison or
serve time on probation and parole.
•
Through Byrne JAG Recovery Act funding in Rhode Island, reentry and recidivism reduction
is addressed through the New Hope Diner project where juvenile offenders are taught carpentry skills. Also, Rhode Island funds The Harvest Kitchen project where juvenile offenders
learn culinary, social, and entrepreneurial skills.
•
Because of Byrne JAG Recovery Act funding, Tennessee has been able to expand The Next
Door, a Therapeutic Transition Center for Female Offenders in Nashville. The program
prepares residents for living independently, establishing stable families, retaining meaningful
employment and giving back to the community. Expansion into Chattanooga and Knoxville
has also occurred.
•
Tennessee’s Therapeutic Foster Care program for adolescent sex offenders has expanded to
assist adolescents transitioning from a residential program into the community where they
are placed within a family home and continue to receive treatment. This program also helps
the adolescents and young adults as they age out of the foster care system and transition to
independent living, typically by themselves.
•
Virginia uses Byrne JAG funds to support Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) that assist law
enforcement agencies when they are called upon to respond to situations involving persons
with mental health or substance abuse problems. Each funded CIT project is supported by
a task force with representatives from law enforcement agencies, mental health service
providers, local and regional jails, and local and state community corrections programs.
•
West Virginia distributes Byrne JAG funds for substance abuse support and recovery services. This helps fund the Rae of Hope Fellowship home for women and other transitional
living facilities which assist women with substance abuse services, employment counseling,
medical, educational, and dental and vision services, and life skills to maintain their sobriety
and lead productive lives.
•
Using Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds, Wisconsin uses risk and needs assessments to screen
and divert defendants into treatment (in lieu of jail time) and to mandate weekly supervision, random drug testing, and completion of treatment programs.
•
Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds support five misdemeanor diversion programs across the
state of Wisconsin. These programs target non-violent offenders with restorative justice
principles, reasonable restitution requirements, and reinstatement of motor vehicle operation privileges.
•
DOC Offender Reentry Services is a justice reinvestment initiative program that offers enhanced offender reentry services operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
Disclaimer This document was created with the support of Grant No. 2010-DB-BX-K086 awarded by the Bureau of
The National Criminal Justice Association
Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention,
the SMART Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions are those of the authors.