Rep. Kamlager-Dove and Rep. Brown Introduce Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Ease Community Re-Entry
“The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” helps establish holistic community reentry resource centers for formerly incarcerated individuals
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Rep. Kamlager-Dove and Rep. Brown Introduce Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Ease Community Re-Entry
“The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” helps establish holistic community reentry resource centers for formerly incarcerated individuals
WASHINGTON, DC—Last week, Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) was joined by Representative Shontel Brown (OH-11) in introducing the “One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act.”This bill would provide grants to establish holistic reentry centers that centralize housing, job training, mental health counseling, and other vital services in a single location.
“Reentry into the community is often a challenging process for formerly incarcerated individuals, and this process is made all the more difficult by the patchwork nature of resources,” Rep. Kamlager-Dove said. “This legislation provides funding to centralize these vital resources, making them easier to access and providing the support needed to lower rates of recidivism. Nearly 50% of incarcerated people are arrested again within two years; providing quality support and resources to these individuals is necessary to reduce crime and improve public safety.”
“Providing comprehensive reentry resources to people exiting incarceration is crucial for the successful return to their communities,” said Rep. Brown. “For example, those impacted by the criminal justice system often face challenges securing stable, affordable housing that would help foster reintegration into their communities. The “One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” would allocate $40 million in grants to establish community reentry resource centers and service hotlines that will give people leaving incarceration the tools they need to make a full transition back to their communities.”
The “One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” supports community-based reentry resources for previously incarcerated individuals who return to their communities. This legislation would authorize $10 million per year for fiscal years 2022 to 2026 for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to create a grant program to help establish holistic community reentry resource centers for formerly incarcerated individuals. The bill would also authorize the DOJ to create grants for states, tribal areas, and local governments to establish and operate reentry services assistance hotlines.
By providing a mechanism for delivering reentry services, the “One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” would help connect people exiting incarceration and those with conviction histories to the resources they need – including stable housing – to successfully return to their communities.
Specifically, the “One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act” would:
- Provide grants to community-based organizations for the creation of one-stop reentry centers, which would combine the provision of various reentry services in one location, thus making it easier for returning citizens to access them.
- Implement complete reentry services to address the critical elements of the reentry process that promote long-term reentry success. These services include housing, job training, and placement in mental health counseling.
- Increase support for recently released individuals by utilizing formerly incarcerated individuals as mentors and assistance personnel.
- Establishes a 24/7 reentry service assistance hotline to direct recently released individuals to appropriate reentry resources in their states and localities. This ensures individuals living in rural communities have access to the same resources.