Briefing on Reentry Planning

On Monday, June 22nd, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted its monthly briefing for the Criminal Justice Policy Advisors (CJPA) network. The briefing highlighted the best practices and approaches to reentry planning, including the introduction of recent or novel programs and long-term evidence-based strategies for reducing recidivism.

Reentry is a complex and multifaceted public safety challenge. Individuals transitioning from incarceration encounter systemic barriers that affect their ability to rebuild and reintegrate post-release. These barriers can include lack of adequate housing, higher rates of substance use and mental illness, and limited education or employment opportunities. State reentry programs can improve individual outcomes, ultimately resulting in positive impacts for community stability and public safety. These programs are most effective they adopt a whole-of-government approach, aligning services, policies, and support across agencies in a way that is human centered, coordinated, and transparent.

To discuss these programs and policies, the CJPA briefing featured a presentation by Jesse Kelley with the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center. The presentation featured information and data from the Reentry 2030 program, a nationwide initiative that unites state and local leaders to pursue measurable goals toward reducing recidivism and improving individual outcomes. The Reentry 2030 program recently led to the publication of the 'Policy and Practice Guidance for the Future of Reentry,' which elevated several core principles of successful state programs, including:

• Integrated Coordination Across Systems
• Access to Safe, Stable Housing
• Economic Mobility and Employment
• Educational Opportunities
• Health and Behavioral Health Treatment and Care
• Strong Families and Social Networks

The briefing concluded with a discussion of state-level reentry programs, including strategies and best practices for building interagency cooperation, involving families and communities in reentry planning, and measuring reentry data and metrics.

NGA holds monthly briefings for Governors' Criminal Justice Policy Advisors. For more information about this or other topics, please reach out to Ken Hardy ([email protected]) and Maria Kearl ([email protected]).