U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida issued the following announcement on Oct. 1.
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced $2,662,713 in Department of Justice grants to area programs to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders returning to their communities after confinement. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of more than $92 million in funding to support reentry efforts throughout the United States.
These awards represent the Justice Department’s commitment to assisting people in America’s prisons and detention facilities who have earned the opportunity to take their places back in society.
“I am proud that we are able to make more than $2.6 million available within Northern Florida to help offenders fully reintegrate into their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “The key to reducing crime is preventing offenders from committing further crimes, and the best way we can do that is by helping them succeed as they return to their communities and establish law-abiding lives.”
The reentry and recidivism reduction grant awards will help communities develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism; support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18; and support research and evaluation programs to advance understanding about reoffending.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help them get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation.”
The following organizations received funding in the Northern District of Florida:
DISC Village, Incorporated - $899,995
- Improving Reentry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders Program
Florida Department of Corrections - $500,000
- Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice - $750,000
- Second Chance Act, Youth Offender Reentry Program
Florida State University - $512,718
- Research on Juvenile Reoffending Program
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
Original source can be found here.