By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
NEW YORK — The New York Department of Corrections received a grant that will be used to enhance services for individuals who are at a high risk of recidivism in DOC custody, the DOC announced in a press release.
The Department of Correction’s Programs and Community Partnerships Division was awarded the Bureau of Justice Assistance Fiscal Year 23 Smart Reentry: Expanding Jail Programs and Services grant.
The $498,500 grant will be used toward re-entry services and initiatives. These programs target underlying systems that cause criminal behavior which can have an impact on recidivism rates.
“As commissioner, I have stressed the importance of expanding effective programming for incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and violence. Those in the field of corrections must use every tool and strategy at their disposal to provide people in custody with the resources they need to seamlessly transition back into their communities,” said DOC Commissioner Louis Molina in a press release. “This grant and the progress it will support is another example of how the Adams administration continues to take a holistic approach to improving public safety in our city. I’m pleased the Department of Justice has seen the success we are achieving in New York City and invested in our department to continue that great work.”
The DOC’s team plans to aid at least 70 high-risk individuals annually, offering intensive post-release services and re-entry plans. They will work with these individuals to overcome obstacles and inspire positive change.
Group interventions will cover areas like cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, and trauma-informed curriculum such as seeking safety and relapse prevention. In addition, collaboration with local organizations will provide help to those needing post-release services like housing, employment and access to public benefits.
Planners will offer enhanced support by boosting the number of one-on-one sessions with individuals who show difficulties in achieving their objectives or exhibit behaviors that impede their progress. The department intends to evaluate its success by tracking the completion of service plans by discharge planners, gauging individuals’ engagement in personalized services, monitoring incidents and observing community recidivism rates.