CLASP works to help individuals who have recently been released from prison to re-enter society and reunify with their families. We promote policies to: increase the flexibility of child support policies; reduce underground employment and recidivism; increase employment opportunities and services for young people and adults who have served time; promote transitional jobs and other workforce models for individuals returning to the community; strengthen family relationships during incarceration and upon release; and increase the capacity of the child welfare system to provide appropriate services to families with incarcerated parents.
Second Chance Act Funding
The Second Chance Act of 2007, signed into law on April 9, 2008, authorizes grant funds that promote comprehensive planning and collaborative delivery of services to individuals recently released from prison. The legislation authorized a funding level of $165 million.
The omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009 provided $25 million in second chance funding, which included $15 million for grants to nonprofit organizations for mentoring and other demonstration projects and $10 million for grants to nonprofit organizations for mentoring and other transitional services. For the FY 10 budget, President Obama requested $100 million in Second Chance funding. The House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Legislation met the President's request by approving $100 million for Second Chance funding. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill. CLASP and other re-entry advocates continue to urge Congress to authorize full funding of this important legislation.
- Aaron Nelson and Vicki Turetsky | May 20, 2008 Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention
- Alan Houseman & the CLASP Staff | May 30, 2009 CLASP Federal Policy Recommendations for 2009 and Beyond
- Kirsten D. Levingston and Vicki Turetsky | Jan 30, 2008 Debtors' Prisons: Prisoners' Accumulation of Debt as a Barrier to Re-entry
- Linda Harris with Charles Modiano, consultant | Nov 13, 2006 Making the Juvenile Justice - Workforce System Connection for Re-entering Young Offenders: A Guide for Local Practice
- CLASP | Sep 01, 2009 Federal Policy Recommendations for 2009 and Beyond
- Aaron Nelson and Vicki Turetsky | May 20, 2008 Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention
- Kirsten D. Levingston and Vicki Turetsky | Jan 30, 2008 Debtors' Prison--Prisoners' Accumulation of Debt as a Barrier to Reentry
- Tiffany Conway and Rutledge Q. Hutson | Jan 30, 2008 Parental Incarceration: How to Avoid a "Death Sentence" for Families
- Vicki Turetsky | Mar 12, 2007 Staying in Jobs and Out of the Underground: Child Support Policies that Encourage Legitimate Work