TITLE
Title
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY INTERMEDIARY AGENCY RE-ENTRY COUNCIL FUNDING ($139,806)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sheriff Danny Rogers (Dr. Lakisha Ellison, 1st. Lt. Wes Mecham)
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BACKGROUND
Background
According to the Department of Adult Corrections, more than 15,000 individuals return to their home communities after being released from North Carolina state prisons each year. In fact, about 95 percent of people in prison will eventually return to their home communities. There are also individuals, who are released, after completing a period of incarceration in the local jail. The critical issue for those returning to their community after being incarcerated is the difficult transition from prison to home.
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is the coordinating entity for the Guilford County Local Re-entry Council (LRC). Local re-entry councils are developed to coordinate resources in the local community for returning citizens, who are re-entering their community, after a period of incarceration. In an effort to provide assistance for them and their families, the LRC facilitates a better transition from incarceration back into Guilford County. The Guilford County LRC is a collaborative network of community partners, faith-based organizations, and individuals, who work together to assure a smoother transition for Guilford County and those, who are returning. They do so by being advocates for support, and they connect the justice-served and justice-involved individuals with essential services such as housing, food assistance, clothing, Mental Health services, substance use treatment, and job training and employment.
The Guilford County Sheriff's was awarded the Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) Re-entry Grant in March 2021. This grant allocated $150,000 annually to be used for providing these services through the Guilford County LRC. The Sheriff's Office has utilized these funds for the past two (2) years. A contract was signed in March 2023 for the final one year renewal of this grant. This renewal time period is from March 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024.
The FY 2023-24 adopted budget includes $447,246 of county funds to support positions used to operate the program. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is requesting the remaining unbudgeted balance of $139,806 in the DAC Re-entry Grant funding be re-appropriated to the FY 2023-24 Law Enforcement budget to be used towards re-entry council expenses. The services will be listed below.
Eligibility for Re-entry Services:
Individuals who have been incarcerated for any length of time and transitioning back into the community are eligible to participate in reentry services. However, there is a mandated priority given to those placed on probation or granted early parole. During the calendar year of 2023 the re-entry program has assisted 294 individuals. This total consists of people from the following areas of the county: High Point -152, Greensboro -129, Other County areas -13.
Services:
Conduct needs assessments
Case planning and management (ie, child care, public transportation, work related uniforms, vocational training, educational training)
Referrals for substance use and mental health services
Other Key Services:
Re-entry simulation
Clothing closet
Food pantry
Bus vouchers
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
Grant Projects Fund
FY24 NC DPS Re-Entry Council Grant
$139,806 appropriation to Grant Project
$139,806 in Federal/State Funds
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt the grant project ordinance for FY24 NC DPS Re-Entry Council Grant in the amount of $139,806, with $139,806 in federal/state funds.
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