TITLE
Title
APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY INTERMEDIARY AGENCY RE-ENTRY COUNCIL FUNDING ($150,000)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (Capt. Wes Mecham)
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BACKGROUND
Background
According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC), 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 a local jail. The critical issues 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 the 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 Office was originally awarded the NCDAC Re-entry Grant in 2018. It has utilized funds from this grant since that time. This grant allocates $150,000 annually to be used for providing services through the Guilford County LRC. The Sheriff's Office has utilized these funds for the past six (6) years. A contract was signed in March 2023 for the final one-year renewal of this grant.
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 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, childcare, 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
The NCDAC is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for either local government or private non-profit agencies seeking to be awarded the three (3) year grant. The awarded agencies/entities will receive $150,000 per year for an overall total of $450,000. When this grant was first instituted in 2018, the Guilford County Sheriff's Office was one of nine (9) agencies to be awarded, and it has continued to receive funds through it. The NCDAC chose to not extend the grant for an additional year at the end of the third year. Instead, it has decided to conduct an RFP for applying agencies/entities. The Sheriff's Office is seeking to participate in this RFP process for the grant and funding. The time period for this grant will be from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Authorize the Guilford County Sheriff's Office to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the NC Department of Adult Corrections Re-entry Grant in the amount of $150,000 per year over a three (3) year period, for a total amount of $450,000 in grant funding to be awarded beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
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