Nonprofits partner with Sheriff’s Offices & Department of Correction to deliver services
Braintree — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced grants for six nonprofits to provide reentry services to individuals aged 18 to 25 as they return to the community.
The Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative provides annual grant funding to support collaborative reentry programs aimed at reducing recidivism and improving outcomes among young people transitioning from incarceration. Funded programs partner with facilities operated by Sheriff’s Offices or the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) to deliver pre- and post-release services to program participants. The grant program also funds a Technical Assistance Provider to support grantees and promote program success. In total, $6,475,000 was awarded through the FY25 Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative. The state-funded program is managed by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR).
“Quality reentry programs are essential to preventing recidivism and improving outcomes for young adults. The Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative combines evidence-based programming with ongoing technical assistance and strong collaboration between partner agencies and service providers. This approach creates the best possible outcomes for system-involved young adults and communities across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey.
“Central to this program’s success is the continuum of services it ensures for young people at each step of their reentry process. It sets a framework to deliver services while an individual prepares for their release from incarceration and continues to provide critical programming as they navigate their reentry into the community,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
A report prepared by the Technical Assistance Provider found that, during 2023, participants in programs funded through the Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative committed new offenses at a rate lower than the national average. The report, created by UTEC’s Training Center for Excellence, found that only 24 percent of program participants had a new arraignment in the first year following their release from incarceration. Research from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that, nationally, approximately 43 percent of individuals were rearrested at least once during their first year of release.
“Successful reentry is critical to community safety. Services offered through this program can dramatically reduce the likelihood that a young person will commit a new offense. This not only creates a better future for individuals participating in the program, but also improves public safety for all of Massachusetts,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy.
“I’m grateful to Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll and the Legislature for their ongoing support of this program. Evidence-based and data-driven programming like this is a smart investment that reduces recidivism and improves safety in our communities. I’m proud of the work my agency has done to enhance public safety and improve outcomes for young people as they return to the community,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.
FY25 Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative grant funds were awarded to:
| Award Recipient | Program Partner(s) | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. | Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department | $650,000 |
| Roca, Inc. | DOC, Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. MA Probation | $1,609,000 |
| UTEC | DOC, Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Sherrif’s Department | $1,200,000 |
| The Mission Inc. | Hampden County Sheriff’s Office | $1,300,000 |
| Uncornered, Inc | Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office | $691,000 |
| Legendary Legacies, Inc. | Worcester County Sheriff’s Office | $500,000 |
taken from https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-over-64-million-for-emerging-adult-reentry-services
