Advocate Alert: Attorney General Holder Convenes Federal Reentry Council

9-29-2011 Washington DC:

131 Grants Awarded for Second Chance Act and Other Reentry Programs (Fiscal Year 2011)

Following Eric Holder's comments I will discuss the "Reentry Myth Busters Fact Sheets" which -I believe- every Advocate needs to be keenly aware of to help ALL former offenders. Accordingly, here is the gist of Holder's comments:

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder today (9-27-2011) convened the second meeting of the federal interagency Reentry Council to address ways to ensure those returning from prison become productive, law-abiding citizens. Among the topics discussed were $83 million in Fiscal Year 2011 funding the Department of Justice will award for Second Chance Act grants and other reentry programs as well as the latest in a series of “Reentry Myth Busters,” fact sheets intended to educate employers and others about the impact of federal laws on those who are formerly incarcerated and seeking jobs, housing and federal assistance or benefits.

Today’s federal Reentry Council meeting was attended by Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes. In addition to those agencies, the Federal Reentry Council, which meets semi-annually, also includes representatives from the Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and several other federal agencies. Its mission is to reduce recidivism and victimization; assist those returning from prison, jail or juvenile facilities to become productive citizens; and save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration.

“We must use every tool at our disposal to tear down the unnecessary barriers to economic opportunities and independence so that formerly incarcerated individuals can serve as productive members of their communities,” said Attorney General Holder. ..The Rest of his comments..

What are REENTRY MYTH BUSTER fact sheets?

Reentry Myth Buster fact sheets are intended to clarify existing federal policies that affect formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. Each year, more than 700,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Another 9 million cycle through local jails. When reentry fails, the social and economic costs are high – more crime, more victims, more family distress, and more pressure on already‐strained state and municipal budgets.

Because reentry intersects with health and housing, education and employment, family, faith, and community well‐being, many federal agencies are focusing on initiatives for the reentry population. Under the auspices of the Cabinet‐level Interagency Reentry Council, federal agencies are working together to enhance community safety and well‐being, assist those returning from prison and jail in becoming productive citizens, and save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration.

All the REENTRY MYTH BUSTER fact sheets can be found in this document: CLICK HERE. These fact sheets are important because they explain what is and what isn't possible under a specific federal law covering health, housing, education and employment and other areas. These are the areas affecting the daily life of a registrant. Advocates need to be keenly aware of these fact sheets and seek to help registrants with them.

One fact sheet covers employment (highly important to registrants) and from the above document it says:

Employers and workforce development specialists – who are interested in the incentives and protections involved in hiring formerly convicted individuals. The Reentry MythBusters are also helpful to employers (including federal agencies) who want to better understand the appropriate use of a criminal record in making hiring decisions.

That link explains the law covering how a employer must use a criminal record. i.e., what he can and cannot do under the law (Civil Rights Act). These fact sheets are tools for registrants to prevent mishandling of their criminal records, and maybe a denial to a job that the registrant is perfectly qualified for.

Now these fact sheets are not tied to any specific grant or money in any way, these fact sheets cover the laws and not grants. This is why Advocates need to understand these fact sheets and find ways to apply them in the areas where registrants currently live. There is much to learn, so please dig into them and pass them on to other Advocates so everyone can help registrants in all areas of their daily life, not just employment (my example).

For now, have a great day and a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate