Committee hears bill to expand use of Veteran Reentry Search Service in jails; supporters cite reentry benefits and advocates note privacy questions The Veterans and Military Development Committee accepted a substitute to Senate Bill 179 and heard proponent testimony from retired Judge Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and Mayshayla Burris of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center on using the Veterans Reentry Search Service (VRSS) to identify veterans in jails and connect them to services; lawmakers asked about data access and protections.

Ohio lawmakers are pushing forward a game-changing bill to enhance the Veterans Reentry Search Service, aiming to connect justice-involved veterans with critical support services.

Learn more here

#OH #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #VeteranServices #JusticeReform

Committee backs residency limit for groups of level‑2 and level‑3 registered offenders after contentious testimony The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee gave HB 2870 a due‑pass recommendation after heated testimony from Chandler neighbors and reentry operators. The bill prohibits multiple level‑2/level‑3 registered offenders from cohabiting in an unsupervised single‑family dwelling, with limited grandfathering for supervised facilities.

Arizona's Senate committee is stirring up controversy by advancing a bill that could drastically change where level-2 and level-3 registered offenders can live, igniting fears and debates among residents and advocates alike.

Get the details!

#AZ #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

This photograph was taken during a Right Road Re-entry (RRJ) class facilitated by Lou Kelly. The Right Road Re-entry program is conducted at RRJ Monday-Thursday & is delivered as an interactive journaling curriculum.
#FailsafeERA #ReentrySupport #BreakingTheCycle #PrisonToPurpose

Two people sitting at a desk in an office setting, one holding a resume. ILR Yang-Tan Institute Logo. DWDC - Empowering Second Chances: Strategies for Supporting Individuals with Felony Convictions in the Job Market. May 7, 2026, 2-3:00 pm ET.

Join us May 7th to discuss supporting job seekers with felony convictions, offering practical strategies, employer insights, and guidance toward felony-friendly opportunities and second chances.
#ReentrySupport
📍CRC available
🗓 May 7, 2026
⏰ 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
👉 Register: ytionline.org/webinars/90

Know someone returning home from incarceration? Right Road Reentry provides mentorship, restorative justice conversations, & personal development support for returning citizens. Share this opportunity with someone who needs a strong start.

#FailsafeERA #ReentrySupport

Decatur County community corrections approves grant application amid anticipated state cuts Decatur County Community Corrections voted to submit a grant application to the state and to request larger 2027 funding after staff warned of an estimated $20 million statewide reduction in community corrections funding; members were told to list full department spending so cuts are visible to state reviewers.

Decatur County Community Corrections is taking a bold step by submitting a crucial grant application amid alarming state budget cuts that could slash $20 million from community funding!

Get the details!

#DecaturCounty #IN #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #CommunityCorrections

Peter Stein urges online courses for longer‑stay inmates as low‑cost reentry option At a Tompkins County CJ ATI meeting, Peter Stein outlined a data‑driven plan to target inmates with longer stays for self‑paced online education (GED, computer literacy, job skills) as a low‑cost reentry strategy; members flagged supervision, equipment and eligibility hurdles.

Peter Stein's innovative proposal for online education could transform the lives of long-term jail inmates, turning their confinement into a pathway for success.

Learn more here

#TompkinsCounty #NY #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #CriminalJusticeInnovation #TompkinsCountyJail

Tompkins County task force urges formal reentry team, explores nonprofit partners and remote assessments A Tompkins County criminal-justice task force recommended formalizing a reentry team with dedicated case management, expanding prerelease assessments via remote video, and exploring nonprofit partners and grant funding to scale post-release supports.

A groundbreaking task force in Tompkins County is pushing for a dedicated reentry team and innovative remote assessments to transform the future of incarceration and support for those in custody.

Learn more here!

#TompkinsCounty #NY #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #SubstanceUseAssessments

OAR asks for $70,000 to staff college‑access program for formerly incarcerated residents OAR and College Initiative Upstate requested $70,000 to fund a director and part‑time assistant to run a college‑access program for people leaving jail or prison; presenters cited pilot metrics and said SUNY's removal of the conviction checkbox will ease access.

A groundbreaking college-access initiative for formerly incarcerated individuals is seeking $70,000 to expand its life-changing support program, which boasts a remarkable recidivism rate of just 3.2%.

Learn more here

#TompkinsCounty #NY #HigherEducationAccess #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal

Family members press OCO on missing legal mail, appeal timelines and communications Participants at the Office of the Corrections Ombuds quarterly meeting raised cases of undelivered legal mail, asked whether DOC publishes appeal timelines, and sought clarity about OCO jurisdiction and complaint channels; Jeremiah directed family members to OCO’s online complaint form and noted jurisdiction ends after release.

Family members voiced urgent concerns at the OCO quarterly meeting, highlighting issues like undelivered legal mail and confusing appeal timelines that could jeopardize reentry plans.

Get the details!

#WA #CivicAccountability #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #LegalMailIssues

FailSafe-ERA is excited to be an exhibitor at the Community Connections Expo on Tuesday, March 17 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Fredericksburg Convention Center!

#FailSafeERA #CommunityConnections #FredericksburgVA #StrongerTogether #CommunityResources #ReentrySupport

Committee advances bill requiring KDOC to provide IDs and work records before release to consent calendar The Kansas committee advanced HB 2653, which directs the secretary of corrections to ensure inmates have birth certificates, Social Security cards and ID or driver's licenses and to provide vocational and work records before release; supporters said the measure formalizes existing reentry practices and takes effect July 1 if adopted.

Kansas is taking a significant step towards reducing recidivism by ensuring inmates have essential identification and work records before their release.

Learn more here

#KS #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #KansasCorrections #JusticeReform #EmploymentAccess

Senate committee hears bill to let community-based facilities help inmates get state IDs At a first hearing on House Bill 393, sponsors Representatives Klick and Darnell Brewer told the Senate Addiction and Community Revitalization Committee the bill would let community-based correctional facilities assist people in obtaining state identification before release, aiming to reduce barriers to housing, benefits and employment. Committee members requested participation estimates and measures of success.

A new bill aims to empower community-based correctional facilities to help incarcerated individuals secure crucial state IDs, breaking down barriers to housing, employment, and essential services.

Learn more here!

#OH #ReentrySupport #CriminalJusticeReform #CitizenPortal #AccessToServices

Supporters tell Senate committee raising prison indigent threshold to $100 would reduce debts and aid reentry Testimony before the Senate Human Services Committee on Feb. 18 backed Substitute House Bill 2539, which would raise the incarcerated indigent account threshold from $25 to $100; witnesses cited rising commissary prices and family burdens while staff noted a DOC fiscal note and IT costs.

A proposed bill could raise the indigent threshold for incarcerated individuals from just $25 to $100, potentially easing financial burdens and improving their access to essentials.

Learn more here!

#WA #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #FinancialEducation #CriminalJustice

Judiciary committee report finds Alaska Native share of prison population rose to 42% in 2023 A report required by House Bill 66 (2024) shows Alaska Native and American Indian people comprised about 35% of Department of Corrections populations in 2016 and about 42% in 2023. Senators urged expansion of restorative-justice programs and reductions in reentry barriers; the report will be heard Friday.

The alarming rise of Alaska Native and American Indian individuals in correctional facilities has surged to 42%, sparking urgent calls for restorative justice reforms.

Learn more here!

#AK #CivicAccountability #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #RestorativeJustice #AlaskaCorrections

Committee reviews H.549 draft to give DOC role in gathering ID documents and expand zero‑fee credentials for incarcerated and detained people The House Corrections & Institutions Committee on Feb. 17 reviewed draft H.549 (1.2), which would require the Department of Corrections to collect documentation and coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles so people sentenced or detained six months or more can obtain non‑driver IDs, replacement driver licenses (if expired ≤3 years) and replacement learner permits (if expired ≤2 years); DMV said basic credentials would be issued at no cost and the bill proposes staggered effective dates to allow implementation.

A new bill could transform re-entry for incarcerated individuals by ensuring they receive essential identification and driving credentials before their release.

Click to read more!

#VT #CivicAccountability #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #IdentificationAccess #VermontCorrections

Huge thanks to St. Margaret Mary Circle 11 for packing Welcome Home Bags 🧡 Supporting #RISE grads with essentials to rebuild lives! #Nebraska #ReentrySupport #Community #OmahaVolunteers

Committee refines H.549 to speed IDs for people leaving custody, delays detainee expansion The House Corrections & Institutions committee agreed to tighten H.549’s language so DOC and DMV coordinate to provide non‑driver IDs and, when eligible, driver credentials to people leaving custody; members removed detainees from the immediate expansion for logistical and IT reasons and asked counsel to redraft.

Vermont's House committee is streamlining ID issuance for those leaving custody, but will detainees have to wait for their turn?

Get the details!

#VT #IDAccessibility #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #VermontCorrections #CriminalJusticeReform

Joint Finance examines corrections budget as DOC seeks $515.8 million; lawmakers focus on rising off‑site health costs and Plummer closure The Joint Finance Committee heard the Department of Correction’s FY27 operating request of $515,778,500 and pressed officials on steep off‑site medical and pharmacy contract costs. Commissioner Tara Taylor outlined staffing gains and plans to redeploy services after the planned closure of the Plummer Community Corrections Center, while members and nonprofit speakers urged stronger reentry supports and housing solutions.

Delaware's Joint Finance Committee confronts a staggering $515.8 million corrections budget, spotlighting the soaring costs of off-site healthcare and the controversial closure of the Plummer Community Corrections Center.

Click to read more!

#DE #HealthCareCosts #ReentrySupport

Parole panel grants supervised release to man serving 25-year sentence despite DA objection The Louisiana Committee on Parole voted to grant parole to Derek Sherman, a first‑class offender serving a 25‑year sentence, imposing supervision conditions and approving transfer under the interstate compact to Colorado after family testimony and program completion; the Rapides Parish DA urged denial.

Derek Sherman, serving 25 years for a horrific crime, has been granted parole despite the District Attorney's objections, thanks to family support and completed rehabilitation programs.

Click to read more!

#LA #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #LouisianaParole #CriminalJustice #VictimImpact

Panel advances enabling bill to restore voting rights on release from incarceration The subcommittee reported house bill 9 64, the enabling legislation for House Joint Resolution 2, which outlines how voting rights and voter registration would be restored upon release from incarceration and directs correctional facilities to transmit release information to the Department of Elections; the bill was reported 6–2 with amendment.

Virginia is taking a bold step towards democracy by advancing a bill that automatically restores voting rights upon release from incarceration, ensuring seamless registration for all!

Click to read more!

#VA #VotingAccess #ReentrySupport #DemocraticParticipation #CitizenPortal

Parole committee approves several releases, revokes one and denies another during Feb. 3 docket On Feb. 3 the Committee on Parole granted parole to multiple inmates under reentry plans, revoked parole for an absconder, denied parole to a sex‑offense inmate, and continued or postponed other revocation hearings to allow counsel or court actions to proceed.

The Committee on Parole made significant decisions on Feb. 3, granting parole to several inmates while revoking and denying others in a dramatic session that reflects the complexities of rehabilitation and justice.

Click to read more!

#LA #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal #LouisianaParole

Family-Centered Reforms to Address the Rise of Incarcerated Mothers The United States presently has the highest incarceration rate in the world, accounting for approximately 5% of the world’s population, yet housing 20% of the world’s incarcerated

To read this @scholars.org article, click here: scholars.org/contribution... (3/4)
#MassIncarceration #WomenAndJustice #IncarceratedMothers #ParentalRights #FosterCare #FamilyFirst #CriminalJusticeReform #TraumaInformedCare #ReentrySupport

Committee hears bill to create institutional welfare account and require incarcerated-person feedback on spending SB 6,085 would move the incarcerated individual betterment fund into a new Institutional Welfare Account, require 25% of receipts go to crime victims compensation, allow specified expenditures (family visits, recreation, subscriptions), and mandate annual public reporting and incarcerated-person feedback; supporters said it improves accountability, while some asked for clarifications on law-library funding and appropriation mechanics.

A new bill aims to transform how funds for incarcerated individuals are managed, ensuring their voices are heard while supporting vital services like family visits and recreation.

Read the full story

#WA #ReentrySupport #VictimCompensation #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability

Senate Institutions reviews bill to give sentenced inmates Vermont driver credentials before release Committee reviewed revised DMV language to allow sentenced inmates to receive replacement driver's licenses, learner permits or non-driver IDs before release if they provide required documentation; discussion focused on eligibility limits, MOU logistics, documentation burdens and program scale.

Vermont is considering a groundbreaking bill that would allow sentenced inmates to obtain replacement driver’s licenses or learner permits for free before their release!

Click to read more!

#VT #CriminalJusticeReform #VermontCorrectionalReentry #PublicSafety #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal

Alabama DOC outlines expanded in‑prison programming, education partnerships and reentry supports The Alabama Department of Corrections told the Joint Prison Oversight Committee it is expanding residential, vocational and reentry programming—highlighting a Bibb facility conversion, partnerships with JF Ingram State Technical College and Alabama Correctional Industries, and a federal distance‑learning equipment grant of about $1 million; lawmakers pressed DOC on access and outcomes.

The Alabama Department of Corrections is transforming prisons into educational hubs, offering inmates life-changing vocational training and support for successful reentry into society.

Click to read more!

#AL #SubstanceUseTreatment #ReentrySupport

(4/4) #EndMassIncarceration #EquityInPolicy #WomenAndJustice #ReentrySupport #IGEPS #GenderEquityInThePublicSector #JusticeReform #Decarceration #MothersBehindBars #FamilySeparation #ReproductiveJustice #BreakingCycles #PublicPolicy #InclusiveGovernance #EvidenceBasedPolicy #CommunityBasedSolutions

Committee advances SB136 to finance after clarifying probation reduction process Senate Courts of Justice advanced SB136, which would let courts decrease probation periods without always holding a hearing and incorporates work‑group recommendations; the committee adopted technical line amendments and re-referred the bill to the Finance Committee (Ayes 13, No 2).

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee has taken a groundbreaking step by advancing SB136, a bill that could streamline probation reductions and reward positive behavior without the need for a hearing.

Read the full story

#VA #VictimRights #VirginiaProbation #CriminalJustice #ReentrySupport

Committee advances bill easing sealing rules for some nonviolent convictions and removing a one‑shot limit for nonconvictions CS for SB 810 removes Florida's one‑shot rule for sealing nonconviction records and permits one-time sealing of one nonviolent low‑level misdemeanor conviction after eligibility verification and judicial review; sponsors and defense groups supported the change, while senators asked procedural and timing questions.

Florida is on the verge of major reforms that could change the lives of many by easing the sealing of nonviolent convictions and removing the one-shot limit for nonconvictions.

Get the details!

#FL #JudicialAccountability #RecordSealingReform #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal

Senate committee backs bill to preserve in‑state tuition residency for formerly incarcerated students The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary unanimously reported Senate Bill 720 favorably, a three‑line change that would prevent incarceration from automatically stripping previously established Florida residency for tuition purposes and ease reentry into education.

A groundbreaking bill just passed in Florida, ensuring formerly incarcerated individuals can reclaim their in-state tuition residency and access education without barriers.

Click to read more!

#FL #EducationAccess #IncarcerationReform #ReentrySupport #CitizenPortal