The Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Second Chance Act Juvenile Offender Re-entry Program for Planning and Demonstration Project. The $50,000 grant began on Oct.1, 2011 and continues for one year. This planning grant will allow for the development of a comprehensive juvenile re-entry program for Palm Beach County.
The CJC has had a resourceful and active Re-entry Task Force since 2008; its chairwoman is Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey Haughwout. The task force’s long-term strategic plan, completed in 2009, focuses on adult re-entry. The plan addresses the necessary steps to help formerly-incarcerated adults build healthy and productive lives. The goal of the new plan is to lessen recidivism and decrease the chance that youth will enter the adult system. The CJC staff is proud to receive this grant and looks forward to implementing it.
The Second Chance Act of 2007 was passed in 2008 by the U.S. Senate and former President Bush. Funding for the program began in 2009 under President Barack Obama. Palm Beach County was the recipient of a $750,000 Second Chance Demonstration Grant for Adults in 2010. This is the county’s second award in this category.
For more information regarding the Criminal Justice Commission and its many projects, please call 561-355-2332. The CJC is a body of 33 members that support prevention and intervention.
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