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September 26, 2007

R.I. money to help women ex-cons avoid criminal life

The state Department of Corrections is getting more than $294,000 for a program that aims to help women who've been imprisoned make a smoother transition into society and avoid committing more crimes.

The U.S. Justice Department awarded the money, according to a news release today from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed's office. Known as Prisoner Reentry Initiative, it's given to state and local governments to come up with and carry out programs for ex-convicts. A goal is to help prevent them from resuming a life of crime by helping them find work and access to community services

Rhode Island's Department of Corrections will use the money to:

* Enhance vocational training for female inmates by expanding computer literacy and culinary arts training.

* Expand the use of risk/needs assessment to all sentenced women.

* Provide training on "gender-responsive principles" to all staff in the women’s prisons.

* Hire a specialist who will give planning/outreach services to the highest risk women immediately after release from prison. Corrections plans to overhaul its current risk/need assessment method.

“This federal funding will allow the Rhode Island Department of Corrections to overhaul and strengthen its prisoner reentry program for women,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, a member of the subcommittee that oversees federal spending on criminal justice. He added: "Giving these women job-skill training, substance abuse treatment, and other support services will give them the opportunity to successfully transition back into society as law-abiding citizens."

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 3:24 PM | Permalink

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