Impact Justice

THE NATIONAL PREA RESOURCE CENTER

PROPOSAL FOR THE OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PREA RESOURCE CENTER

IMPACT JUSTICE (IJ) HAS SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED THE NATIONAL PREA RESOURCE CENTER (PRC) UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PREA MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO) OF THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (BJA) SINCE 2016, AND MEMBERS OF THE PRCS LEADERSHIP TEAM HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS STEWARDSHIP SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2011. IJ HAS BUILT THE EXPERTISE, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) DELIVERY SYSTEMS, AND DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS CAPACITY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING CHALLENGES THAT PREA IMPLEMENTATION POSES FOR CORRECTIONS, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. IJ PROPOSES TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE PMO TO LEVERAGE THESE RESOURCES TO MAKE MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN THE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL ABUSE IN CONFINEMENT BY EXPANDING ITS REACH THROUGH OUTREACH, DIRECT ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDING BROADER ACCESS TO REMOTE TTA, FOCUSING ITS TTA ON THE MOST PREVALENT AND PERSISTENT DEFICIENCIES IN AGENCIES PREA EFFORTS. UNDER IJ AND IN COOPERATION WITH ITS PARTNERS, THE PRC WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL PREA IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT THROUGH A LAYERED AND TAILORED APPROACH TO THE NEEDS OF THE FIELD. IJ AND ITS PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXPERT COACHING AND TA TO BJA GRANTEES; THEY WILL CONDUCT READINESS ASSESSMENTS AT NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL FACILITIES; AND THEY WILL PROVIDE ADVANCED TA AT A HANDFUL OF SITES, DIGGING INTO CRITICAL AREAS OF NEED. THE DIRECT, INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND TA WILL GENERATE RESOURCES AND LESSONS THAT CAN BE MULTIPLIED THROUGH THE PRCS REMOTE TRAINING VEHICLES. THESE RESOURCES AND LESSONS WILL ENHANCE THE ONLINE PREA 101 COURSE DELIVERED TO PEOPLE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PREA IMPLEMENTATION; INFORM WEBINARS AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS; AND ENRICH THE ASSISTANCE THE PRC DELIVERS IN RESPONSE TO FIELD INITIATED REQUESTS. THE PRC UNDER IJ WILL DELIVER THE FIRST PREA ACADEMY INVESTIGATIONS TRAINING (PAIT), AS WELL AS A COURSE ON PROTECTING LGBTI PEOPLE IN CONFINEMENT, MEETING TWO URGENT NEEDS IN THE FIELD. THE PRCS WEBSITE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR AGENCIES SEEKING TO COMPLY WITH THE PREA STANDARDS, PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES IN ITS LIBRARY AND SUPPORTING ACCESS TO IJS TEAM OF UNPARALLELED EXPERTS. IJS WORK TO PILOT AND SHARE A CULTURE CHANGE TOOL WITH THE FIELD WILL HELP FACILITIES REACH THE NEXT LEVEL OF THEIR WORK TO ADVANCE SEXUAL SAFETY. IJ HAS THE UNIQUE STAFF COMPETENCY, RELATIONSHIPS, TTA, AUDIT SUPPORT AND MONITORING SYSTEMS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE UNPARALLELED SUPPORT IN THE DELIVERY OF PREA-RELATED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS THE PRC PERSISTS IN ITS MISSION.

FY19 SITE-BASED PREA SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION

PREA PROGRAM STRATEGIC SUPPORT FOR PREA IMPLEMENTATION IN LOCAL CONFINEMENT FACILITIES NATIONWIDE

IMPACT JUSTICE (IJ) COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY HOUSING INCUBATOR INITIATIVE WILL TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE OF EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING PRACTICES IN REENTRY HOUSING TO 20 CULTURALLY SPECIFIC CBOS (THREE COHORTS OF SIX-SEVEN CBOS; UP TO $140,000 TO IMPLEMENT, SUSTAIN, OR EXPAND REENTRY HOUSING PROGRAMS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS). IJ WILL ADMINISTER GRANTS AND PROVIDE TTA TO HELP CBOS BUILD CAPACITY TO MEET REENTRY NEEDS; SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS; AND SUSTAIN; SCALE AND EVALUATE PROGRAMMING. WITH A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFULLY MANAGING LARGE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS AND DELIVERING EFFECTIVE TTA TO COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IJ IS WELL POSITIONED TO BUILD A REENTRY CAPACITY-BUILDING MODEL. THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY HOUSING INCUBATOR INITIATIVE, IJ WILL SERVE AS AN INTERMEDIARY WITH BJA TO DELIVER SUBAWARD FUNDING TO 20 CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC CBOS (THREE COHORTS OF SIX TO SEVEN EACH) AND PROVIDE TTA TO SUSTAIN THEIR EFFORTS. IJ WILL FEATURE A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, WHICH PRIORITIZES ACCESS TO A DECENT, SAFE PLACE TO LIVE WITHOUT PRE-CONDITIONS AND BEST POSITIONS THE INDIVIDUAL TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, REDUCE HARMFUL BEHAVIORS, AND BECOME EMPLOYED. THIS IN TURN LEADS TO DECLINING RECIDIVISM RATES, REUNITED FAMILIES, AND HEALING. THE COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY HOUSING INCUBATOR INITIATIVE WILL OCCUR OVER FOUR PHASES: 1) RFP PROCESS; 2) CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING; 3) ADMINISTERING RESOURCES AND TTA; AND 4) PROCESS EVALUATION. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL BE CBOS AND FAITH-BASED REENTRY PROVIDERS WORKING WITH PEOPLE AT MODERATE TO HIGH RISK FOR RECIDIVISM UPON LEAVING INCARCERATION AND DURING REENTRY, WHOSE SERVICES ARE PRIMARILY DIRECTED TOWARD RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS. SMALL CBOS AND NEWLY ESTABLISHED CBOS WILL BE ELIGIBLE. IJ WILL ADMINISTER BOTH PROGRAMMATIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENTS TO INFORM INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUILDING PLANS TO IMPROVE ITS REENTRY HOUSING PROGRAMMING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE LINCS VALIDATED SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR DETERMINING READINESS FOR IMPLEMENTING A REENTRY CONTINUUM TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF ADOPTED FRAMEWORK COMPONENTS IN PLACE FOR REENTRY AND TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED. IJ WILL ALSO ADMINISTER THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE (CNCS) ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY ASSESSMENT TOOL TO DETERMINE STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES IN LEADERSHIP, SERVICE CAPACITY, MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, EVALUATION ABILITIES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THROUGH $900,000 IN GRANT FUNDING UNDER CATEGORY 2 OF THE SECOND CHANCE ACT IMPROVING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES, GROWING JUSTICE WILL IMPLEMENT AN INNOVATIVE PRISON-BASED VERTICAL FARM JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WITH EMPLOYMENT MATCHING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 75 WOMEN AT CAMILLE GRAHAM CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. LED BY IMPACT JUSTICE (IJ), A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ADVANCING EQUITY AND JUSTICE, THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A SPECIALIZED, 200-HR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, INCLUDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE. GROWING JUSTICE WILL ALSO FEATURE A JOB MATCHING PROGRAM INVOLVING A MINIMUM OF FIVE NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMPANIES IN THE EMERGING CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE SECTOR. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WILL SERVE AS THE CORRECTIONAL PARTNER, AMPLIFIEDAG AND SKOUT STRATEGY, INC. WILL BRING THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A VERTICAL FARMING SITE ON THE PRISON GROUNDS, AND ROOT & REBOUND WILL PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES PRE AND POST-RELEASE. PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSION IS TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND GROWING JUSTICE WILL REMOVE BARRIERS TO LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN, INCLUDING WOMEN OF COLOR. GROWING JUSTICE WILL ENTAIL AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL DEMAND FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE SURROUNDING URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN RICHLAND COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA (WHERE THE TARGET POPULATION IS LIKELY TO REENTER BASED ON FAMILY TIES OR LOCATION OF ARREST), ESTABLISH NEW EMPLOYER CONNECTIONS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR (IN WHICH WOMEN HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED), CONDUCT INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER PLANNING FOR PARTICIPANTS TO OPTIMIZE REENTRY OUTCOMES, TRACK/MONITOR EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES, AND SOLICIT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO ENSURE THAT PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS (RACIAL EQUITY AND REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT) ARE MET. IJ HAS ASSEMBLED ITS ROBUST GROWING JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE THE PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE MET, WHICH INCLUDE EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH NEW JOB SKILLS, CAREER PLANNING/JOB CONNECTIONS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF RECIDIVISM AFTER INCARCERATION. AS AN ADDED BENEFIT, GROWING JUSTICE WILL PRODUCE NUTRIENT-RICH LEAFY GREENS, WHICH WILL BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT PRISON MEALS AND ADDRESS MALNOURISHMENT ISSUES STEMMING FROM A GENERAL LACK OF FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD IN PRISON. GROWING JUSTICE AIMS TO SERVE AS A SUSTAINABLE REENTRY MODEL FOR OTHER PRISONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IMPACT JUSTICE’S PROJECT “A NEW APPROACH TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DELIVERY FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DIVERSION” WILL DELIVER AND EVALUATE A NEW TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STRATEGY FOR PRE-PROSECUTION RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD CAPACITY AND READINESS AMONG COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, ALONG WITH LOCAL SYSTEMS PARTNERS, TO LAUNCH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1) DOCUMENT AND DISSEMINATE LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT RJD FROM AN EXISTING GROUP OF RJD PARTNERS, 2) EXPAND VIRTUAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW SITES EXPLORING PRE-PROSECUTION RJD FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, AND 3) EVALUATE THE RJD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DELIVERY METHOD.  PRIMARY GRANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EXPLORING THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER SITES WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED RJD; DEVELOPING A ROBUST ONLINE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP CURRICULUM; DELIVERING TWO NINE-MONTH ONLINE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PILOT WORKSHOPS TO EIGHT NEW PARTNER SITES; PLANNING AND FACILITATING TWO IN-PERSON CONVENINGS FOR PARTICIPATING SITES; AND EVALUATING THIS NEW BLENDED STRATEGY IN COMPARISON TO A 1:1, IN-PERSON APPROACH TO RJD TTA. THIS GRANT PROJECT WILL ADDRESS A PRECIPITOUS INCREASE IN CRIME AND/OR TYPE OF CRIME BY USING PRE-PROSECUTION RESTORATIVE JUSTICE DIVERSION TO TARGET AND REDUCE FELONY AND/OR OTHER HIGH-LEVEL TYPES OF SERIOUS CRIMES COMMITTED BY YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THIS APPROACH IS ASSOCIATED WITH MUCH LOWER RATES OF RECIDIVISM, PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROMOTES HEALING AMONG SURVIVORS. IMPACT JUSTICE’S PRE-PROSECUTION RJD MODEL ALSO RESPONDS TO PERSISTENT RACIAL INJUSTICE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PRIORITIZING SITES LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND FORMERLY SYSTEMS-IMPACT PEOPLE, AND TAILORING THE PROGRAM DESIGN TO PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY. IMPACT JUSTICE SEEKS PRIORITY CONSIDERATION 1(A); DOCUMENTATION OF PLANS TO RESPOND TO PRIORITY CONSIDERATION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 9-10 OF IMPACT JUSTICE’S PROPOSAL NARRATIVE. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ALLOWABLE USES/ACTIVITIES: -ACCELERATING JUSTICE THROUGH THE CREATION OF APPROACHES AND TOOLS THAT BUILD THE CAPACITY TO GATHER AND ANALYZE INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND KEY DECISION POINTS AND LEVERS FOR CHANGE (50% OF BUDGET).  -BUILDING ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES AND SYSTEMS SUCH AS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE APPROACHES AND DIVERSION TO ENHANCE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THOSE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (50% OF BUDGET)

IMPACT JUSTICE WILL COMPLETE A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING REGIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT BY PRISONS AND JAILS WITHIN THE SIX NEW ENGLAND STATES MAINE NEW HAMPSHIRE VERMONT MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ENTITY DESIGNED TO CONNECT NEW ENGLAND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS INCLUDING FARMERS RANCHERS AND PROCESSORS. THE CORE ACTIVITY INVOLVES A TWOYEAR ASSESSMENT BEGINNING WITH A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF FOOD PROCUREMENT NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE FACILITIES. SUBSEQUENTLY THE PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE BARRIERS PREVENTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL PRODUCERS FROM SUPPLYING FOOD HUBS TO THESE INSTITUTIONS IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A CONSULTANCY MODELA COOPERATIVE OWNED AND OPERATED BY INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY INCARCERATIONTO FACILITATE FARMTOCORRECTIONS PROCUREMENT. THIS CONSULTANCY WOULD ACT AS A CENTRAL RESOURCE STREAMLINING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD SUPPLIERS AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS WORK INCLUDE THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THEMSELVES THE REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL OPERATE THE NEW CONSULTANCY.

INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS DESCRIBING DISPARITIES IN THE PATHWAYS INTO INCARCERATION FOR LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, QUESTIONING, GENDER NONCONFIRMING AND T