Why Reentry Matters: A Collaboration of Federal and State Partners

left to right: Byron Tinsley (Veterans Affairs), Dawn Kentish (Veterans Affairs), Myra Lowery (BOP/Regional Reentry Affairs Administrator), Brandy, Stinson (Veterans Affairs), Ann Shirra (GA Department of Labor), Ed Jennings Jr. (Housing and Urban Development), John Horn (U. S. Attorney), Kurt Erskine (First Assistant U. S. Attorney), Helen J. Marberry (BOP/Regional Director), Sung Kim Chu, (Wage and Hour Division/Department of Labor), Loranzo Fleming (Assistant U. S. Attorney), Demetricus Johnson (Health and Human Services), Kerry Curtis (BOP/Supervisory Community Treatment Services - Atlanta), Front Center: Andrew Kewer (Housing and Urban Development).

left to right: (Reentry Roundtable Panel participants) Beverly Stinson (Veterans Affairs), Demetricus Johnson (Health and Human Services), Ed Jennings Jr. (Housing and Urban Development), Ann Shirra (GA Department of Labor) , Sung Kim Chu (U. S. Department of Labor), Loranzo Fleming (Assistant U. S. Attorney), Rhonda Hunter (Health and Human Services), Desmond hornton (Social Security Administration), John Horn (U. S. Attorney).

Reentry Week (https://www.justice.gov/reentry/reentry-week) was recognized the end of April as HUD Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr., along with senior leaders from the Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veteran Affairs, Georgia State Department of Labor joined the host Department to of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons in Atlanta to discuss collaboration regarding reentry of individuals from prison and jails back into the community. The representatives were part of the Southeast Reentry Roundtable Panel which addressed specific barriers to successful reentry for motivated individuals who have served their time and paid their debt in order that they may be able to compete for jobs, attain stable housing, support their children and families and contribute to their communities.

The panel discussed the impact of reentry and how it is a public safety, employment, housing, veterans and public health issue as nearly 2.3 million people are incarcerated in federal, state, and local prisons at any given time. More than 95% of these individuals will be released back to their home communities. Employment is an important predictor of a former prisoner's ability to stay crime free. Also a reciprocal relationship exists between incarceration and homelessness. Homelessness is associated with a higher risk for incarceration and incarceration contributes to an increased risk of homelessness.

More than 200,000 veterans are incarcerated in the nation's prisons and jails. Access to healthcare, including mental healthcare for newly released inmates is an important factor in keeping people from becoming homeless or returning to prison or jail. Individuals released from prisons and jails represent a substantial share of the US population carrying diseases. Appropriate interventions, especially upon return to the community represent a significant public health opportunity, too.

The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons (https://www.bop.gov/) collaborates and works together with federal and state partners as well as community partners through the Residential Reentry Center (https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/
residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp) to ensure a continuum of back out into the community. The successful road of reentry requires dedication of the offender to develop goals to overcome barriers and a commitment to equipping themselves with knowledge, skills and abilities from the reentry resources made available to them.

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