Press Release
☷Justice Department Releases Reentry Coordination Council Report Recommending Evidence Based Approaches to Reduce Barriers to Successful Reentry
U.S. Department of Justice ( By Press Release office)
Apr 29,2022
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U . S . Attorney General Merrick B . Garland today announced the release of a report by the Reentry Coordination Council entitled Coordination to Reduce Barriers to Reentry: Lessons Learned from COVID - 19 and Beyond . The report summarizes the Council’s interagency collaboration and offers recommendations to Congress to further reduce barriers to successful reentry for those returning from incarceration . Attorney General Garland first convened the Reentry Coordination Council in October 2021 , bringing together representatives from a wide range of federal departments , including the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development , the U . S . Department of Labor , the U . S . Department of Education , the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services , the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs , and the U . S . Department of Agriculture . Since then , the Council has held several sessions focused on learning from the expertise and experience of a variety of individuals and organizations involved in several aspects of reentry , culminating in today’s report . “Removing barriers to successful reentry for previously incarcerated individuals is an important part of the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe , uphold the rule of law , and pursue equal justice under law , ” said Attorney General Merrick B . Garland . “Whether it is safe , secure housing , employment , or food on the table , supporting formerly incarcerated people in accessing tools to reach their potential makes our communities safer and stronger . I look forward to continued collaboration with our partners across all levels of government and beyond to develop innovative , evidence - based approaches that advance our shared goals of ensuring equal access to justice and economic opportunity for all , including individuals returning from incarceration into our communities . ”Bringing multiple federal agencies together under the Reentry Coordination Council offers an opportunity to break down silos between federal agencies , to understand the broad impact of the justice system , and to pursue a comprehensive approach to reducing recidivism and promoting enhanced public safety . Today’s report provides preliminary recommendations to facilitate successful reentry , particularly addressing needs related to housing , food security , health care , education , and employment . The Council will continue its broader collaboration to identify effective strategies to promote successful reentry . In conjunction with the release of the Council’s report and to highlight April as Second Chance Month , the Justice Department’s Office for Access to Justice will host a Reentry Simulation for senior officials and staff at RCC member agencies . The goal of the Reentry Simulation is to illustrate , through a two - hour interactive experience and facilitated discussions , the significant obstacles faced by individuals returning from incarceration to the community . This learning experience will aim to encourage and inform continued collaboration across government to mitigate these barriers . The discussions will include perspectives from individuals and organizations with wide - ranging experience and expertise in promoting successful reentry .
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