U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey has earmarked a $2.2 million Department of Justice grant for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile offenders after confinement.
Awarded by the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs, the grants are part of more than $92 million in funding to support reentry efforts throughout the U.S.
“Former offenders are ultimately responsible for their own successes and failures, but our criminal and juvenile justice systems have an important role to play in preparing them for the obstacles that lie before them,” says OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine Sullivan. “I’m very pleased to make these resources available to help them get back on their feet and contribute to the prosperity of their communities and the betterment of our nation.”
The reentry and recidivism reduction grants are intended to help communities develop and implement strategies to address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism, support reentry services for detained juveniles and incarcerated parents with children under the age of 18, and support research and evaluation programs to advance understanding about re-offending, Overbey says.
“The main function of our office is the prosecution of serious and violent offenders, but prosecutions alone will not ensure public safety over the long term,” Overbey adds. “”Lowering recidivism is a complex matter and involves a variety of factors like treating addiction, mental health and providing access to employment. Our office will continue to increase our capacity to assist in the reentry of East Tennesseans.”
Source: U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey