Alabama, the next Reentry 2030 State, has signed on!
Reentry 2030 is uniting leaders across the country—at the state and local levels and across justice, workforce, health, and housing sectors—around a bold goal: successful reintegration for every person with a criminal record.
Our goal is that all 50 states will sign on to Reentry 2030, committing to designing and implementing an ambitious plan to:
1. Scale up access to stable housing, education, employment skills training, behavioral health treatment, health care, and other supports for people with criminal records;
2. Clear away unnecessary barriers to opportunities and economic mobility; and
3. Advance racial equity by using data to understand and address disparities in access to services, quality of services, and outcomes.
To achieve their Reentry 2030 plan, each will commit to: (1) bringing together a diverse team of stakeholders, (2) establish public goals and milestones—such as increasing employment rates at three months post-release by 40 percent or removing all mandatory barriers to occupational licensing, and (3) track and share progress.
To support the state teams and sustain momentum, Reentry 2030 will provide guidance on policy actions, technical assistance on best practices, a national convening, and other resources and events that highlight the strategies states are undertaking to achieve their goals.
See Our Newest States
Alabama: The Next Reentry 2030 State Commits to Reducing Recidivism by 50 Percent
Friday, October 6, 2023
Highlights:
Alabama has officially become the latest state to join Reentry 2030. In partnership with The Council of State Governments Justice Center and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Alabama Bureau of Paroles and Pardons and various public and private partners commit to comprehensive reentry reform by bringing together diverse resources and expertise. Joining Missouri, a pioneer state that signed onto this initiative earlier this year, Alabama is dedicated to reshaping reentry efforts to make a lasting impact.
Their goals include the following:
- Reduce the state’s recidivism rate by 50 percent by 2030.
- Strengthen the workforce participation of formerly incarcerated Alabamians by 50 percent. The state aims to expand educational services and create employment opportunities to bolster the workforce. This includes providing access to high-demand skill sets, such as welding, forklift operations, electrical work, and tree trimming.
The launch event was held at the Perry County Probation and Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP) Center, where probationers and parolees receive rehabilitation services, such as substance use and mental health treatment, in addition to education and employment training. The Alabama Bureau of Paroles and Pardons rallied with local and state organizations involved in reentry success, including the Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama Department of Labor, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, GEO Reentry Services, and Alabama Power. Attendees heard from these entities about their support and commitment to successful reintegration and were given the opportunity to tour the PREP Center and hear about services that prepare individuals for their reentry into society.
“What we’re doing today is turning the findings of a report into a reality for our state. Alabama has a recidivism rate of 28–30 percent. We’re 25th in the country, but who wants to claim victory because we’re halfway in the middle? No, we want to be one of the best. We want to cut recidivism in half by the end of this decade. All of the partners you see here today are committed to the same goal. Together, let’s become one of the top states in the country on how we deal with recidivism.” Cam Ward, director of Alabama Bureau of Paroles and Pardons
As a pivotal part of the Reentry 2030 launch, attendees also participated in the Utility Tree Trimming Program graduation ceremony. Graduates shared their personal journeys and spoke about the invaluable support they received from the program. Their stories were a testament to the positive impact of the program on their lives, highlighting the acquisition of new skills, increased self-confidence, and their aspirations for a brighter future.
Missouri: The First Reentry 2030 State
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Highlights:
Missouri has signed on as the first Reentry 2030 State! In partnership with The Council of State Governments Justice Center and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Missouri Department of Corrections plans to work with public and private partners to support incarcerated people in finding and maintaining employment upon release.
Their goals include the following:
- 100 percent of incarcerated Missourians who need career services receive them.
- 85 percent of incarcerated Missourians are employed within 30 days of release.
- 80 percent of formerly incarcerated Missourians maintain their employment for at least nine months after release.
At the launch event, the Missouri Department of Corrections and other state and local agencies and community organizations committed to partnering to drive the success of this initiative. Attendees heard from two people with lived experience in the criminal justice system who spoke about the importance of the support they received upon reentering their communities.
“I’m so excited that we’re to the point of reimagining reentry instead of continuing what we always have done. We’re challenging the status quo. I’m so proud of the support in Missouri to make our communities better.” Anne Precythe, director of the Missouri Department of Corrections
Governor Mike Parson was also in attendance and offered his support for Reentry 2030.
“We’ve become the first state to initiate this—to say we care, and we’re really going to make a difference.” Governor Mike Parson