- Massachusetts Probation Service
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Coria Holland, Communications Director
Second Chance Month is an observance set by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) “to inform and highlight the many opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments and community-based service providers to build meaningful second chances for people returning from incarceration.” It is also a commemoration of the Second Chance Act.
The Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS) offers a number of services and resources for individuals returning to the community. Probation works in collaboration with Community Resources for Justice (CRJ) and several state agencies to provide housing for returning citizens. This housing includes Brooke House (Boston-men); McGrath House (Boston-women); Western MA Reentry Center (West Springfield- coed); and the New Bedford Reentry Center. Probation also offers short-term sober housing -- two-months residency for state sober housing and three months for the federally-funded Project North.
During Fiscal Year 2023, the Massachusetts Trial Court funded housing for up to 600 people on a monthly average at 155 Mass Alliance of Sober Housing (MASH) certified houses across the state. This housing, funded by the Trial Court, is administered by Probation. This housing is available for all justice-involved persons, including:
- Individuals under probation supervision.
- People released from prison without supervision
- Pretrial clients sentenced to probation or parole
Probation also assists clients with enrollment into MassHealth. Approximately 252 individuals were enrolled in MassHealth with the help of MPS employees who are Certified Application Counselors.
The statewide Community Justice Support Centers provide counseling, drug testing, education and job training for clients, including returning citizens at its 18 sites.
The Suffolk Supervisor Reentry Panel, an initiative of Suffolk Superior Court Probation, is an example of a local court that provides information on resources to returning citizens.
Read the White House proclamation and visit BJA's Second Chance Month webpage for information, funding opportunities, and resources to learn about ways we can help prepare individuals for success when they return to their communities.
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