Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $6.5 Million in Grants to Reduce Recidivism Among Young Adults

Braintree — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that nearly $6.5 million in grants has been awarded to support nonprofits, working in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Correction and Sheriffs’ Offices, to provide reentry services for 18- to 25-year-olds returning from incarceration. The state grant funding is the latest investment by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to reduce recidivism rates and improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals and public safety for Massachusetts communities. 

The funding is made available through the FY24 Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative, a state-funded grant program administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), an agency under the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). The program invests in nonprofit service providers who have partnered with correctional facilities to provide pre-and post-release services to emerging adults returning to the community after incarceration.

The grant recipients deliver promising and evidence-based programming to help young adults avoid future contact with the criminal justice system. The program also funds a technical assistance provider that will assist the program sites with training and evaluation tools, including support for data entry, collection, and analysis. 

“Successful, evidence-based reentry programs are essential to preventing recidivism and improving outcomes for young adults who are involved in the criminal justice system. These programs help ensure they have the tools and resources needed to make sustainable, positive life changes,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This funding is an investment in meaningful, second-chance opportunities. I'm grateful to the grant recipients for their dedication to this vital work.” 

“Our administration is committed to reducing barriers to successful reentry and providing opportunities that help pave the way to a healthy and stable adulthood for many who need guidance and support. This essential grant funding helps to ensure emerging adults have access to resources that offer a pathway to a positive and sustainable way forward,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. 

The following nonprofits were awarded funding through the FY24 Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative:  

“Effective reentry initiatives significantly reduce the potential for re-offending while promoting public safety,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “The programs supported by this grant provide life-changing services and guide our justice-involved youth on a path to successful adulthood.”

“This program aims to provide emerging adults with the services necessary to ensure successful reentry, resulting in reduced recidivism and improved community safety. The programs funded through these grants are proven effective, and program partners will have additional support from a technical assistance provider to ensure the best possible outcomes for program participants and communities,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. 

Additional Reentry Initiatives 

As part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to strengthening public safety and reducing recidivism for formerly incarcerated community members, here are several additional programs focused on supporting emerging adults and improving outcomes. 

Stable Start Housing Initiative: EOPSS has partnered with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to develop a program that provides emerging adults with long-term, sustainable housing, and related services to support successful community reintegration.  

The Credible Messengers Program: This transformative mentoring initiative supports justice-involved individuals and their families in navigating the transition back into the community. The program connects returning individuals with mentors, known as “credible messengers.” The messengers, who are EOPSS employees, have similar backgrounds and shared lived experiences to those exiting the criminal justice system and, as such are uniquely positioned to serve as credible sources of advice and support. 

Post-Incarceration Reentry Services to Reduce Recidivism in the Cities of Holyoke and Springfield Funding Opportunity: OGR recently completed a competitive application process for nonprofits seeking to provide reentry services within the communities of Holyoke and Springfield. The grant opportunity is made available through funding allocated to OGR by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts through Project Safe Neighborhoods. OGR is the State Administering Agency for this federal program and other funding awarded to the Commonwealth by the Department of Justice. 

Second Chance Act Smart Supervision Program: OGR has secured approximately $850,000 in federal funds through the Department of Justice FFY23 Second Chance Act Smart Supervision Program. This influx of new funding will help enhance the delivery of care to individuals with a substance use disorder and other behavioral health disorders who are reentering the community under the supervision of the Department of Parole. 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners: OGR awarded $310,000 in federal funding through the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) grant program. The grants support jail-based and residential programs at 10 Massachusetts Sheriff’s Offices designed to reduce recidivism among the incarcerated individuals served by the programs. 

Massachusetts Parole Preparation Partnership Pilot Program: The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) has partnered with the nonprofit Massachusetts Parole Preparation Partnership (MPPP) to launch a pilot program assisting parole-eligible individuals at MCI-Norfolk in preparing transition plans for successful reentry. The program is designed to enhance public safety, reduce recidivism, and facilitate positive re-engagement with the community. 

Massachusetts ID Card Program: This program streamlines the process for individuals incarcerated at DOC facilities to obtain a state ID, addressing one of the initial challenges of reentry necessary to securing housing, employment, and services. 

No Cost Calls: DOC announced that phone calls made from facilities would no longer incur charges. This ensures equitable access to sustained communication that helps strengthen connections between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones and support systems outside prison walls. The move resulted from legislation supported by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. 

BRAVE Unit: Recognizing the need to support emerging adults living under its care, the DOC created the Building Responsible Adults through Validation and Education (BRAVE) Unit at MCI-Concord. This program provides education and builds support for successful fatherhood. With a capacity of 45 emerging adults, the participants live in a community with 15 fathers whom DOC engages as mentors. Together, the emerging adults, most between 18 and 26 years old, complete programming focused on life skills, including parenting, in a dedicated space with a unit-specific common space and a visitation room for visiting children to play. With the planned closure of MCI-Concord, BRAVE Unit programming will transition to other DOC facilities.

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