Grant For Inmate ‘Community Re-entry’ Passes Hurdle

From Potter County Today

A $100,000 federal grant to support a “community re-entry” program at the Potter County Jail has crossed an important congressional hurdle. The project was approved last week by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee as a section of the Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill. The bill must be approved by the full Senate, the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President before funding is final.

The collaborative criminal justice, social services, job training, health, and life skills community re-entry program would serve Potter County Jail inmates and family members during the inmate’s incarceration and for six months after release from jail.

Article courtesy of the Potter County Commissioners.

Editor’s Note: A transitional housing program in coordination with Potter, Elk, and Cameron counties nearly came together last month. The program would allow up to 9 non-violent inmates to be released into a ‘transitional housing’ program that would give them an opportunity to live in a drug-free environment upon release from jail. Supporters say many of these habitual offenders could clean up their acts if just given a chance in an environment that did not promote drug use. They also argue that such a program would save tax dollars in the long run, as these inmates could be rehabilitated, lessening recidivism rates. Supporters of the program were looking at an old hotel in Cameron county, but that plan was quickly shot down after a handful of residents protested. Cameron County Commissioner Glen Fiebig opposed the plan after the complaints, and said he wanted it set in stone that the project would not take place in Cameron County. See this article for that original story.