Advancing Reentry Initiatives: Alabama Leaders Collaborate to Remove Barriers and Expand Opportunities
By Jakiya Dudley, Media Specialist
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Reentry Alabama, formally known as the Study Commission on Interagency Cooperation and Collaboration on the Rehabilitation of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, met yesterday to discuss key initiatives aimed at improving reintegration efforts and reducing recidivism.
Key Discussion Points:
Second Chance Month: Recognizing April as a time to highlight reentry efforts and opportunities. The Commission plans to participate by organizing events and collaborating with community partners to highlight reentry programs and success stories.
Financial Barriers: Consideration of eliminating probation fees for those struggling financially and improving the process for pausing child support payments during incarceration, aiding in post-release financial stability.
Animal Rehabilitation Programs: Exploring opportunities for incarcerated individuals to work with retired thoroughbred horses, providing both job training and therapeutic benefits for all parties involved.
Legislative Proposals: Members will present individual proposals at the next meeting for inclusion in a report to the legislature.
Employment Initiatives:
Upcoming J.F. Ingram State Technical College/ABPP Resource Fair to connect formerly incarcerated individuals with career opportunities.
State Agency Job Fair: Scheduled for April, this job fair will bring together various state agencies to recruit qualified individuals to serve Alabama.
Support for the Occupational Licensure Bill to help individuals with criminal records to gain more employment opportunities.
Alabama Department of Workforce’s Career Centers and Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Day Reporting Centers collaborate in efforts to strengthen the partnership to improve job placement services for reentering individuals.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing these initiatives to support successful reintegration.
ABOUT REENTRY ALABAMA
Reentry Alabama is tasked with reducing instances of recidivism in Alabama’s reentry population by identifying and implementing solutions that support successful reintegration after incarceration, fostering collaboration among state agencies to support reentry, expanding access to education and mental health programs, eliminating impediments to reentry, and pursuing partnerships with the private sector to create a workforce and job-opportunity pipeline for those served by reentry efforts.
Under the chairmanship of ABPP Director Cam Ward, Reentry Alabama includes Senator Will Barfoot, Senator Robert Stewart, Representative Chris England and Representative Prince Chesnut as well as representatives from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, Alabama Department of Labor, Alabama Community College System, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama Department of Mental Health, Department of Human Resources, Alabama Medicaid, Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama Veterans Affairs, Alabama Department of Youth Services and the Alabama District Attorneys Association. Additionally, several at-large members of the commission represent higher education institutions, advocacy groups and the judicial branch.
Thanks,
Jakiya Dudley
Media Specialist
E: jakiya.dudley@paroles.alabama.gov
P: 334.922.5497
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles
301 South Ripley Street Montgomery, AL 36104
W: https://paroles.alabama.gov/
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