Bill Overview
Title: One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021
Description: This bill authorizes grants to support community-based reentry resources for previously incarcerated individuals who return to their communities. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for community-based nonprofit organizations to create community reentry centers. Second, the bill authorizes DOJ to make grants for states, Indian tribes, and local governments to operate reentry services assistance hotlines.
Sponsors: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Target Audience
Population: Previously incarcerated individuals reentering society
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill focuses on providing resources for previously incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.
- Reentry services are crucial for individuals who have recently been released from prison or jail.
- The services include community reentry centers and assistance hotlines, which are targeted at easing the transition back into society.
- Individuals affected by this bill are likely to include those who have been incarcerated for a period and are seeking assistance in reintegrating into their community.
- Globally, the prison population is significant, meaning many communities will have people who benefit from such services.
- The bill also involves grants for states, Indian tribes, and local governments, indicating a broad geographical and demographic reach within those areas.
Reasoning
- This policy is specifically targeting previously incarcerated individuals who are reentering society, as they often face significant barriers to reintegration.
- The program's grants will be limited by a budget which means not all individuals in the target population will receive support immediately; thus, the impact assessment should consider varying levels of impact.
- Simulating interviews with a diverse range of individuals within this population allows us to capture different levels of need and potential benefit.
- The wellbeing scores will offer insights into how the policy can improve perceived life satisfaction of these individuals over time, noting that reentry services typically address employment, housing, and psychological support, which are key determinants of wellbeing.
- The impact on wellbeing will vary, with those receiving direct support likely experiencing medium to high impacts, while others may see no change yet.
Simulated Interviews
unemployed (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel like I really need some guidance to get back on my feet.
- Job hunting has been really tough, and I could use some help accessing resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
part-time retail (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this program can help with housing as that's my biggest worry right now.
- Having consistent support could really improve my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
construction worker (Austin, TX)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Overall, I've managed okay, but more structured help would really benefit others like me.
- Programs like this can reduce how many people go back to crime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
freelance artist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think expanding these programs is vital for our community.
- Getting help can be a game-changer, especially in accessing mental health resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
self-employed (Rural Alabama)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in a rural area, accessing re-entry help is hard, I hope this changes that.
- Sometimes it feels like I've been left behind just because of where I live.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
cab driver (New York, NY)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Current help has been okay, but there’s always room for more.
- Having more places to turn to can prevent people from repeating mistakes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For someone my age, these programs can be life-changing.
- Education is my priority, and I hope reentry centers can help me stay on track.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
chef (Orlando, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having come a long way, programs continuing to support skill-building help a lot.
- Staying out of trouble requires constantly improving oneself, so anything to assist is great.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
warehouse worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Handling finances post-release is tough, more focused help can keep me stable.
- These grants can boost the confidence we need to apply ourselves without slipping back to old ways.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
unemployed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Family support is great, but job help is what I need most right now.
- Reentry services can make all the difference when trying to find work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $16000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $19000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $18000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $21000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $24000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $28000000)
Key Considerations
- The long-term effectiveness of reentry programs is crucial for realizing hypothesized savings in the criminal justice system.
- Successful reintegration depends on comprehensive and tailored local support mechanisms, which require consistent funding and policy attention.
- Inter-jurisdictional coordination will be required to tailor reentry programs to local conditions and populations.