U.S. Attorney’s Office Spearheads Reentry Efforts During National Reentry Week

FORT WORTH/DALLAS — As part of National Reentry Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas hosted two events yesterday related to the Department of Justice’s efforts to make our criminal justice system more fair, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities.

“Supporting successful reentry is an essential part of this District’s mission to promote public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Parker.  “The bottom line is that removing the barriers to employment, housing and education for those returning from prison reduces crime and makes our neighborhoods safer places to live.  Supporting them in their desire to be productive and law-abiding citizens is vital.”

The Department is also raising awareness of the importance of reentry strategies that both increase public safety and fulfill our nation’s commitment to the promise of individual redemption.

Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in a Reentry Information Fair at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.  Representatives from area service providers and community groups were on hand to provide information and resources to assist inmates in overcoming reentry barriers they may encounter in employment, medical care, public assistance, identification and housing.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office also gave inmates nearing release a copy of its just-published Reentry Resource Directory.

Yesterday evening, the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted its monthly Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Probation/Parole Reentry Session in Dallas; approximately 300 recently-released state parolees and probationers attended.  The monthly sessions are designed to emphasize the coordinated efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement concerning federal gun laws and to ensure attendees know about social service resources that are available to assist them as they integrate back into society.  The Office will host a similar session this evening in Fort Worth.

During the week of April 24-30, 2016, designated as National Reentry Week by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s office is sponsoring and coordinating several events designed to raise awareness about the importance of reentry work.  On Monday, U.S. Attorney Parker welcomed approximately 300 attendees at the 2016 Reentry Symposium in Dallas, and on Tuesday, staff members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff at Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Fort Worth to participate in a Reentry Simulation that offered FCI inmates an opportunity to experience, first-hand, one month in the life of a newly-released offender.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced new reforms to strengthen the BOP, including the “Roadmap to Reentry,” the Department’s comprehensive vision to reduce recidivism through reentry reforms at the BOP.

The principles outlined in the “Roadmap to Reentry” are aligned with the work of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, which has been to reduce policy barriers to successful reentry, opening up opportunities in education, job placement, housing, healthcare, and a host of other areas critical to successful reintegration.

More information on Reentry efforts in the Northern District of Texas may be found here.  Additional resources regarding the Department’s Reentry efforts may be found here. 

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