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    Criminal Justice

    Preparing People to Return Home

    Preparing People to Return Home

    According to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, reentry is not a specific program, but rather a process that begins when an individual is incarcerated (pre-release) and ends with their reintegration in the community (post-release). A foundation of good reentry is collaboration; working together to achieve a common goal that is difficult or impossible to reach without the assistance of another. Good reentry is good for everyone; it leads to safer communities, fewer victims of crime, relief for taxpayers, and improved quality of life for returning citizens.

    Resources 

    Reentry Coalition Minimum Operating Standards (PDF)
    Sample Reentry Coalition Bylaws (PDF)

    Since 2011, PCCD has encouraged and invested in the creation of County Reentry Coalitions. These coalitions are comprised of local stakeholders including government agencies, non-profit service providers, and people with lived expertise that meet regularly to identify the complex needs of returning citizens, assess reentry practices, identify service gaps, and develop policies, procedures, and projects to improve outcomes for returning citizens. To guide this work, County Reentry Coalitions develop reentry strategic plans. PCCD awards grants to assist in the reentry strategic planning process.

    To assist County Reentry Coalitions throughout Pennsylvania and ensure consistency across coalitions, PCCD established Reentry Coalition Minimum Operating Standards​ in 2020 with four areas of focus: Membership, Bylaws (vie​w sample Bylaws​) Reentry Strategic Planning, and Recidivism Data Collection. To certify compliance with the Reentry Coalition Minimum Operating Standards, County Reentry Coalitions should contact the PCCD Reentry Coordinator.

    In 2026, PCCD’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) established a new statewide Reentry Subcommittee, chaired by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG), to coordinate and aligned reentry efforts across the Commonwealth. This subcommittee will meet regularly to discuss current resources and gaps, as well as inform a new, comprehensive statewide strategic planning process that will launch in spring 2026. This process will culminate in the creation of a Pennsylvania Reentry Strategy by early 2027.

    Questions?

    Contact Us

    Contact PCCD's Reentry Coordinator.

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