August 7, 2018, National Reentry Resource Center This brief from the National Reentry Resource Center outlines the role that corrections, probation, and parole officers can play in informing victims of the supports to which they are entitled and how they can pursue restitution, compensation, or other means of financial support. In the case of restitution—where victims are repaid directly by the person who committed the crime against them—repayment establishes a sense of accou

July 19, 2018, National Reentry Resource Center This brief from the National Reentry Resource Center provides guidance for correctional agency leaders to strengthen recidivism-reduction initiatives through organizational culture change. Historically, corrections staff have had a straightforward mandate: to protect the safety and security of people who are incarcerated. But today, reducing recidivism is a core focus for corrections leaders, and as a result, corrections staff a

The National Reentry Resource Center Hosted by the Urban Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Corrections Register here for the webinar on August 28th from 1-2:00pm! The Urban Institute has collaborated with the National Institute of Corrections, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Community Works, and subject-matter experts to develop actionable, low-cost, high-impact model practices and activities that can reduce th

August 20, 2018, Cherri Gregg - KWY NewsRadio "Anywhere from 300 to 500 ex-offenders listened intently during Temple's open house for a six-week job training program specifically for ex-offenders, which provides them with a rare opportunity for a second chance. Staff from the Workforce Solutions program — which is in partnership with Uplift Solutions, Inc. — were seeking 50 people to fill out their next cohort. All who graduate are guaranteed a job at a partnering Brown's Sup

The Office of Homeless Services has been working hard to get to this, and it’s almost the day we've all been looking towards - the release of Philadelphia's next Strategic Plan to Prevent and Permanently End Experiences of Homelessness in our city! Please join OHS for the release of their 5-year plan and to welcome the the new Philadelphia Intergovernmental Council on Homelessness (ICH). Launch of the Plan and of the Philadelphia Intergovernmental Council on Homelessness Wedn

August 23, 2018, Darrel Thompson via CLASP As the U.S. House and Senate reconcile two very different farm bills, formerly incarcerated people are at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance. Representative George Holding (R-NC) filed a troubling amendment that was adopted in the House farm bill. It would impose a lifetime ban on SNAP for returning citizens convicted of certain violent felonies. The ban would apply regardless of when the

The voter registration deadline for the November Election is October 9th! Join Vote For Homes in their ongoing nonpartisan effort to register and mobilize voters by learning about how to support the voting rights of people who are low-income, homeless, living with disabilities, or formerly incarcerated. For more about the coalition, visit voteforhomes.org. They will be holding voter registration trainings this fall for the November General Election. Trainings will be held at

April 15,2018, via National Reentry Resource Center This publication from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a user-friendly guide designed to help youth in juvenile corrections and treatment programs prepare for reentry and success in their communities. The guide outlines how youth transitioning from corrections to the community can seek assistance from a parent or guardian, mentor, friend, teacher, and other key people.

Cars or vans are available to get city residents out to suburban jobs out of SEPTA's reach! The COMMUTER OPTIONS program is operated by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. Through the use of car pools PUPCO provides affordable transportation to jobs in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Initiated with only one minivan in March 2006, PUPCO has now expanded and hundreds of workers have used our services to date. Read more information about the imitative here.

With the passage of the Clean Slate Bill, many Philadelphians are working to clean up their criminal records. As the effective date for the petition version of the law approaches at the beginning of next year, Community Legal Services will be doing a great deal of public outreach. Check out CLS' pamplet here to see how the law works!