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The Justice Reinvestment Team at the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) aims to increase information and resource-sharing, while creating and fostering a statewide-online community Newsletter.
- Reentry Programming and Services
- Behavioral Health Treatment and Services
- Support for Victims and Restitution Enhancements
- Training and Education
- Safe Alternatives to Incarceration
- Pretrial Services and Programs
Please note that the Newsletter organizes all updates in chronological order under its subsections: Grants, Upcoming Events and Conferences, Meetings, Programs, and Other Information.
Zoom into the calendar for best viewing.
Application Deadline: March 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM
The primary purpose of VOCA/VOCG is to support the most critical crime victims’ needs statewide through funding victim service providers with a proven track record of service.
Please note, per VOCA/VOCG, a victim of crime is defined as a person who has suffered physical, sexual, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime. Only primary and secondary victims are eligible for VOCA/VOCG related expenses.
Technical Assistance Call: March 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Application Deadline: April 11th, 2025, at 11:59 PM
The primary purpose of PIGF/PJRA funding is to reduce Maryland’s State and local incarcerated population through appropriate diversion, deflection, service provision, and recidivism reduction resources. The fund was established through savings generated from Maryland’s Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) to provide for county-led innovations and state expansions of programming that were prioritized by Maryland’s Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council (JRCC).
The JRA reforms are centered on safely reducing Maryland’s prison population by incorporating evidence-based programming, improving reentry outcomes, reducing collateral consequences of incarceration, establishing connections to community treatment and support for nonviolent offenders with behavioral health needs. For background on how potential grant applications fit the JRA and Local Funding Initiatives, visit gocpp.maryland.gov/justice-reinvestment.
If you are interested in serving as an external reviewer for the PIGF/PJRA applications, please reach out to Lindsey McCullough, Justice Reinvestment Coordinator, at Lindsey.McCullough@maryland.gov.
1. Embrace Community Reentry Center Housing Resource Fair - Baltimore, Maryland
March 5, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
EMBRACE is an initiative of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Their mission is to partner with community groups to create a world that is safe, just, and equitable.
EMBRACE Initiative and Return Home Baltimore are hosting a housing resource fair for returning citizens on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. It was rescheduled from February due to inclement weather. The fair will still be located at 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
Meet background friendly landlords, learn about vouchers, home sharing, rental assistance, and more.
For more information, call 410-706-1099, email embracereentry@umaryland.edu, or email Reentry Coordinator Gordon Pack at gpack@umaryland.edu.
2. Project ENCORE Re-entry Pathways Resource and Career Fair - Baltimore, Maryland
March 6, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Project ENCORE presents the Re-entry Pathways Resource and Career Fair, a unique event dedicated to providing valuable opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. This event aims to connect attendees with on-the-spot hiring, career readiness attire, educational programs, and housing resources to support their successful reintegration into society.
This event will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 11am-1pm in the Enoch Pratt Central Library's Creative Arts Room and Poe Room. The address is 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.
What to expect:
- Career readiness attire giveaway through Compassion Clothing Closet
- On the spot hiring from second chance employers
- Workforce development opportunities
- Styling Session with Sam Smith
- and so much more!
Registration is not required! If you are formerly incarcerated and ready to discover new opportunities, please attend. If interested, please email us at projectencore@prattlibrary.org.
3. CMAP Nexus Series: Suicide Prevention in U.S. Jails: A Public Mental Health and Corrections Collaboration - Washington, D.C.
April 1, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
The Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP) is thrilled to announce its 2025 Nexus Series, Advancing Mental Health & Addiction Policy Solutions in 2025. This three-part event series will take place at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington D.C. and will convene top experts to address some of the most pressing policy challenges surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. Each event will feature a public panel followed by either a policy discussion or networking reception, creating a collaborative space for decision-makers from local, state, and federal levels to explore innovative solutions. Learn more about the series on our website.
Suicide rates in U.S. jails and prisons remain alarmingly high, raising critical questions about the intersection of mental health and correctional systems. This event will convene experts in mental health, corrections, and policy to examine the current state of suicide prevention in jails and explore innovative solutions. Panelists will discuss current efforts in Maryland and beyond, focusing on the design and implementation of effective suicide prevention protocols and what more can be done to save lives. Join us for this important conversation on April 17th from 4:00-5:00 pm ET, followed by a networking reception from 5:00-6:30 pm ET.
For more information and registration, click here.
1. The Maryland Statewide Alliance for Returning Citizens (MSARC)
March 25, 2025, at 9:30 AM; Recurring, every fourth Tuesday of the month via Zoom
MSARC comprises reentry service providers, returning citizens, advocates, government, corrections, and law enforcement staff working in reentry, and others who support increasing reentry resources. Meetings primarily consist of information sharing, guest speakers, and announcements about upcoming events of interest, aiming to break down silos. The next meeting will take place on March 25th, 2025 at 9:30 AM. The meetings are open to all with an interest in reentry. Please email Dawna Cobb, MSARC Co-Chair, at marylandreentry@outlook.com to be added to the MSARC email list and to receive the Zoom link for meetings.
Gatekeepers
Gatekeepers is an organization that focuses on re-entry. Our mission is to motivate, empower, and encourage both current and ex-offenders through mentoring services by challenging them to make positive decisions and ultimately help facilitate the process of a successful transition back to their communities. These individuals often do not have positive role models in their life to aid them in their efforts. At Gatekeepers, our team is dedicated to helping people overcome obstacles standing in their way to achieving success and reaching their life goals.
Business of Living Workbook and Program: The Business of Living is the heart of what we do. It focuses on the Personal, Occupational, Educational, and Spiritual areas of your life. Under the supervision of our Director of Operations Keith Roys, Gatekeepers has created the Business of Living Workbook and uses it to help current and former inmates chart their re-entry path to success. Gatekeepers works with men and women currently incarcerated to get them started on their re-entry planning. Gatekeepers will then meet them at the gate on their day of release (if needed) and get them immediately started on implementing their re-entry plan.
Resource Club: The Saturday morning Gatekeepers Resource Club, held in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church (15 Randolph Ave.), is where community resources get to connect with returning citizens. The doors open at 9:30 am for networking and coffee. The meeting starts at 10:00 am and runs until 11:00 am. Many people stay afterwards to continue networking and connecting with resource providers that were present. Organizations including the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the Area Health Education Center - West (AHEC-W), the Washington County Health Department, CASA, and many more provide a wide array of assistance to meeting attendees.
For more information about the Business of Living program, the Resource Club, Gatekeepers’ community partners, and more, visit https://www.gatekeepersmd.org/ or email gatekeepers.wcmd@gmail.com
Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts - Victims of Crime Video Series
The Maryland Judiciary has produced a two-part video series on the rights and roles of victims of crime. The first video covers the role of victims in bringing criminal charges and in criminal cases, and the second video addresses the rights of victims of crime, hiring legal representation, receiving information about the criminal case, financial compensation, and the rights of sexual assault victims. Each video has Spanish captioning available and has an accompanying tip sheet that summarizes the key points of the videos and provides a list of resources. The videos and tip sheets are available at mdcourts.gov and are part of a wider Court Help Video Library at mdcourts.gov/videos.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Identity Access Project
Flikshop
Flikshop aims to ease the process of sending postcards to incarcerated individuals. Founded by Marcus Bullock, a formerly incarcerated individual himself, the company fights recidivism by keeping families connected, so that individuals foster successful reentry, once released. We focus on families and their loved ones affected by incarceration, and assist them with technology that helps to leverage their relationships. Likewise, Flikshop has grown to connect businesses that work to build social impact strategies and community engagement teams that work to combat mass incarceration.
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Mindset Care specializes in assisting individuals and caregivers with SSI and SSDI applications. Our streamlined online process reduces the application time from 4-6 weeks to just 1 hour. We charge a one-time fee, equivalent to 25% of the claimant's back pay, mandated by the SSA office. There are no recurring fees or monthly charges for claimants. Our services include full legal representation, dedicated case managers, and access to a licensed psychologist.
We manage the entire application process from initial filing to appeals, ensuring a seamless experience for claimants. Our partnership with TruConnect also offers qualified claimants a federally subsidized cell phone. Noteworthy points about Mindset Care:
- No charge to our partners or your organization
- No fee if the claimant's application is not accepted
- Management of all necessary medical records and correspondence
- Focus on securing stable income, benefits, and housing opportunities for claimants
Contact Kian Ronnasi at kronnasi@mindset.care with any questions.
Project ENCORE (P-ENCORE) is the Pratt Library's new restorative justice program which aims to dismantle institutional barriers and social reintegration challenges that lead to recidivism. There are three parts to P-ENCORE: Workforce Development, Digital Equity, and the Reconnection Center. Our mission is to empower formerly incarcerated individuals by equipping them with the essential tools to thrive as productive members of society. We adopt a comprehensive approach by seamlessly connecting participants with Pratt's existing wrap-around services, including housing, substance abuse rehabilitation, social work, and more, addressing their mental, emotional, financial, and physical well-being. See here for more information on their extensive programming. Our Multi-Tiered approach is designed to:
- Foster generational wealth and leave a lasting legacy.
- Provide a stable source of income for participants.
- Offer support for housing and transportation needs.
- Create safe, inclusive spaces for open dialogue about barriers and mental health challenges.
- Enhance self-esteem and boost participants' sense of pride and self-worth.
If you're interested in volunteering, partnering, or becoming a participant in any of our initiatives, please reach out to swalker@prattlibrary.org or kbailey@prattlibrary.org.
Description of this workbook from the author, Vanessa Bright, Executive Director of the Maryland Reentry Resource Center:
"I created this workbook because I believe that reentry should begin the day after a person enter the correctional facility to serve his or her sentence. Instead, too often the process does not begin until a few months before release. This workbook focuses on soft skills, which we can take wherever we go in life, no matter what we do. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in relationships with others, including communication, time management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution."
Click here for more information.
Baltimore Veteran Reentry Resources
The Baltimore Station
Know a veteran who is soon to be released with a substance use disorder? The Baltimore Station provides wraparound support programs for homeless veterans that has a workforce program, and a free residential program. Click here for more information, and contact James Hardy at outreach@baltimorestation.org with any questions.
Housing in Prince George's County
DXT Therapeutic Foundation
Offers shared transitional wrap around housing in Prince George's County. Call (240)-838-3707 or Michelle Hare at (240)-676-2895 for assistance.
Housing in Baltimore City
Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt is offering a new residential treatment program for clients with co-occuring disorders. They offer rent support and other resources for apartments in Baltimore City. For more information, contact Ziva Ritchie at (410)-382-5426.
Additional Housing Options
St. Ambrose
Four new housing spots/beds are available in partnership with Jacob's Well for justice-involved youth ages 18-24. Please contact Shalawn James at St. Ambrose for more information at shalawnj@stambros.org.
To be included in April's Newsletter, please make your submission by COB Wednesday, March 26th, 2025.
For more information and to make your April submission, visit the Submission Page here or send it to justice.reinvestment@maryland.gov.
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