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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.
To be included in September's Newsletter, please make your submission by COB Wednesday, August 27th, 2025.
For more information and to make your September submission, visit the Submission Page here or send it to justice.reinvestment@maryland.gov.
1. FY26 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) Grant Program
Application Deadline: August 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM
The primary purpose of RSAT is to assist in the development and implementation of substance use treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities. Funds are also available to create and maintain community reintegration services for offenders after they are released from incarceration.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to implement programs to address the treatment needs of pre- and post-release prisoners identified as having a substance use disorder. The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy encourages programs that involve partnerships, collaboration, and best practices to meet the treatment needs of these individuals.
For more information, please visit https://gocpp.maryland.gov/grants/programs/rsat/
2. JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grants (J-RIG)
Application Deadline: August 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM
The JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grant (J-RIG) program is now accepting applications for the Fall Cycle, with submissions due by August 31, 2025.
J-RIG provides funding to support pilot projects, feasibility studies, and program evaluation projects focused on emerging policies, practices, or interventions that address the prevention and treatment of overdose and addiction among individuals involved in the criminal legal system. Projects may take place outside of criminal legal settings, but must maintain direct relevance to that population.
Key Details:
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Funding: Up to $135,000 total costs
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Project Duration: 6-24 months
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Fall Cycle Deadline: August 31, 2025
If you would like support with the application, JCOIN’s Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Core can provide free assistance for those who have questions about grant writing or need help with research question(s), research designs, data collection methods, or analytical methods. See the Call for Proposals or the Proposal Checklist for instructions on writing a two-page memo outlining your needs. This will assist the TTA Core in providing you with the best guidance. If you have any questions, contact JCPilot@gmu.edu.
1. 2025 Criminal Justice Mental Health Conference - Las Vegas, Nevada
August 6, 2025 to August 7, 2025
The 2025 Criminal Justice Mental Health Conference brings together criminal justice practitioners, mental health professionals, government agencies, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, recruitment managers, philanthropists, academia, students, and returning citizens to collaborate and learn in an innovative environment. The goal is to engage, support, and inform. We can only address the reentry and mental health needs within our community if all community stakeholders foster cooperation and innovation. Better mental health is related to a decrease in the likelihood of recidivating. This conference addresses this and many more issues head-on and provides a comprehensive look on how to achieve equity in mental health. You will also gain knowledge on self-assessment and self-care.
CJMHC offers invaluable opportunities for deeper engagement, focused learning, and interactive experiences for attendees to delve into over 25 specific areas related to the main theme of the conference and interact more intimately with speakers and peers.
Please visit the following links for more information:
2. OCA Reentry Resource Day - Hagerstown, Maryland
August 8, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Office of Consumer Advocates (OCA) is hosting their annual Reentry Resource Day on August 8th, 2025. The event will be located at 119-121 East Antietam Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740.
The event will include reentry resources to reduce recidivism in the atmosphere of support and fun: housing, employment, recovery, expungement, partner and participant door prize, games, food, etc.
For more information, please visit https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov/calendar/oca-reentry-resource-day/
1. The Maryland Statewide Alliance for Returning Citizens (MSARC)
August 26, 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 August 26th, 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.
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The Reentry Resource Packet is a guide developed to help the incarcerated individual on his/her journey as they re-enter society. While all are afforded the opportunity for an exit orientation interview, some may refuse services. This packet is another opportunity for the Reentry Specialist to connect the returning citizen to those much-needed services within the community and distribute contact information if they need to call back for help.
- Birth Certificate/Social Security Card Instructions,
- Government-issued ID Instructions,
- Housing Options,
- Resources from Social Services (e.g., Food, Cash, and Medical Assistance),
- Voter Registration Services, and
- Maryland Legal Aid Information.
Click here to access the resource guide.
HealthCare Access Maryland Returning Citizens Community Connections Program (RCCC)
The RCCC program is designed to reduce recidivism by addressing the health and social needs of Returning Citizens in Maryland. The RCCC program works with repeat offenders that are residing or returning to Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City or Baltimore County up to one year post release.
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.
Embrace Community Reentry Center
Saved2Serve Educational Services
Mission Statement: To teach, empower, improve, and transform the lives of returning citizens through education; specifically, by obtaining the General Educational Development (GED) to enter the workforce with 21st Century Skills.
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 enters 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 Howard County
Bridges to Housing Stability
Bridges to Housing Stability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, serving Howard County, MD. Bridges believes that housing is the key to a household’s stability. Whether resolving the issue of homelessness or preventing a household from becoming homeless, our goal goes beyond crisis intervention – our approach and mission focuses on long term housing stability for our target populations.
MISSION: To provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County, Maryland.
VISION: To champion the eradication of homelessness in Howard County, Maryland.
For more information, please visit https://bridges2hs.org/
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-occurring disorders. They offer rent support and other resources for apartments in Baltimore City. For more information, contact Ziva Ritchie at (410)-382-5426.
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.
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