Title
To declare the week of April 23 through 29, 2017 National Reentry Week in Columbus, Ohio
Body
WHEREAS, Reentry is the transitional process that involves using evidence-based programs that promote the effective reintegration of individuals into communities when they are released from prison and jail; and
WHEREAS, Effective reentry strategies are economically sustainable through public and private collaboration, prove beneficial to public safety, enhance the well-being of the community, and support individual rehabilitation and opportunities for legitimate success; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice has designated reentry as an essential part of the criminal justice system toward reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities; and
WHEREAS, The goals of reentry-focused criminal justice policies are to utilize evidence-based practices in decision-making to divert people from incarceration who would be best served in appropriate community-based programs and rehabilitative services; and create a seamless network of behavioral health and social services that provide basic needs for those who return to the community from incarceration; and
WHEREAS, The most successful reentry process begins with stemming the flow of people into incarceration by the creation of informed and comprehensive reentry policies that improve lives, restore and strengthen families, save taxpayer dollars, and create safe communities; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize the importance of effective reentry to our community and declares the week of April 23 through 29, 2017 to be National Reentry Week in the City of Columbus.