RPC Newsletter - 1/22/2008

FEATURES

States Examine Residency Restrictions for Individuals Convicted of Sex Crimes

In the past decade, more than 20 states and hundreds of municipalities across the nation have enacted laws restricting where sex offenders may reside. Most of these laws prohibit sex offenders from living within 500 to 2,500 feet of schools, childcare centers, playgrounds, and other places frequented by children.

Read the full story.

Justice Center Announces Upcoming Reentry Guide for State-Level Policymakers

The Council of State Governments Justice Center, with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is developing a Reentry Guide that will aid state-level policymakers in establishing, assessing, and improving statewide prisoner reentry plans.

Read the full announcement.

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HILL UPDATE

Recap of the Second Chance Act of 2007

Attempts to pass the Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593/S. 1060) in the Senate before the end of 2007 were unsuccessful, despite the strong support of Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and 31 other cosponsors.

Read the full announcement.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Occasional Series on Reentry Research: Sex Offenders
Prisoner Reentry Institute
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
February 1, 2008
New York, NY

16th Annual Conference on the Management of Adults and Juveniles with Sexual Behavior Problems
Council on Sex Offender Treatment
February 10-12, 2008
Galveston, TX

35th National Conference on Juvenile Justice
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
March 9-12, 2008
St. Louis, MO

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Interaction of HIV, Drug Use, and the Criminal Justice System

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Mental Health are seeking proposals for research projects linking drug abuse, HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment, and the criminal justice system. Applications should focus on developing and/or implementing effective interventions. Consideration of co-occurring conditions, such as psychiatric disorder, is encouraged.

Application Deadline: January 27, 2008 (Letter of Intent); February 27, 2008 (Application)

Crime and Justice Research

The National Institute of Justice is seeking applications for funding of social and behavioral research on, and evaluations related to, crime and justice topics relevant to state and/or local criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice. This is an "open" solicitation, and most crime and justice topics that are relevant to policymakers and practitioners are eligible for consideration.

Application Deadline: March 5, 2008

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REENTRY NEWS

• OH: 1/21/08 - Ohio's tougher sex offender law being met with lawsuits, confusion (Cleveland Plain Dealer)


• WA: 1/20/08 - Explosive growth of transitional homes in ID prompts new rules (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)


• WI: 1/13/08 - Lawmaker aims to stop laws restricting sex offender residency (Green Bay Press-Gazette)


• KY: 1/13/08 - Cramming in the inmates (Lexington Herald-Leader)


• VT: 1/13/08 - Experts: prison plan to save $6M (Rutland Herald)

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PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

• Transitional Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Early Impacts from a Random Assignment Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities Prisoner Reentry Program (MDRC)


• Effect of Drug Use, Drug Treatment Participation, and Treatment Completion on Probationer Recidivism (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance)


• Key Questions on Parole and Probation Violations (Pew Center on the States)


• The Second Chance Act and the Future of the Reentry Movement (Marquette University Law School))


• Helping Inmates Obtain Federal Disability Benefits (National Institute of Justice)

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