Faith-based programs have historically been more successful than other types of programs in their work within the prison and jail populations. CrossFire believes that inappropriate (illegal) behavior can be dealt with in much the same way that activity addictions such as gambling and sexual addictions are dealt with. In many ways, the needs of veterans re-entering the community from prison or jail are somewhat similar to the needs of veterans returning from combat situations and attempting to re-enter the civilian community.
The unique bond of working with other vets sets the CrossFire Re-entry program apart from all others. CrossFire plans to assist veterans who have become involved in the legal system regardless of their type of discharge because many veterans became involved with the military judicial system before their discharge, which may have led to less than honorable discharges.
Below is a posting by the Department of Labor in conjunction with the Department of Justice to show the need as well as the provision for this type of program. The difference is that the CrossFire Program will be veteran-specific.
Lawtey Faith-Based Correctional Prison
Statistics on Veterans in Prison
Male Military Veterans Are Incarcerated at Less Than Half the Rate of Non-Veterans
Between 1985 and 1998 the number of veterans in the
At the end of 1998 there were an estimated 225,700 veterans in the nation’s prisons and jails. About 13 percent of state prison inmates, 15 percent of federal inmates and 12 percent of local jail inmates reported having served in the
These data are based on personal interviews with nationally representative samples of prison and jail inmates during which they provided information about their military service and criminal and personal backgrounds. The BJS study also found that:
- Fifty percent of these incarcerated veterans had served during a period of wartime 35 percent were Vietnam-era veterans and 12 percent were Gulf War-era veterans. Twenty percent had seen combat during their military service.
- Veterans were more likely to be in a state prison for a violent offense (55 percent) but were less likely to be serving a sentence for a drug law violation (14 percent) than the non-veteran inmate population (46 percent and 22 percent respectively).
- About 35 percent of the veterans in state prisons had been convicted of homicide or sexual assault, compared to 20 percent of the non-veterans.
- Thirty percent of the veterans in state prisons were first-time offenders, compared to 23 percent of non-veterans. Thirty-seven percent of veteran inmates and 44 percent of non-veterans had three or more prior sentences to probation or incarceration.
- Among violent state prisoners, the average sentence of veterans was 50 months longer than the average of non-veterans.
- About 70 percent of the veterans, compared to 54 percent of other state prisoners had been working full-time before their arrest.
- Among state prisoners 12 percent of the veterans and 10 percent of the non-veterans said they had been homeless at some time during the year before their arrest.
Veterans (45 percent) were less likely than other state prisoners (58 percent) to report having used drugs in the month before their offense and less likely to report being under the influence of drugs when committing their offenses (26 percent, compared to 34 percent). About a third of the veterans in state prisons and local jails had a history of alcohol dependence. Fifty-nine percent reported having driven while drunk. Since their admission, veterans in state prisons reported similar levels of substance abuse program participation (34 percent) as non-veterans (32 percent). Twelve percent of the veterans had received anti-drug abuse professional treatment or counseling since admission, 29 percent had taken part in a self-help group or education program.
Veterans who had not been honorably discharged from service accounted for 17 percent of the veterans in state prisons, 15 percent of the veterans in federal prisons and 14 percent of the veterans in local jails. They reported more serious criminal and substance abuse histories than other incarcerated veterans. Combat veterans had less serious criminal histories, as well as lower reports of prior alcohol and drug abuse than other veterans in state prisons. But combat veterans in state prisons had rates of mental illness similar to those of other veterans (22 percent, compared to 19 percent).
The report defines a veteran as any person who has served in the
The special report “Veterans in Prison or Jail” (NCJ-178888) was written by BJS policy analyst Christopher J. Mumola. Single copies may be obtained from the BJS fax-on-demand system by dialing 301/519-5550, listening to the complete menu and selecting document number 187 Or call the BJS clearinghouse number: 1-800-732-3277. Fax orders for mail delivery to 410/792-4358. The BJS Internet site is: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
Additional criminal justice materials can be obtained from the Office of Justice Programs homepage at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Summary: Prisoner Re-entry Initiative
On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, announced the availability up to $19.8 million for grants to eligible faith-based community organizations for prisoner re-entry services. The services for returning prisoners will be through an employment-centered program that incorporates mentoring, job training, and other comprehensive transitional services. This program, which involves several federal agencies, is designed to reduce recidivism by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities, as part of an effort to build a life in the community for everyone.
President’s Prisoner Re-entry Initiative: Department of Labor Announces $19.8 Million in Funding for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Summary: The President’s Prisoner Re-entry Initiative seeks to strengthen urban communities characterized by large numbers of returning prisoners through an employment-centered program that incorporates mentoring, job training, and other comprehensive transitional services. This program, which involves several federal agencies, is designed to reduce recidivism by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities, as part of an effort to build a life in the community for everyone. The Department of Labor will be awarding grants under this competition to faith-based and community organizations to be the agencies carrying out this demonstration.
The Department of Justice will subsequently award competitive grants to State agencies to provide pre-release services to prisoners who will be returning to the communities served by the Labor Department grants. The Department of Housing and Urban Development may in future years provide funds under this initiative for housing services and the Department of Health and Human Services is also assisting in the design and implementation of the initiative regarding substance abuse and mental health treatment. We hope to serve 6,250 released prisoners during the first year of this initiative with projects operating in 30 communities across the country.
Each lead local agency awarded a Labor Department grant may choose to directly provide services to released prisoners; provide sub-grants to other faith-based community organizations to provide these services; or use a mixed approach of providing some direct services themselves while using other faith-based community organizations to also provide services. We expect that most lead local agencies will need to sub-grant some portion of their award to other faith-based community organizations. If the lead local agency is using sub-grantees, it will be responsible for providing technical assistance and oversight to these other faith-based community organizations. Lead local faith-based community organizations applying for these grants will identify as part of their application the need in the community that they plan to serve; their proposed faith-based community organization sub-grantees; their plan for serving released prisoners; and their partnerships with the criminal justice system, Workforce Investment Board, housing authority, and mental health and substance abuse treatment providers.
Am I an Eligible Applicant for These Grants?: You are eligible to apply for the Labor Department grants if you are a faith-based or community-based organization and are located within or have a staff presence within the urban community that is the focus of your grant application. Urban communities are those that are located within Urbanized Areas or Urban Clusters, as designated by the Census Bureau in the 2000 Census. National or regional faith-based community organizations may submit separate proposals for more Than one metropolitan area, but applicants must demonstrate that they have a presence in each metropolitan area for which they submit a separate application for each metropolitan area.
Can a Faith-Based Community Organization Be Listed as a Sub-Grantee in More Than One Application? Yes, but if a faith-based community organization is listed as a sub-grantee in two winning proposals, it will be allowed to receive only a sub-grant award from one grant.
Due Date: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is
You must be logged in to post a comment.