MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles is pleased to announce Alabama’s involvement in Reentry 2030, a nationwide initiative aimed at scaling reentry success for people transitioning from incarceration to their communities. Through this initiative championed by Bureau Director Cam Ward, Alabama aims to reduce recidivism by 50 percent by 2030.
“As we embark on this journey with Reentry 2030, I am honored to work with Alabama’s executive leadership efforts in reshaping reentry outcomes,” Ward said. “With determination and collaboration, together we will harness the power of empathy and innovation to break down barriers, open doors to opportunity, and guide those who were previously incarcerated or serving probation toward a path of success.” As of July 31, 2023, the Bureau had an estimated total supervised population of 41,042 individuals.
The Bureau is hosting a celebratory Reentry 2030 Embarkation Event at the Bureau’s Perry County PREP Center in Uniontown, Ala. today. Partner agencies, nonprofit community partners, employers, successful PREP Center participants, Bureau officers and more will be in attendance. Business leaders will be present to announce partnerships to hire formerly incarcerated employees in skilled positions, as quality employment is a proven way to reduce recidivism. In addition to special guest speakers celebrating Alabama’s entry into the initiative, the event features a Tree Trimming Program Announcement and Graduation from J.F. Ingram State Technical College, as well as a separate ABPP graduation for probationers and parolees who have completed the PREP Center program.
Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm said, “The Alabama Department of Corrections is deeply invested in supporting reentry efforts within ADOC and through the ABPP to help incarcerated individuals successfully rejoin society as productive citizens.”
The Reentry 2030 Embarkation Event is presented in part by the Bureau, J.F. Ingram State Technical College, the Alabama Community College System, The Council of State Governments Justice Center, GEO Reentry Services, Alabama Power, and PowerGrid Services.
The state already has a solid foundation for this work. The Commission on Reentry recently concluded a two-year-long collaboration process, resulting in a comprehensive final report that sets forth solutions to Alabama’s most pressing reentry issues. Each of the commission’s 15 participating agencies has crafted a plan outlining how they will contribute to the state’s reentry strategy, including streamlining the issuance of state identification cards, expanding access to behavioral health care and addiction treatment, and increasing participation in job training and educational services by 50 percent to support people in finding gainful employment.
“The Alabama Department of Labor is proud to be a partner in this forward-thinking initiative,” said Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington. “Part of our mission at ADOL is to connect employers with employees, and this is just another way to do so. We are busy looking for and implementing ways to get more people actively involved in the workforce. Additionally, this program has the added benefit of reducing recidivism and helping break barriers to employment for those who may need it the most.”
Alongside ABPP, members of the Commission on Reentry included the Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama Community College System’s Ingram State Technical College, Alabama Department of Mental Health, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Alabama Department of Labor, Alabama Department of Human Resources, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Alabama Department of Youth Services, and others. These agencies are ready to continue providing leadership, resources, and assistance to make Alabama’s Reentry 2030 vision a reality.
“J.F. Ingram State Technical College is proud to serve as the state’s primary education provider for the justice-involved population,” said ISTC President Annette Funderburk. “We fully support the Reentry 2030 initiative and look forward to the many ways it will help expand educational services and workforce development opportunities throughout the state.”
Reentry 2030 is led by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Correctional Leaders Association, and JustLeadershipUSA.
“We are delighted to welcome Alabama as the next Reentry 2030 state,” said CSG Justice Center Director Megan Quattlebaum. “Alabama has set ambitious goals: to increase opportunities for trade certificates, decrease overdose deaths, and reunite families, among others. And state leaders are combining head and heart – data and compassion – as they develop strategies to meet those goals. We look forward to the positive impact Alabama’s efforts will have on individuals and communities across the state. And we look forward to seeing other states follow in Alabama’s footsteps.”
Reentry 2030 calls upon leaders across the nation to come together and commit to successful reintegration for every person who has met their legal obligation to the criminal justice system. This initiative offers resources, tools, and assistance to empower each states unique efforts and goals. Reentry 2030 was launched in April 2022 with support from Arnold Ventures, BJA, the Tow Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit Reentry2030.org for more information and updates.