Board Of State And Community Corrections Announces $103 Million Dollars For Community Diversion And Treatment Programs
June 9, 2017
SACRAMENTO, CA – Yesterday, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) announced $103 million dollars in grant awards for community diversion and treatment programs across California. Demonstrating the largest reallocation of prison budget funds to community-based programs, this is a historic opportunity for California to lead the way in ensuring effective treatment, diversion and reentry services for individuals most impacted by our criminal justice system.
ARC Founder Scott Budnick served as a Co-Chair of the BSCC’s Proposition 47 Executive Steering Committee, alongside Leticia Perez, a Kern County Supervisor. “I am very pleased that we put together a committee rooted in community, and over 75 million of this much needed funding is going directly to community based organizations, who are doing incredible and difficult work on the ground.”, Mr. Budnick reflected on the outcome.
ARC Board Members Charity Chandler and Javier Stauring also served on the Committee, providing the critical perspectives of individuals with direct experience in the justice system, and service providers supporting the population.
Some key provisions of the funding include:
• Funding strategically dispersed throughout the state to maximize effectiveness and reach. Grants averaging between $1 million to $6 million dollars, for local efforts addressing needs such as chronic offenders with acute drug addiction, mental health issues and homelessness.
• The largest grant allocation will be $32 million dollars going to Los Angeles County for the supportive services provided by remarkable community-based organizations throughout the County. This funding will make an enormous impact on the strong collaborations already building across the County in the areas of treatment, diversion and reentry.
ARC applauds the efforts of Californians for Safety and Justice, advocates and community members for fighting for a new vision for criminal justice which facilitated the successful passage of Proposition 47. This has led to increased focus on decarceration, treatment and investment in community-based solutions to trauma and crime. Along with tens of thousands of community members, this collaborative has raised the volume on the issues of mass incarceration and fought for decades to pave the way for the magnitude of commitment this announcement ensures.
For more information, please contact Communications Director Cheryl Bonacci at [email protected] or (213) 955-5885.
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Founded in 2013, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition provides a supportive network and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals, and advocates for fair and just policies in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Together, we serve as a bridge to transformation, purpose, and redemption.
