New Guide Prepares Juvenile Offenders For Reentry

          WASHINGTON – The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention today released Reentry Starts Here: A Guide for Youth in Long-Term Juvenile Corrections and Treatment Programs, a toolkit to help youth prepare for return to their communities after confinement.

          The publication covers steps youth can take to plan for reentry while they are in confinement, and steps they can take to overcome common barriers to reentry once back in their community, including how to request a school transfer, apply for housing, gain employment, and seek support services.

          “This is a way to empower youth to advocate for themselves while also preparing for their lives post-release,” said OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp. “This guide helps them visualize their own success, to think through what steps they need to take to get their lives back on track and become productive members of their communities.”

          The guide was specifically designed to be practical, and easily understood by detained youth, their families, and those assisting youth transition back into society, such as probation officers, counselors, and mentors. In short, the guide is meant to set incarcerated youth up for success before they are released, while also reducing the chances they will reoffend.

          The guide is available at https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/251193.pdf