A CHANCE TO THRIVE
NOT JUST SURVIVE
Better Reentry Benefits All New Yorkers.
Support the Reentry Assistance Bill (S6222/A6990)
“I came home with just $40 to put in my pocket.
I bought a Metro Card and it was gone.”
— Anthony, New York City
Quick Facts
218 people could receive reentry assistance
for the same cost of incarcerating 1 person in DOCCS for 1 year.
$2,550 represents fully funded reentry assistance
40%
of justice-impacted New Yorkers experience joblessness for at least 8 months following release.
20%
of formerly incarcerated people report food insecurity — double that of the general population.
1,900 people
in New York Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters are recently released or on parole.
23.1%
of persons staying in a single adult shelter had a recent history of incarceration, with 17.0% being recently released.
2006 NY Study
Our Advocates
Our Mission
When people transitioning from incarceration have the necessary support, the entire community will benefit.
About the Reentry Assistance Bill
WHAT IS THE REENTRY
ASSISTANCE BILL?
The Reentry Assistance Bill (A6990 /S6222) is new legislation to provide meaningful financial support through the creation of a Reentry Assistance Fund. This bill addresses our broken reentry system in two major ways:
1) It will require that New York make a targeted investment in returning people at the most critical time of reentry, and
2) It will require New York to codify gate money, and to produce annual reports - increasing transparency for policymakers and the public.
The Reentry Assistance bill is an evidence-based solution that will better ensure a true opportunity for success for returning New Yorkers who are eager to become contributing and successful members of their communities. The bill is led by the New York Reentry Coalition, a coalition of justice-impacted individuals, allies and allied organizations.
Key Messages
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The relationship between poverty and recidivism is straightforward. Reentry is often accompanied by economic instability and exclusion from opportunities. The Reentry Assistance Bill directly confronts systemic barriers faced by justice-impacted people while promoting public safety and contributing to economic growth.
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The period after release is the most vulnerable time for people returning home. Often excluded from social programs and faced with financial hurdles such as justice-related debt, the lack of support forces people to make impossible decisions that can lead to reincarceration.
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Reentry financial assistance prompts a journey to self-sufficiency, setting justice-impacted people up for success. Research collected and independently verified highlighted the positive impact of direct cash payments on long-term employment-–one of the key indicators of recidivism. Recipients primarily used the cash payments for daily life essentials such as groceries, car payments, childcare, and rent, allowing justice-impacted people to focus on obtaining stable employment.
Reentry Assistance Partners
SUPPORT THE REENTRY ASSITSANCE BILL
Better Reentry Benefits All New Yorkers.
ASSISTANCE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE