New Program Proposed To Ease Prisoner Reentry in Boston

Boston, MA - The mayor's office has a new strategy to ease the difficult transition from incarceration, on Monday proposing a city Office of Returning Citizens designed to support the 3,000 individuals who return to Boston after being released from state, federal and other facilities every year.

"In order to create stronger, safer communities, we must work together to give all of our residents the opportunity to reach their full potential," Walsh said in a press release. "By giving individuals a second chance to obtain affordable housing, steady jobs, and support with family and community reunification, we can improve our re-entry outcomes, stem some of the violence on our streets and create stronger and healthier neighborhoods. I thank Sheriff Tompkins for his partnership on this important initiative."

The proposal is worked into the mayor's fiscal 2017 budget, rerouting savings toward a $300,000 investment in the proposed program. It's based on similar practices in places like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

A Harvard University study on offender reentry put the target on help accessing resources for permanent housing and employment as top needs. Read more from that study here.