Weekly News Brief

DOJ Officials Speak at Second Chance Act Conference—Laurie O. Robinson, OJP's Assistant Attorney General, and James Cole, Deputy Attorney General, spoke to more than 800 grantees at the Second Chance Act Conference, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24. The conference was an opportunity for grantees to learn more about the technical assistance available through the National Reentry Resource Center. The Second Chance Act was signed into law on April 9, 2008, and is designed to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from prisons and jails. The law authorizes federal grants to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims support, and other services that can help reduce recidivism.
https://ojp.gov/newsroom/speeches/2011/11_0223lrobinson.htm
http://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org

BJS Releases Study of Inmate Population in Indian Country—The inmate population in Indian Country jails increased 1.9 percent between midyear 2008 and 2009, reaching 2,176 offenders, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Indian Country jails are operated by tribal authorities or the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Eighty Indian Country jails, confinement facilities, detention centers, and other correctional facilities reported inmate counts to BJS in 2009, down from 82 facilities in 2008.
http://www.bjs.gov/.

Upcoming Events:

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Crime Mapping Research Conference

April 13-15, 2011
Miami, Fla.
Preconference workshops: April 11 and 12, 2011

The NIJ Crime Mapping Research Conference is more than just visualizing where crime occurs through mapping. The conference is about understanding crime, criminal justice, and public safety and their effect via places -- geographic areas that consist of various social, economic and ecological similarities yet have subtle and distinct differences. Presenters will address a range of research findings, practical applications, technology demonstrations and policy results.
http://www.nij.gov/events/maps/welcome.htm

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