Community Resources For Justice Inc

Social justice services (sjs) operates community-based residential reentry programs for people transitioning from incarceration to the community. in fy2025, crj's community-based residential reentry programs served 808 residents referred by federal, state, and county correctional systems, as well as parole and probation agencies. using evidence-based interventions, our goal is to support individuals so that they can be successful in the community and not return to the criminal justice system. presently, the program's primary funding source is the federal bureau of prisons and the massachusetts probation service. based on a comprehensive risk-need-responsivity assessment, our reentry programs assist individuals in obtaining employment, housing, substance use and mental health counseling, support to strengthen family relationships, and any other services identified as necessary during the assessment. crj's reentry programs offer a balance of supervision, structure and support. the intent is to enable these men and women to break out of the cycle of incarceration through life-changing programming that reduces recidivism and builds safer, stronger communities.all residential reentry programs provide education support and enrichment services, including life skills, educational and creative arts groups and classes, mentors from local colleges and universities, and a variety of other programming. additionally, staff education activities include basic training for newly hired staff, risk-need-responsivity assessment certification, prea training, evidence-based intervention curricula, cpr and first aid. ongoing monthly booster sessions ensure competency annually for all staff.

The crime and justice institute (cji) bridges the gap between research and practice with data-driven solutions that drive bold, transformative improvements in adult and youth justice systems. with a reputation built over many decades for innovative thinking, issue analysis, and a client-centered approach, cji helps organizations achieve better, more cost-effective results for the communities they serve. the program's primary funder is bureau of justice assistance (bja). funding is also provided by arnold ventures, office of juvenile justice delinquency prevention (ojjdp), and national institute of corrections (nic). cji has proven expertise in policy development and analysis, implementation and training, research and evaluation, and system assessment. cji's team has a record of success in developing evidence-based, data-driven policies; managing complex processes with diverse stakeholders; and driving systems-level organizational change in all aspects of the justice system, including policing, pretrial, sentencing, community and residential corrections, and restrictive housing.

Behavioral health services/family reentry (bh/fre) in august of 2020, crj acquired through a merger family reentry (fre), a bridgeport ct - based non-profit agency which became a part of our sjs division. since the merger, the program opened two behavioral health clinics in new haven and new london, ct. and opened a recovery community center in bridgeport, ct. serving both court referrals and the greater community. the program's primary funder is court support services division-ct judicial branch. funding is also provided by the department of corrections-ct and the department of children & families ct.bh/fre has a long history of providing services that include mentoring, community-based reentry programs for men and women, a residential reentry program for adult males with severe and persistent mental illness, substance use treatment including intensive outpatient services and working with clients and families impacted by domestic violence. a hallmark of this work is the meaningful inclusion of men and women with lived experience in all our service delivery.