subpart 2—reentry research

§17551. Offender reentry research

(a) National Institute of Justice

The National Institute of Justice may conduct research on juvenile and adult offender reentry, including—

(1) a study identifying the number and characteristics of minor children who have had a parent incarcerated, and the likelihood of such minor children becoming adversely involved in the criminal justice system some time in their lifetime;

(2) a study identifying a mechanism to compare rates of recidivism (including rearrest, violations of parole, probation, post-incarceration supervision, and reincarceration) among States; and

(3) a study on the population of offenders released from custody who do not engage in recidivism and the characteristics (housing, employment, treatment, family connection) of that population.

(b) Bureau of Justice Statistics

The Bureau of Justice Statistics may conduct research on offender reentry, including—

(1) an analysis of special populations (including prisoners with mental illness or substance abuse disorders, female offenders, juvenile offenders, offenders with limited English proficiency, and the elderly) that present unique reentry challenges;

(2) studies to determine which offenders are returning to prison, jail, or a juvenile facility and which of those returning offenders represent the greatest risk to victims and community safety;

(3) annual reports on the demographic characteristics of the population reentering society from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;

(4) a national recidivism study every 3 years;

(5) a study of parole, probation, or post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations; and

(6) a study concerning the most appropriate measure to be used when reporting recidivism rates (whether rearrest, reincarceration, or any other valid, evidence-based measure).

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, §241, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 690.)

§17552. Grants to study parole or post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations

(a) Grants authorized

From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General may make grants to States to study and to improve the collection of data with respect to individuals whose parole or post-incarceration supervision is revoked, and which such individuals represent the greatest risk to victims and community safety.

(b) Application

As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a State shall—

(1) certify that the State has, or intends to establish, a program that collects comprehensive and reliable data with respect to individuals described in subsection (a), including data on—

(A) the number and type of parole or post-incarceration supervision violations that occur with the State;

(B) the reasons for parole or post-incarceration supervision revocation;

(C) the underlying behavior that led to the revocation; and

(D) the term of imprisonment or other penalty that is imposed for the violation; and

(2) provide the data described in paragraph (1) to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in a form prescribed by the Bureau.

(c) Analysis

Any statistical analysis of population data under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the Federal Register Notice dated October 30, 1997, relating to classification standards.

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, §242, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 690.)

§17553. Addressing the needs of children of incarcerated parents

(a) Best practices

(1) In general

From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General may collect data and develop best practices of State corrections departments and child protection agencies relating to the communication and coordination between such State departments and agencies to ensure the safety and support of children of incarcerated parents (including those in foster care and kinship care), and the support of parent-child relationships between incarcerated (and formerly incarcerated) parents and their children, as appropriate to the health and well-being of the children.

(2) Contents

The best practices developed under paragraph (1) shall include information related to policies, procedures, and programs that may be used by States to address—

(A) maintenance of the parent-child bond during incarceration;

(B) parental self-improvement; and

(C) parental involvement in planning for the future and well-being of their children.

(b) Dissemination to States

Not later than 1 year after the development of best practices described in subsection (a), the Attorney General shall disseminate to States and other relevant entities such best practices.

(c) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that States and other relevant entities should use the best practices developed and disseminated in accordance with this section to evaluate and improve the communication and coordination between State corrections departments and child protection agencies to ensure the safety and support of children of incarcerated parents (including those in foster care and kinship care), and the support of parent-child relationships between incarcerated (and formerly incarcerated) parents and their children, as appropriate to the health and well-being of the children.

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, §243, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 691.)

§17554. Study of effectiveness of depot naltrexone for heroin addiction

(a) Grant program authorized

From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Attorney General, through the National Institute of Justice, and in consultation with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, may make grants to public and private research entities (including consortia, single private research entities, and individual institutions of higher education) to evaluate the effectiveness of depot naltrexone for the treatment of heroin addiction.

(b) Evaluation program

An entity described in subsection (a) desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application that—

(1) contains such information as the Attorney General specifies, including information that demonstrates that—

(A) the applicant conducts research at a private or public institution of higher education, as that term is defined in section 1001 of title 20;

(B) the applicant has a plan to work with parole officers or probation officers for offenders who are under court supervision; and

(C) the evaluation described in subsection (a) will measure the effectiveness of such treatments using randomized trials; and

(2) is in such form and manner and at such time as the Attorney General specifies.

(c) Reports

An entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) during a fiscal year shall, not later than the last day of the following fiscal year, submit to the Attorney General a report that describes and assesses the uses of that grant.

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, §244, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 692.)

§17555. Authorization of appropriations for research

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out sections 17551, 17552, 17553, and 17554 of this title, $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, §245, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 692.)