Originally posted at CSAC.

As a result of AB 109, Contra Costa County has established partnerships with community-based organizations whose programs and enhanced services help break the cycle of recidivism. The County spent about two years developing a reentry strategic plan to bring together stakeholders from around the county to best determine how to improve the success of people returning to communities from state prison and county jail.

In 2011, the California Legislature passed AB 109 — a plan to comply with federal court orders to reduce the prison population by about 35,000 inmates. Under this plan, California’s 58 counties began incarcerating, supervising and rehabilitating non-serious, non-violent, and non-sexual criminal offenders. The plan is now two years old.

Since then, California Counties have risen to the challenge, implementing evidence-based practices that identify individual offender’s risk factors and providing services, treatment and other resources to help reduce the risk of reoffending.  CSAC originally four “Smart Justice” videos,  highlighting Glenn, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and San Mateo counties, where staff has developed and implemented creative and successful programs that are making our communities safer and helping to reduce recidivism.

“Our goal is to highlight some AB 109 success stories and help counties share and replicate programs that are working,” stated CSAC Communications Director Gregg Fishman.

To see the efforts of others counties, please refer to the links below:

Glenn

Merced

San Bernardino

San Diego

San Joaquin

San Mateo

Ventura