According to a March 24 Department of Justice press release, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will imposenew requirementson federal halfway houses that help people transition back into society after incarceration. Under the proposed new requirements, these halfway houses will have to provide a specialized form of treatment to individuals, including those with mental health and substance abuse issues. For the first time, halfway houses will also have to provide greater assistance to those pursuing job opportunities, such as permitting cell phones to be used by individuals and providing funds for transportation. The new requirements also expand access to electronic monitoring equipment to allow more individuals to utilize home confinement as a reentry method.
The new policies have the potential to be far-reaching, as last year alone, more than 30,000 people from federal prisons passed through a halfway house.
Read the full press release: “In New Step to Fight Recidivism, Attorney General Holder Announces Justice Department to Require Federal Halfway Houses to Boost Treatment Services for Inmates Prior to Release”
The video of Holder’s announcement is available here:http://www.justice.gov/agwa.php