Inmate Reentry Project promises second chances

Denver city officials launched a new initiative July 14 aimed at helping inmates readjust to society.

“In 2006, Denver Jail released 60,000 inmates who didn’t have jobs, an education and many who didn’t even have identification,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to more than 200 persons gathered for the Project’s inauguration. “What we are doing is denying people a second chance.”

The Community Reentry Project is the second facet of the Denver Mayor’s Crime Prevention and Control Commission’s new initiative designed to reduce recidivism and provide alternatives for inmates transitioning back into their communities.

The first facet, a jail-based initiative funded by a $405,000 Colorado Department of Education life skills grant, has already begun to identify and work with inmates who will then transition into the community based center.

The second phase, inaugurated July 14, has an initial budget of more than $430, 000, of which $176,000 will be allotted for actual services and treatment to be provided, according to program sources, to a projected 800 clients at the center.

The Community Reentry Project will provide individual case management services that will help clients adjust to society. The center, located in the Bo Matthews Center for Excellence at 3030 Downing St., will also house a variety of educational and vocational classes including GED, ESL and computer skills training.

When asked about the Project’s plans for servicing non-English speaking clients, Project Coordinator, Jennifer Reynolds said while the project does not currently employ any bilingual case managers, all of the classes offered on site will be facilitated by bilingual instructors. She said as the program grows she hopes to hire more bilingual staff to better serve Spanish speakers.

“We want to be culturally competent in order to serve not only the Hispanic community, but all cultures ...