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Each year, more than 650,000 prisoners are released from state and federal prisons, and more than 12 million cycle through local jails (Harrison and Beck 2005; Beck 2006). Taken together, this large volume of people moving in and out of correctional institutions impacts public safety, public health, family networks and community well-being—especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods already affected by crime, unemployment, and other factors (Travis et al, 2001). Coalitions across the country are developing innovative strategies to address the challenges of prisoner reentry. In order to understand the extent to which Weed and Seed sites are engaged in prisoner reentry efforts—and to foster peer-to-peer support among sites—the Department of Justice's Community Capacity Development Office, the Center for Community Safety of Winston-Salem State University, and the Urban Institute surveyed Weed and Seed sites around the country. This report summarizes the responses from the survey, illustrating the various ways that Weed and Seed sites are focusing on prisoner reentry and working with partner organizations to reduce recidivism and create safer, healthier communities.¹

Notes from this section of the report

1. For a copy of the survey and a compilation of the responses, please contact Joanne Davidson at davidsonj@wssu.edu or see http://www.centerforcommunitysafety.org.

Note: This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

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