(Washington D.C.) -- The Corporation for National and Community Service and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are joining forces to help ex-offenders as they rebuild their lives after completing prison sentences. Stephen Goldsmith, who chairs the Corporation’s Board of Directors, signed the agreement during the opening plenary session of the national conference of DOJ’s Community Capacity Development Office today in Los Angeles.

The agreement will support the development of an AmeriCorps*VISTA Reentry Initiative. Through this agreement, 40 AmeriCorps*VISTA members will serve in 15 urban areas as part of efforts to reduce ex-offender recidivism and promote successful reentry among ex-offenders by connecting them with existing reentry initiatives and leveraging public and private resources for housing, employment, education, life skills and mentoring.

The AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, supported by CCDO, will build local networks and collaboratives with faith-based and other groups to create local reentry initiatives; develop community volunteer programs to provide trained community volunteers for programs, such as the mentoring of ex-offenders and their families; and work with the criminal justice system and prisons in developing reentry programs.

They will work in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Reentry Task Force, the Departments of Justice and Labor, and other federal partners, state service commissions, and correctional institutions. The cities where they will be located are Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, North Charleston/Charleston, S.C., Oakland, Calif., Philadelpia, Portland, Ore., Providence, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C.

"President Bush has recognized the crucial necessity of assisting ex-offenders in their efforts to rebuild their lives following their release from prison," Goldsmith said. "This initiative is an outgrowth of the administration’s priority in this area. By working with organizations that serve the needs of ex-offenders, we can reduce crime, build healthier communities, and reduce the likelihood that children of ex-offenders will themselves turn to lives of crime."

Regina B. Schofield, assistant attorney general for the Office of Justice Programs, said, "This partnership is a perfect match because the AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers will organize and mobilize community resources to support the neighborhood restoration goals of Weed and Seed sites. Preventing recidivism helps families and children and restores human dignity and respect for the law."

More than 600,000 individuals are released from prison every year. In some communities, these ex-offenders will return to a life of crime and prison at a rate of 67 percent within the first three years of release. Crime committed during the first three years can be avoided if during this time the returning offender has the opportunity for successful reentry into the community and makes a commitment to responsible choices. A successful reentry includes addressing housing and employment needs, as well as critical social needs, such as reintegration into the family, conflict resolution skills, and addiction counseling and mentoring.

Along with AmeriCorps, the Corporation for National and Community Service also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. The programs of the Corporation engage more than 1.6 million Americans each year in meeting critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

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