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ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded Albany County a $549,998 grant over three years to support a project jointly administered by the Albany County Department of Mental Health and the Albany County Probation Department that aims to reduce recidivism and enhance support for individuals released from incarceration in Albany County. This award comes from DOJ’s Fiscal Year 2024 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, which is administered by the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

“As a longtime leader in the push to provide support for individuals released from incarceration, I’m thrilled to celebrate this significant infusion of federal funding that will help bring critical services to those who need them most,” Congressman Tonko said. “Many incarcerated individuals struggle with addiction and mental health issues, but too few have access to the resources they need to lead healthy and productive lives after their release. With this grant award, we are working to make certain that individuals released from Albany County Jail are equipped with the tools they need to avoid recidivism and tackle the mental health challenges they face. I’m proud to see Albany County leading the way in this important effort, and I look forward to seeing the benefits this program will bring to our communities.”

“This initiative will enhance Albany County’s efforts to reduce reliance on emergency services and promote re-entry success,” said Stephen Giordano, Commissioner of the Albany County Department of Mental Health. “This is an important step to provide vital support to individuals transitioning back into society after incarceration by helping individuals who are at higher risk to build relationships and re-integrate. In addition to lowering the likelihood of recidivism, our project will help promote cross-system collaboration and improve overall public safety response. We will strive to reduce stigma, foster understanding, and strengthen the community by encouraging positive change. We’re excited about the impact we will make together!”

“I would like to thank Congressman Paul D. Tonko for his continued advocacy and assistance with securing this grant,” added William Connors, Director of the Albany County Department of Probation. “The Albany County Probation Department is excited for this opportunity to partner with the Albany County Department of Mental Health to reduce recidivism of the population we serve with mental illness. Probation Officers will facilitate connections to mental health resources and services, with referrals focusing on re-entry matters in the probation process. This may include cases of pretrial release and pre-sentence investigations for individuals with serious mental health needs. We want to improve the lives of all persons we work with at the Probation Department.”

The core objective of the project being funded by this grant is to develop a new “jail re-entry” case management model for individuals released from Albany County Jail, particularly those with severe and pervasive mental illness. A joint effort from the Albany County Department of Mental Health and the Albany County Probation Department, the program will help connect individuals released from incarceration with community resources and peer support — ultimately aiming to reduce recidivism and address social determinants of health.

Congressman Tonko has been a steadfast advocate at the federal level for efforts to bolster services for individuals released from incarceration. Tonko is the author and lead House sponsor of the Reentry Act, bipartisan legislation that empowers states to restore access to healthcare through Medicaid, including addiction and mental health treatment, for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release. This lifesaving legislation takes needed action to address alarming data showing that individuals released from prisons and jails are more than 129 times more likely than the general population to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after their release.

Tonko has also worked directly with Albany County in recent years to bring targeted resources to those who need them most. In 2022, Tonko secured a $500,000 grant through the Community Project Funding (CPF) process for the Albany County Sheriff’s Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP) — an effort to provide safe spaces for individuals to access food, shelter, job opportunities, mental health and addiction services, and more.

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