Smart Justice
Sections
The National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Smart Justice efforts aim to build knowledge and capacity for successful justice policies and practices among the nation’s counties. Smart Justice projects enhance partnerships among public, private and philanthropic leaders along with national experts to promote safer communities and utilize taxpayer money more effectively and efficiently.
Projects engage county officials, national thought leaders and partners across the country by:
- Promoting evidence-based, data-driven local justice policies and practices throughout the nation’s counties;
- Taking a leadership role in exploring and implementing local justice reforms;
- Developing strategies to save counties money while creating safer communities; and
- Providing education and assistance to counties to assess their adult and juvenile systems to explore opportunities for efficient and effective use of public dollars.
Congress introduces Second Chance Act reauthorization
On April 16, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 8028) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs for five years.
HRSA offers funds to aid care transitions for justice-involved individuals
On April 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced the availability of $51 million in funding opportunities open to HRSA-funded health centers. HRSA-funded health centers, which serve over 30 million patients, play a crucial role in county healthcare systems emphasizing equity and accessibility in healthcare. This new initiative focuses on supporting individuals leaving incarceration by providing health services during the critical 90 days before release, assisting justice-impacted individuals with their return to the community by expanding access to primary healthcare—including mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
DHS announces $1.8 billion in preparedness grants to advance county security and resilience
On April 16, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled more than $1.8 billion in funding for eight preparedness grant programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. These grants play a crucial role in helping county governments bolster their readiness and response capabilities against terrorism and disasters.
New targeted violence and terrorism prevention funding opportunity for counties
On April 15, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced a grant opportunity aimed at funding projects that address the risk of violence across online platforms and physical environments, whether through online, in-person or hybrid initiatives.
White House launches federal flood standard support website and tool
On April 11, the White House launched a new website and mapping tool to help users with the ongoing implementation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS).
Connecting Services for Improved Outcomes: Riverside County’s Integrated Services Delivery Initiative
The presentation will provide an overview of Riverside County’s current Integrated Services Delivery (ISD) initiative to connect health, human, and public safety services to orchestrate our efforts and resources around a constituent-first approach, focusing on delivering the best possible outcomes for our most vulnerable populations.