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and VOI/TIS funds
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From: "Charles Sullivan" <cure-usa@erols.com>
To: "cure" <cure-usa@erols.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 2:20 PM
Subject: Message from the Urban Institute
Dear Friends, I think this could be great news for your state. First of all, I would suggest that you call the person in the Gov.'s office who is over
the VOI/TIS funds. Find out how much money is left. Congress has not appropriated any VOI/TIS funds in the last couple of appropriations, but
that does not mean that your state doe not have any funds. These are funds to construct prisons and this takes time. Thus, your state may have a pot of
unused money.
Secondly, pressure them to use this for community corrections, drug treatment programs, etc. (see below) instead of more prisons or more prison
beds. If they say this is all in the pipeline for more prisons, I would get a sympathetic legislator to make sure this is true or a media reporter.
THE CLIMATE IS RIPE FOR OUR AGENDA. BUT THE QUESTION HAS BEEN-- HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? THIS MAY BE THE ANSWER! Charlie
Dear colleagues:
Those who attended last week's National Forum on Prisoner Reentry, Housing and Homelessness will recall that Cheri Nolan from the Department of
Justice announced new regulations providing significantly greater flexibility in the expenditure of funds under VOI/TIS (Violent Offender Incarceration/Truth in Sentencing) program.
Cheri has forward text describing the new purposes to which that money can be spent. We pass it along to you for your information:
The primary purpose of the VOI/TIS program is to build or expand long term medium to maximum security correctional facilities. However, VOI/TIS funds can also be used for the following:
1. Community based correctional options that free up secure institutional bed space. These can either be early release options or direct sentencing
options. Examples include but are not limited to:a) half-way houses;
b) home detention programs;
c) bracelet programs;
d) day-reporting centers;
e) work-release programs
f) community based treatment programs (substance abuse, mental health, sex offender
g) family reunification programs (centers or facilities where parent and children are allowed to live on a trial basis under intensive supervision).2. Parole Centers, these can either be pre-release or revocation centers but they keep this population out of the more secure, general population beds.
3. Reception and diagnostic centers, these must be long-term placements that free up secure beds.
4. Geriatric facilities, as the prison population ages, these would provide for more suitable correctional settings and free up secure beds.
5. Infirmaries, again these must be long-term housing options.
6. Leasing of Space, VOI/TIS funds can also be used for the short or long-term leasing of space from private or non-profit providers. These facilities can be either operated by the private firm or the state.
7. Juvenile Correctional facilities, these can be all of the projects listed above plus straight housing of non-violent juveniles. This purpose is capped at 10% unless the state declares exigent circumstances and then all of the grant funds can be used on juvenile programs.
8. Jail-based programs, this purpose is capped at 15% but allows for renovation and maintenance cost of local jail or detention facilities
which cannot be funded elsewhere.
9. Drug testing, treatment and interventions, of the money received since FY 1999, 10% percent may be used for this purpose. Projects funded under this purpose can include but are not limited to:a) treatment programs and/or treatment staff;
b) testing equipment and supplies;
c) K-9 units or other detection programs;
d) staff overtime for contraband searches, prevention activities, treatment, etc;
e) aftercare services such as community-based treatment, housing, job placement, educational services, etc...Dionne Smith Davis
Project Associate
The Urban Institute
2100 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Direct Dial: (202) 261-5681
Fax: (202) 296-2252
email: ddavis@ui.urban.org
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