Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration May 8, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

(1) What action is being taken? The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued an Offender Reintegration Toolkit Challenge to help reduce recidivism and promote the public health and safety of communities. (2) Why is this action necessary? Studies show that people leaving the criminal justice system have a higher proportion of substance use and mental disorders than the general population. Treatment and recovery support, along with housing and employment are necessary to help newly released individuals address substance use and mental disorders and to keep them from reoffending. Easy to find information and resources can help them (and their family and friends) as they return to their communities. (3) What is the objective of the challenge? To reduce recidivism and provide resources and support for individuals leaving the criminal justice system and re-entering their communities. (4) What is the intended effect of this action? Family, friends, parole officers, and community service staff will help ex-offenders connect to resources for housing, employment, healthcare, and treatment and recovery for substance use and mental health disorders. By connecting them to necessary supports, ex-offenders will successfully transition back into their communities and live successful, healthy lives. SAMHSA is seeking solutions to this problem through cost-effective, portable, technology-based products that effectively reach a diverse population of ex-offenders being released from jail or prison, and the friends, family, parole officers, case managers, and service center staff who help them. Technology-based products may include, but are not limited to, web applications, mobile apps, and Web sites.