Strengthening Reentry Services and Resources in Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York, has long prioritized efforts to improve outcomes for people in the criminal justice system. In 2005, the county established New York’s first reentry task force, with funding provided by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services and support from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. To gain further insight on the needs of the community and how to improve reentry efforts in Erie County, the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable partnered with Erie County officials in 2016 to request an assessment of the county’s reentry services and resources.
To fulfill this request, The CSG Justice Center—with financial support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance—conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the county’s reentry services and focused its efforts largely on four overall core challenges:
- Lack of coordination across reentry agencies, providers, and populations.
- Unequal access to high-quality, evidence-based services across the reentry populations.
- Lack of evidence-based practices in the selection of reentry service provider contracts.
- Low participation in pre- and post- release programs due to lack of funding, incentives to participate, and promotion.
This assessment highlights these challenges and provides recommendations to assist county leaders in the development of a coordinated, comprehensive strategy to improve the quality and delivery of reentry services to people returning to Erie County after incarceration.
Our plan—developed with the National Resource Center on Children & Families of the Incarcerated at Rutgers University-Camden and…
Read More
The CSG Justice Center Advisory Board establishes the policy and project priorities of the organization. The board features…
Read More
"AOT is a complex community intervention that can be effective or not depending on how it is implemented.…
Read More
First-of-its-Kind Plan for States to Support Children and Families with Incarcerated Parents
Our plan—developed with the National Resource Center on Children & Families of the Incarcerated at Rutgers University-Camden and the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at UConn—provides evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies for corrections leaders and policymakers to strengthen parent-child connections and reduce recidivism.
Read More
Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and Incarceration: Q&A with New CSG Justice Center Advisory Board Member Wayne Niederhauser
The CSG Justice Center Advisory Board establishes the policy and project priorities of the organization. The board features a cross-section of leaders who shape criminal justice policy in various parts of the country.
Read More
Involuntary Treatment for Patients in the Justice System: Q&A with Dr. Marvin Swartz
"AOT is a complex community intervention that can be effective or not depending on how it is implemented. The question about its effectiveness is better phrased as: for whom and under what conditions can AOT be effective?"
Read More
Reentry 2030 States Explore Day 1 Employment Readiness After Incarceration
8 states gathered to discuss workforce solutions for formerly incarcerated people.
Read More
Local Criminal Justice System Innovations in Mental Health Services: Q&A with CSG Justice Center Advisory Board Member Dr. Doreen Williams
"It is the humane, person-centered approach that supports and stabilizes individuals, their families, and their communities."
Read More
2025 Nominations Now Open for Judges and Psychiatrists Improving Lives and Behavioral Health
The Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award for Leadership has expanded to include Lifetime Achievement Awards and, in 2024, the first-ever Team Collaboration Award.
Read More