National Reentry Resource Center
The National Reentry Resource Center (operated by AIR from 2019-2023) supported the provision of a comprehensive response to the adults and juveniles who leave prisons, jails and juvenile residential facilities and return to their communities with support from the Second Chance Act.
Each year, more than 650,000 persons leave prisons and juvenile residential facilities and return to their communities. In addition, millions of adults are cycling in and out of local jails. Their success in returning to their communities and not reentering the justice system is contingent on a strong network of support.
The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) (operated by AIR from 2019-2023) supported the provision of a comprehensive response to the adults and juveniles who leave prisons, jails and juvenile residential facilities and return to their communities with support from the SCA. Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the purpose of the NRRC was to advance the reentry field by identifying and promoting evidence-based and innovative practices.
The NRRC worked with SCA grantees, technical assistance providers, and the justice field to develop and promote resources and tools that assist jurisdictions in implementing evidence-based, data-driven strategies to reduce recidivism.
AIR’s approach with NRRC aimed to go beyond fulfilling the technical requirement of maintaining a website and providing links to SCA grantees. We incorporated a personal element—through an online experience that catered to the needs of SCA grantees, organizations and individuals working to support reentry, and individuals in direct need of reentry support—into our varied delivery of tools and resources.
What the NRRC Did
Partnerships (2019-2023)
- The Council of State Governments Justice Center
- Vera Institute of Justice
- RTI International and the Center for Court Innovation
- University of Cincinnati Center for Criminal Justice Research
Through the NRRC, AIR’s team of experts and partners—including criminologists, evidence-based practice experts, probation officers, educators, reentry leaders, social workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals—worked with SCA grantees, technical assistance providers, and the justice field to develop and promote resources and tools that assist jurisdictions in implementing evidence-based, data-driven strategies to reduce recidivism.
AIR’s approach with NRRC aimed to go beyond simply fulfilling the technical requirement of maintaining a website and providing links to SCA grantees. We incorporated a personal element—through an online experience that caters to the needs of SCA grantees, organizations and individuals working to support reentry, and individuals in direct need of reentry support—into our varied delivery of tools and resources.
NRRC’s work focused on:
- The go-to source for all reentry needs. The NRRC website featured continuous introduction of new content and state-of-the-art search functionality, allowing users to find information and services based on topic, location, population, and other factors.
- Diverse and comprehensive tools and resources. NRRC resources—including webinars, videos, and podcasts; resource briefs, research reports, and infographics; and funding opportunities—were designed to appeal to different audiences across a wide range of topical areas. The NRRC also hosted the National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction and the Clean Slate Clearinghouse, and assisted BJA with the Public Safety Risk Assessment Clearinghouse.
- Direct assistance and connections to reentry services and supports. The NRRC housed a comprehensive directory of SCA grantees and related reentry initiatives and organizations in each state and hosted a helpline to connect users with information and resources in support of successful reentry.
