Corrections awarded nearly $1 million for inmate re-entry programs

The Nevada Department of Corrections has been awarded $978,102 in federal money to support inmate re-entry and recidivism reduction programs.

Director James Dzurenda said the grant will target male property crime inmates form ages 18 to 55 who are assessed as a moderate to high risk to re-offend once released from prison, especially those whose substance abuse was a factor in their crime.

“We know that property crime accounted for 80 percent of all crime in Nevada in 2014,” said Dzurenda. “It makes sense to begin focusing our evidence-based programming on those offenders who commit the majority of crimes.”

The money will develop and implement a statewide re-entry plan and case management system, use evidence based programs and practices and adopt an approach to supervise inmates once they’re released.

He said the goal is to reduce recidivism by 15 percent over the first two years and 50 percent during a five-year period.