Washington, DC - As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthening the criminal justice system, the Department of Justice designated the week of April 24-30, 2016, as National Reentry Week.  Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro will travel to Philadelphia on MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016, to hold events as part of National Reentry Week with public housing advocates, legal services providers and community leaders where they will announce new efforts to improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals including youth.

Later in the week, the Attorney General will visit a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility in Talladega, Alabama, to highlight reentry programs in prison.  Similarly, Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates will visit a federal women’s prison in Texas and will later hold a media availability at Santa Maria Hostel, a specialized residential substance abuse, mental health and trauma facility.  Acting Director Thomas Kane of the Bureau of Prisons will accompany both Attorney General Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Yates on their visits.

“Too often, justice-involved individuals who have paid their debt to society confront daunting obstacles to good jobs, decent housing, adequate health care, quality education, and even the right to vote,” said Attorney General Lynch.  “National Reentry Week highlights the many ways that the Department of Justice – and the entire Obama Administration – is working to tear down the barriers that stand between returning citizens and a meaningful second chance – leading to brighter futures, stronger communities, and a more just and equal nation for all.”

The Obama Administration has taken major steps to make our criminal justice system fairer, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities. Removing barriers to successful reentry helps formerly incarcerated individuals compete for jobs, attain stable housing, and support their families. An important part of that commitment is preparing those who have paid their debt to society for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, and addressing collateral consequences to successful reentry that too many returning citizens encounter.  

Leadership from across the Administration are traveling during National Reentry Week in support of these many events and are encouraging federal partners and grantees to work closely with stakeholders like federal defenders, legal aid providers and other partners across the country to increase the impact of this effort.  National Reentry Week events are being planned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  U.S. Attorney’s Offices alone are hosting over 200 events and BOP facilities are holding over 370 events.

ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH AND SECRETARY CASTRO HOLD NATIONAL REENTRY WEEK EVENT

WHO:             Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro

WHEN:          MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

2:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE:       Raymond Rosen Manor Auditorium

                        2301 W. Edgley St.

                        Philadelphia, PA 19121

ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH VISITS FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS FACILITY IN ALABAMA

WHO:             Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch

                        Acting Director Thomas Kane of the Bureau of Prisons

WHEN:          FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

WHERE:       FCI Talladega

565 East Renfroe Road

Talladega, AL 35160

Federal Women’s Prison

WHO:             Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates

                        Acting Director Thomas Kane of the Bureau of Prisons

WHEN:          TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

WHERE:       FPC Bryan

1100 Ursuline Avenue

Bryan, TX 77803

OTHER WHITE HOUSE AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EVENTS SURROUNDING NATIONAL REENTRY WEEK INCLUDE:

• On Monday, April 25, 2016, the White House will hold an event with the Brennan Center on the costs of incarceration.

• On Monday, April 25, 2016, Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates will deliver remarks before a screening of “Pull of Gravity” a documentary that follows returning inmates as they encounter reentry obstacles, hosted by the Justice Department as part of National Reentry Week.  Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Criminal Division will also participate.

• On Monday, April 25, 2016, Director Lisa Foster of the Office for Access Justice will hold a joint event in Los Angeles with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to announce new efforts to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth.

• On Monday, April 25, 2016, Director Lisa Foster of the Office for Access Justice will attend a Conviction and Sentence Alternatives (CASA) Program Graduation Ceremony in Los Angeles.

• On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason of the Office of Justice Programs will attend a girls mentoring event at a local detention facility. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

• On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, Acting Associate Attorney General Bill Baer will deliver remarks at a reentry event at Central Union Mission, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason of the Office of Justice Programs will participate in Q+A.

• On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, Second Chance Fellow Daryl Atkinson of the Office of Justice Programs will deliver remarks at a reentry simulation in Birmingham sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.

• On Wednesday, April 27, 2016, the White House will host the Fair Chance Opportunities Champions of Change event in South Court Auditorium.Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch will deliver remarks and Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates will moderate a panel at the event.

• On Thursday, April 28, 2016, the head of the Civil Rights Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division will deliver remarks at a reentry event at Mickey Leland Transitional Housing Facility, sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

• On Friday, April 29, 2016, Principal Deputy Director Bea Hanson of the Office on Violence Against Women will visit a federal women’s prison in West Virginia.

• On Friday, April 29, 2016, the Department of Labor will host a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Bonding Program.Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates will deliver remarks at the event.