We are asking that money currently being used to create new DOC staff positions be instead reinvested in critical community reentry needs, most importantly reentry housing.  The DOC's FY 21 budget includes $220,000 for new state discharge planning positions.  These funds were previously used to support community reentry programs.

At this very moment, there are people in the RI prison that are only there because they don't have housing to be released to.  Due to the Covid outbreak, they are now in serious danger.  The state is planning on investing money right now into reenty, but instead of addressing these serious immediate problems it is planning on hiring new state positions.  

You can read more about this request here, including a letter sent by multiple organizations to the Governor.