NY State Grants $5 Million In Support Of Jail Alternatives

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York officials say 23 programs statewide will share more than $5 million in grants to support alternatives to jail and reduce recidivism.

The grants are administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

They include, for example, $300,000 to the Leadership Training Institute for cognitive behavioral programming and services for 135 people ages 16 to 24 while held at the Nassau County Correctional Center or following their release.

In his State-of-the-State address last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans to establish a state Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration intended to coordinate and improve help for 25,000 people who leave New York prisons and more than 100,000 who leave its local jails annually.