PROWD: Unlocking Opportunities for Returning Citizens
Ninety-five percent of individuals incarcerated in U.S. prisons will return to the community. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 650,000 people are released from prison every year, and studies show that approximately two-thirds will likely be re-arrested within three years of release.
In April 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released a comprehensive strategy that offers opportunities to incarcerated individuals to develop skills and become part of growing their local economies. This government-wide effort seeks to:
Advance employment,
Bolster reentry,
Empower formerly incarcerated persons; and
Strengthen our communities and our economy.
Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) is a momentous collaboration between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Labor (DOL) that invests over $42 million in job skills training and tailored employment for people incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities.
As part of the DOJ's implementation of the First Step Act (FSA), PROWD marks a first-of-its-kind partnership between DOL, DOJ, and BOP to support states in providing employment-focused reentry services to individuals incarcerated in minimum- and low-security federal prisons, residential reentry centers (RRC) and the community. The initiative is authorized under the 2018 FSA and Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). PROWD provides coordinated services across three pivotal stages:
During Incarceration in Federal Prisons: PROWD recognizes the potential for change within prison walls. It tailors programs to foster skill development, vocational training, and mental health support, positioning individuals for success upon release.
During Time Spent in Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs): As individuals transition from incarceration to the community, PROWD continues to offer guidance such as job search assistance, financial planning, and mentorship, which create a bridge towards stable reintegration.
After Release into the Community: The PROWD commitment does not stop after release. Through employment placement, ongoing support, and community engagement initiatives, individuals gain the tools needed for sustained success.
The goals of the PROWD initiative are to:
Improve employment outcomes among program participants,
Strengthen communities where grant programs operate by reducing recidivism among program participants; and
Increase the capacity of justice and workforce system partnership.
A United Path Forward
The PROWD initiative exemplifies a commitment to positive change. By fostering targeted employment services for federally incarcerated individuals, PROWD addresses the multi-faceted challenges of reentry—contributing to the creation of a workforce that is not only skilled but also diverse and empowered.
For the past several months, HIP has played an essential role in supporting the PROWD initiative by identifying promising practices, developing tools and resources, and supporting PROWD grantees through technical assistance (TA) coaching. HIP will also provide administrative and logistics support for this year’s inaugural PROWD grantee meeting in Chicago, IL.
By leveraging key workforce development efforts through partnership, we can redefine the trajectory of reentry and create a brighter future for all returning citizens.