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Contra Costa County Receives Federal Grant To Keep Inmates From Returning

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (KCBS) — Contra Costa County has received a $750,000 federal grant to help paroled low-level offenders successfully re-enter the community and avoid returning to jail or prison.

The pilot program is to help deal with fallout from Governor Jerry Brown's prison realignment plan and will start with 100 inmates who are at risk for recidivism.

Jane Fischberg, CEO of Rubicon Programs, a non-profit that helps former inmates return successfully to the real world, said it's a challenge.

KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:

"I can barely imagine what it would be like for someone who's trying to stay on the right side of the law, get a job and stay in stable housing," she said.

Fischberg said the funding from the Justice Department will help build a one-stop shop for services.

"This is going to create a single table for all the stakeholders to come together and kind of fill some gaps in the system to create an integrated and coordinated system of care," Fischberg added.

Services would include helping inmates find work and a place to live. If needed, inmates may also receive mental health counseling, drug treatment and parental counseling.

Data from pilot program will be collected to see how well it works.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover said if they can provide the service for these individuals that they aren't likely to re-offend.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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