The New York County District Attorney’s Office (DANY) is requesting proposals to evaluate two reentry programs within the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative. The programs are part of DANY’s broader investment in diversion and reentry support services to effectively address the needs and risks of young adults and adults in the justice system.

First, the solicitation seeks an evaluator for the College and Community Fellowship’s Build-Out of Student Services (BOSS) program, which is funded through DANY’s Reentry Innovations, Services, and Supports initiative. The BOSS programs expands CCF’s capacity to support formerly incarcerated women residing in New York City and women currently incarcerated in jail or prison who will return to New York City in the future, primarily in mentoring, college, and career-focused services.

Second, the solicitation seeks an evaluator for the Osborne Association’s programming funded through DANY’s West Harlem Community Reentry Project (WHCRP). The WHCRP follows a 2014 law enforcement intervention and aims to support individuals reentering to, and prevent future violence in, the Manhattanville and Grant Houses and surrounding area of Manhattan primarily through restorative justice and credible messenger approaches and through a Capacity-Building Incubator.

Applicants may propose to evaluate one or both of the programs. For each program they propose to evaluate, applicants should include a design for a process evaluation and outcome evaluation. Specific goals of the evaluations include developing a better understanding of the program implementation, and whether the programs are effective in reducing risk factors for criminal justice involvement (e.g., lack of access to support, participation in crime, recidivism) and increasing fairness in the justice system.

This solicitation reflects DANY’s broad commitment to data-driven decision-making and to informing the research and practice field in New York and more widely.

DANY anticipates awarding up to two contracts, with total funding up to $750,000 over up to 3.5 years, distributed across the two program evaluations (with up to $400,000 for any given program).

DOCUMENTS

• DOWNLOAD: CJII RFP for Evaluation of Selected Reentry Programs
• DOWNLOAD: Question-and-Answer Addendum for CJII RFP for Evaluation of Selected Reentry Programs

DEADLINES

• The deadline to submit questions about this RFP is Friday, March 20, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Questions must be submitted through the CJII application portal at https://cuny-islg.fluidreview.com/.
• The deadline to submit proposals is Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Proposals must be submitted through the CJII application portal at https://cuny-islg.fluidreview.com/.

Background

ISLG is the technical assistance consultant to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for CJII. ISLG provides input to DANY, manages and provides guidance to the grantees funded under CJII, and conducts oversight and performance measurement throughout the lifetime of the initiative. All funds are administered through the Research Foundation of CUNY (Research Foundation).