An estimated $161.2 million from MAPS 4 funding will go towards infrastructure that will foster long-term solutions for justice-involved people. This investment is going to pay off in spades.
Investing in programs and infrastructure for justice-involved people is a smart economic strategy. As Oklahoma City embarks on the MAPS 4 initiatives, we have a unique opportunity to reshape our community for the better by supporting those reentering society from jail or prison.
Among the projects starting this year are facilities to address mental health and substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence prevention and diversion out of incarceration. All these issues either deal directly with the justice system or put people in a more vulnerable position to interact with the justice system, which can have a profound impact on one’s ability to find employment and live a normal life. As justice reforms continue to unravel our decades-long over-incarceration crisis, we must plan for the services people need to build a life after the justice system.
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