On March 3rd, the WDB hosted the Re-Entry Roundtable. Nearly 60 leaders from across the WDB’s service area attended the meeting to discuss ways they can partner to address the challenges that justice-system-involved individuals will face when they begin returning to our region this summer.
Earlier this year, the manner in which the Virginia Department of Corrections calculates “Good Conduct Allowances” (or time that reduces an inmate’s sentence) changed. This change means that there will soon be a large influx of returning citizens to our area. With Probation & Parole already serving over 3,300 individuals, plus the challenges Southwest Virginia already faces with housing and transportation, the Board recognized the need to gather businesses and other partners to brainstorm ways to address the urgent economic challenge.
There is no easy or quick solution, but the WDB and other partners continue to work on this matter.
