Erie County Reentry Coalition Honored by DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sheriff John C. Garcia congratulates Chief Thomas Diina of the Erie County Sheriff's Office Community Reintegration Division and the Erie County Reentry Coalition after the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) honored them with a 'Co-Creating Safer Communities' Award.

Formed in 2018, the Coalition - co-chaired by Chief Diina and Erie County Department of Mental Health Commissioner Mark O'Brien - is a collaboration of 68 government, faith-based and non-profit agencies working together to assist Incarcerated Individuals with reentry after they are released from custody. The Coalition's work is supported by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Diina, O'Brien and CFGB Associate Vice President for Racial Equity Initiatives Felicia Beard accepted the award on Thursday.

"I am extremely proud of Chief Diina, our Community Reintegration Division personnel and all our partners," said Sheriff Garcia. "They are working tirelessly to help Incarcerated Individuals transition back into society. Not only is it the right thing to do. It also benefits Erie County taxpayers, as it is reducing recidivism. I thank the Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Assistance for recognizing their efforts. This honor is well deserved."

Commissioner O'Brien said, "The work of the Coalition has been a ground-breaking collaboration of Erie County government, including the Sheriff's office, the Department of Mental Health and community partners working together to improve the lives of those reentering society and their families."

According to the BJA's website, the 'Co-Creating Safer Communities' Award, "recognizes an individual or team for their successful community engagement efforts in the co-creation of public safety within a jurisdiction." In bestowing the award, the BJA referenced Sheriff Garcia's creation of the Community Reintegration Division and the opening of the Reentry Opportunity Center (formerly known as the Service Link Stop) in Downtown Buffalo.