CHICAGO – Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson alongside aldermen and community partners celebrated the launch of the City’s Office of Re-entry and announced the selection of Joseph Mapp to serve as Director of Re-entry. As part of the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, the Office of Re-entry will coordinate policies, programs, and initiatives to support Chicago residents returning to their communities after detention or incarceration. Mapp brings an extensive background to the role as a restorative justice practitioner managing community violence intervention programs to his new role, having demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication throughout his career.  

“Joseph brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to lead the City of Chicago efforts to remove barriers to re-entry, empower residents to break the cycle of recidivism, and implement policies that are reflective of the needs of the population,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “As part of our comprehensive community safety plan, reducing recidivism rates is essential to creating an alternative vision of community safety while disrupting the cycle of incarceration.”  

“As an expert in re-entry, Joseph knows first-hand the many barriers that make it difficult to successfully return home after incarceration,” said Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood. “I am confident that Joseph will develop and implement policies, programs, and practices that eliminate barriers and create opportunities for returning residents in a plethora of ways including through community safety, mental health, housing, education, employment, economic vitality, and various other support systems.”

Established as part of Mayor Johnson’s commitment to investing in people, the Office of Re-entry is staffed by a growing team with sustainable and dedicated funding through the City’s Cannabis Regulation Tax fund. Each year, more than 10,000 individuals return to Chicago after serving time in jail or prison, the majority to four historically disinvested communities on the South and West sides. The Office of Re-entry will lead initiatives aimed at providing holistic support to returning residents and their families, ensuring impacted individuals can access the resources they need to thrive.

“As a long-time advocate for second chances, I am proud to support the appointment of Joseph Mapp as Director of Re-entry,” said Alderman Walter Burnett. “Joseph’s deep understanding of the challenges faced by returning citizens, combined with his commitment to restorative justice, will play a critical role in helping our community members successfully transition back into society. This is about more than just re-entry; it’s about giving people the dignity and opportunities they deserve to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to our neighborhoods.”

 “I am deeply honored to serve as Director of Re-entry for an administration that is committed to investing in opportunities to improve the lives of returning residents,” said Joseph Mapp. “I am also committed to creating restorative re-entry opportunities that enhance supportive services for returning residents holistically.”  

Mapp firmly believes in the power of the collective strength of communities and through active participation in initiatives including the Illinois Re-entry Council and the Continuum of Care Re-entry Line of Action, he tirelessly fights for human dignity and the restoration of rights for individuals who have suffered from being locked up or locked out. Mapp holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Social Work at the University of Chicago.  

# # #