Chicago Launches Office of Re-Entry with Director Joseph Mapp Leading the Charge

Director Joseph Mapp speaks at Teamwork Englewood at a press conference announcing the new City of Chicago Office of Re-Entry.
Director Joseph Mapp speaks at Teamwork Englewood at a press conference announcing the new City of Chicago Office of Re-Entry.

The City of Chicago recently took a significant step in advancing restorative justice and community safety with the announcement of the new City of Chicago Office of Re-Entry. This initiative, funded by the city’s Cannabis Regulation Tax fund, is designed to transform how the city supports individuals transitioning back into society after incarceration.

During the press conference at Teamwork Englewood, Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced Joseph Mapp as the first Office of Re-Entry Director. “Joseph has dedicated his life to working as a restorative justice practitioner to heal and enhance the lives of residents [and] his own personal journey with his own family,” said Mayor Johnson. “His work will directly align with our People’s Plan for Community Safety—access to mental health services, affordable housing, and vital support critical for the transformation of these women and men who deserve every bit of our love in our investments.”

Mapp, a returning citizen himself, brings extensive experience from his previous role as Director of Re-Entry at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR). PBMR is one of 15 Chicago organizations representing Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a coalition of nonprofit organizations focused on gun violence prevention across 28 neighborhoods. Mapp shared his vision for the office, emphasizing the importance of restorative practices. “This is what this work is about. This is what makes me feel safe,” he said. “The goal of the Office of Re-Entry is… to enhance the way we think about and approach re-entry. This is an essential first step because the way we think about and label re-entry profoundly impacts how we invest in it.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions at a press conference announcing the Office of Re-entry.
Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions at a press conference announcing the Office of Re-entry.

The office will serve as a hub for coordinating citywide efforts to support returning residents, including partnerships with the Department of Human Resources to remove employment barriers for “system-impacted people.” Mapp spoke on the collective responsibility in Chicago to heal from the impacts of incarceration, stating “It is not only incarcerated individuals who are impacted—whole families and communities tend to suffer.”

Alderman Walter Burnett, who received a gubernatorial pardon in 1998 from Governor Jim Edgars, Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman and Father David Kelly, founder of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, also expressed optimism for the initiative’s potential to foster restorative investments.

Colette Payne of the Women’s Justice Institute closed out the press conference stating, “This work is not just about re-entry services. It’s about reclaiming dignity, offering hope, and fostering a true sense of belonging.”