Failsafe-ERA secures $460,000 in federal funding

Press Release

Appropriations Press Release 2026.pdf

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(Fredericksburg, VA, February 2026) – FailSafe-ERA proudly announces that the United States Senate has approved and enacted a $460,000 federal appropriation to support evidence-based pre- and post-release reentry programs for individuals housed at Rappahannock Regional Jail.

This funding is an investment in people, families, and safer communities,” said Juanita Shanks, Founder and CEO of FailSafe-ERA. “We are deeply grateful to Senators Warner and Kaine for recognizing that meaningful reentry support, before and after release, reduces recidivism, strengthens families, and helps break generational cycles of incarceration.

The $460,000 appropriation will support FailSafe-ERA’s evidence-based reentry programming, which includes structured pre-release preparation, post-release stabilization, life-skills development, family reconnection, and community-based support services for justice-impacted individuals returning to the Fredericksburg and surrounding region.

The funding was included in a bipartisan package of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills passed by the Senate and championed by U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia. The legislation funds critical national and community priorities and includes congressionally directed spending for local projects across the Commonwealth.

FailSafe-ERA’s inclusion in the final bill reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to preventing generations of incarceration through proactive, restorative, and community-centered solutions. This moment affirms that reentry is not just a justice issue, it’s a public safety issue, a family issue, and a community issue,” Shanks added. “We look forward to putting these dollars to work in ways that create real, lasting change.”

About FailSafe-ERA

Founded in 2009, FailSafe-ERA is a Virginia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing generations of incarceration by strengthening families, empowering youth, and supporting individuals and communities impacted by the justice system. Through evidence-based programming, leadership development, and community partnerships, FailSafe-ERA works to build safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.

For more information, visit www.failsafe-era.org