As kids growing up learning the rights and the wrongs of life, when we got caught doing one of the wrongs, we would sometimes ask for a “second chance.” What we were asking for was an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and do better the second time around.  Many times that did the trick. We learned a valuable lesson and went on to do better. Then again, there were times we failed to learn and got in trouble again. Hopefully, the learning process finally kicked in and we moved forward.

There is a real problem when we move from childhood into adulthood, still not acknowledging the rights and wrongs of life. Now the offense is a little more serious than going over to Johnny’s house without permission. The punishment is a little more severe than being “grounded for a week.” The offense is breaking into Johnny’s house and stealing his stuff.  So, now, the punishment is a few years in jail and a lifelong felony companion you cannot shake.  Asking for a second chance is a little more challenging than when you were a child. The law must be upheld and a sentence served.

Finally, the second chance to make a fresh start arrives, when we have served our time.

We’ve decided in our hearts and minds “I never want to go back to the old lifestyle.” Everyone deserves a second chance. Every ex-offender should have the opportunity to receive the help they need and be able to work through the challenges with the resources they need with the time they have left.

“America is the land of second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” President George W. Bush, January 20, 2004. (www.georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov)

There is a Critical Need for Reentry Services

Each year more than 650,000 inmates are released from Federal and State prisons to be reunited with their communities and families. The return of these ex-prisoners threatens the fragile cohesion of many already-troubled neighborhoods. In fact, without intervention, a majority of ex-prisoners relapse back into criminal activity. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, two out of three released inmates will be re-arrested for new crimes within three years of their release, and more than half will be re-incarcerated.

Why does this happen?

Released prisoners face myriad challenges that contribute to their return to criminal activity, re-arrest and re-incarceration. Some of these challenges include joblessness, substance abuse, mental health problems, low level education, lack of stable housing, and poor family connections. Joblessness among ex-prisoners has been linked to recidivism rates. Over one-third of serious offenders were unemployed in the six months prior to their arrest.  Post-incarceration, the employment rates plummet even further. Unemployment rates of ex-prisoners are estimated to be between 25 and 40 percent. Prisoners also demonstrate low-levels of education—some 40 percent of adult state prisoners are functionally illiterate and more than half of state parole entrants have not graduated from high school. Conversely, research shows that ex-offenders who find stable employment and develop social bonds have significantly lower recidivism rates.

How can we do a better job with reentry services?  How can we help drop the recidivism rate? What are your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

Please leave some comments.