The cure?

> Good discussion of the factors feeding recidivism.
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/dan-froomkin/incarceration-rates_b_1332476.html
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Green jobs for Reentry

Indianapolis WIBC

 

"[Gregg] Keesling says Recycle Force jobs are transitional -- workers stay four months or so, enough to show their next employer they're serious about rejoining society. Green for All says five out of six Recycle Force workers stay out of prison, more than double the rate for released offenders as a whole."

 

read the rest of the article here: http://www.wibc.com/news/Story.aspx?ID=1547098

Michigan -- voicenews.com -- The Voice

 

"...Three years ago, [Debbie] Schilling began participating in the local jail ministry known as Operation Transformation, headed by Rev. Tom Seppo. She leads a Bible study group on Wednesdays for 17-30 female inmates at the St. Clair County Intervention Center. Recently, Schilling has been mentoring two women released from the federal prison system through Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative.

"In one word, what Debbie does is amazing," said Seppo. "She's an incredible lady who has compassion bar none. She has an unwavering love for people who are down on their luck and she goes the extra mile to give the ladies a second chance at life. She'll give them a ride to church. She'll give them a free makeover in her salon. She's chosen to take the road as someone devoted to God's work."..."

 

read more

Reentry begins at incarceration

Brian T. Watson, Salem News-

"Sheriff Ashe's smart reentry programs are yielding good results. Tracked for the past 10 years, the recidivism rate of Hampden County ex-cons is just 19 percent. By quite a margin, that beats the statewide rate of roughly 40 to 45 percent.

When we consider that Massachusetts state prisons and county jails together constantly hold about 23,000 offenders — 16,000 of whom are released and replaced every year — we can understand why it is so important to rehabilitate these individuals.

 

The human and financial costs of just dumping broken, angry young men back onto the street are great. Ashe is demonstrating that wiser strategies can break the recidivism cycle, save tax dollars and help inmates build new lives."

[read more]

Hiring?

"There are more than 6 million ex-prisoners in the United States, according to a recent study, with 600,000 added to the total every year. Research suggests the best way to keep them from landing behind bars again is to reinvest in them, which includes finding them employment, but most business owners are reluctant to give them a shot. Some, though, take the chance. ..." Read more at Business News Daily online.

Up on "The Farm"

wbur.org Boston   "We have a capacity of 340 and we all live together," [Superintendent Joe] Furnari said. "And we treat [each other] with respect as if you're living here. I tell the guys: it's like living at your grandmother's house. You wipe your feet, take your hat off and watch your mouth. All kidding aside."   The Essex County Correctional Alternative Center in Lawrence has no jail bars, no uniforms, no guards and no fence. Designed to look and feel like life on the outside, The Farm embodies the philosophy that the way to turn inmates around is to push them into treatment, training and supervised early re-entry on the other side of the wall.   Assistant Superintendent Jim Petrosino helped design the re-entry program. "If you get these guys a job, housing and have them go to meetings,those are the three important things to keep these guys from coming back,"   read the rest here   Comments?

Hire Ex-offenders

Incentives for employers to take a chance on hiring.   thestarpress.com MUNCIE -- The U.S. Department of Justice is sending two consultants to Muncie to help the community with its prisoner re-entry program. . . "The overall goal is trying to connect ex-offenders with employers," said Greg Maynard, coordinator of the city's Weed and Seed program. "There are advantages to hiring ex-offenders -- tax and legal advantages and incentives."   read the entire article here.