Focus on Reentry
As our justice system continues to reform, it’s imperative that we invest in effective reentry assistance for returning citizens. Reentry assistance is a critical part of the process of reintegrating back into the community, helping justice involved individuals to attain sustainable employment with an actual living wage, achieve and sustain sobriety, and navigate the realities and nuances of being a productive, contributing member of society. Whew! That’s a pretty tall order. Especially if you’ve been incarcerated for a lengthy period, because let’s face it, our carceral system falls pretty dang short of preparing folks to be “productive, contributing members of society.”
Reentry assistance provides men and women coming home with the support they need to help them transition back into their communities. This can include housing assistance, job placement, educational opportunities, mental health services, substance use support, and other resources that help them to reestablish their lives and become self-sufficient. Reentry assistance can help reduce recidivism, or at least the rate at which someone returns to criminal activity. Research has shown that providing support and resources they need can lead to better outcomes for them, their families, and their communities, including lower rates of recidivism and improved employment outcomes. It can also be beneficial for communities as a whole. When we invest in making sure that people are able to successfully get on their feet, they can become productive members of the community, contributing to their local economies, and helping to reduce crime rates. Furthermore, investing in reentry assistance can help reduce the costs associated with the criminal justice system, resulting in long-term savings. Ultimately, investing in effective reentry assistance benefits everyone.
Why then, are we (I use that term to encompass policy-makers and short-sided or uninformed society in general) focused on incarceration with little to spare on reentry?
In recent years, the U.S. has seen an alarming rise in its incarceration rate. For those of us in the ‘industry,’ this isn’t a surprising statement. We’ve seen the number of U.S. citizens finding their way into prisons and jails steadily rise since Nixon’s administration (remember Nixon?). The passage of the 1994 Crime Act was a big nail in the figurative coffin, but it didn’t exactly come out of the blue, did it?
Even more concerning is the amount of money being allocated to the criminal justice system, with a disproportionate amount being directed toward incarceration rather than on programs that can help individuals reenter society after completing their sentences (or for prevention of said criminogenic behavior, but we’ll save that for another post on another Sunday). The U.S. currently spends around $80 billion annually on the criminal justice system, with the majority of that money being spent on incarceration. In comparison, only $4 billion of that amount is spent on reentry programs. This means that for every dollar spent on incarceration, only a fraction of a penny is being spent on successful reentry. The lack of financial investment in reentry programs is concerning because these programs can be critical for helping individuals transition back into society after incarceration. Providing them with resources to get on their feet and live successfully without further justice involvement seems like a no-brainer to me. Without these services, individuals are more likely to return to criminal behavior and end up back in prison. Duh.
Proclamations of ideas like Second Chance or Fair Chance Hiring are a great start, as long as they aren’t just slogans. Those of us who are in this for reals need to capitalize on proclamations to make sure they move beyond political stump speeches and community slogans. And it’s not enough for returning citizens to be the only folks carrying the banner. It takes a village to change the world ya’ll.
Happy Sunday to each of you! I know it’s a special day for lots of folks. A day that symbolizes rebirth and forgiveness and hope. If it’s not a spiritual day for you, just take a look outside. Tulips and budding trees and fellow human beings enjoying the out-of-doors or walking their dogs or getting groceries…there’s so much hope out there.
Enjoy your Sunday Morning Coffee (pun intended)!
