Friday, September 28, 2007
Why prisoner re-entry is important
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
Jean Auldridge
Auldridge is executive director of Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants-Virginia Inc., based in Alexandria
It seems that every year a new catchphrase crops up in the crime prevention and crime fighting arena. This year's sound bite is "prisoner re-entry," It may not hold the sensationalism of other crime slogans you hear, but prisoner re-entry is probably one that deserves the most attention.
As responsible citizens we all have to care about the people who leave prison and return to our neighborhoods. We hold offenders accountable for their offenses and expect them to serve their time. This same accountability must be applied as we consider how that time is served. What's more, the concern must be how well they have been prepared to reintegrate into the community. And, what's more, our concern must be how well we will receive them.
A key component of any punishment should offer the person every opportunity for individual growth and personal development. Contrary to many people's beliefs, most offenders do repent and are willing to change, but the opportunities have to be there. There also has to be adequate preparation for offenders to re-entry society.
Society changes; they haven't been a part of that change. And, finally, the attitudes of the public have to change. Prisoners are individuals and they can't be treated or judged in one clump. In the main, we refuse them jobs, we refuse them housing and we refuse them services. And the convenience has always been -- when newly released prisoners fail -- to point a finger at the offender and say, "See, they don't learn, let's get tougher."
In the last three fiscal years. Virginia has released approximately 8,500 to 9,000 offenders each year, with the average time served being less than 30 months. The short term of confinement had not allowed many in this group to participate in programs or learn trades. (The waiting list is often longer than their sentences.)
An additional 1,500 to 2,000 offenders are released who had served longer sentences. For this group, the readjustment can be too overwhelming to overcome.
Another portion of this population has reached the geriatric phases that have a host of needs that have not been given adequate attention. Some of these men and women have serious health problems, no Social Security benefits, often are too old to work and have no family to help them. The emotional stresses and the fears and uncertainties can be the beginning of detrimental behavior.
Many offenders are likely to leave prison without proper preparation for re-entry.
Although parole was abolished in Virginia, more men and women who reach their discharge dates will increase each year. As these numbers increase, our concern must shift from how tough we can get on the front end to how we can help on the back end. One is never effective without the other. The communities have to help.
Who returns to our communities is the responsibility of all of Virginia's citizens. It is being smart. It is fighting crime. It is public safety. If it is our aim to give these men and women another chance, then it is our responsibility to give them the best chance they can have.
On Saturday, Virginia Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants will hold its 20th annual conference in Fredericksburg. The theme of this year's meeting is "Prisoner Re-entry -- What Works?" It will be a global approach with a variety of lawmakers, agencies and experts coming together to give us an understanding of how to best make Virginia's streets safer while giving offenders a second chance through effective prisoner re-entry programs.
The day will consist of three panels and guest speakers.
We did lock 'em up but we didn't throw away the key. Most prisoners are coming home. And now is not the time to be tough on crime but to be smart about crime.
