Reply:
In this discussion thread, all critical components of the discussion prompt are answered in a meaningful way to clarify the understanding of re-entry back into society from the United States correctional system. Also, the discussion post describes the nature and discovery of the problem of re-entry. Additionally, the study examines and explains the importance of the significant components for re-entry programs and their implementation. Furthermore, the report provides a thoughtful analysis of considerations needed to fully understand how to relate public-policy concerns with prison inmate re-entry into the community. Therefore, the following paragraphs will address the critical components of re-entry, the problems associated with re-entry, and public policy related to re-entry. Lastly, the discussion tread interjects a Christian worldview section about re-entry from a biblical perspective.
Major Components
One of the critical components of re-entry is the development of programs that facilitate a positive experience for the inmates’ return back into society. In the last decade, 100s of programs have surfaced across the United States for prisoner re-entry, predominantly in the form of halfway houses. According to Cullen & Jonson (2017), halfway houses are the most tenure operating community, re-entry program in the United States. Halfway houses generally provide clothing, shelter, and food while former inmates seek employment and permanent housing. The authors’ noted that halfway houses serve as a transitional facility which provides a gradual process between prison and the local community.
Another critical component of re-entry occurred January 20, 2004, at the State of the Union where president George Bush (2004) stated:
Tonight, I propose a four-year, 300 million Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative to expand job training and placement services, provide transitional housing, and help newly released prisoners get mentoring, including from faith-based groups. America is the land of a second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life. (p.10)
Eventually, that bipartisan initiative became the Second Chance Act, a re-entry service with millions of dollars in annual funding (Cullen & Jonson, 2017). These programs also focus on health, family, mental health, employment, issues involving cognitive-behavioral skills, deficits in behavioral functioning, and substance abuse issues.
Problems with Re-entry
First, the nature of the problem with re-entry is that it is tethered to the issue of the United States’ world-leading mass imprisonment rate. For instance, in the United States, more than 1.5 million individuals are imprisoned in federal and state prisons on any given day. However, the number grows exponentially to over 2.2 million, including jail inmates (Glaze & Herberman, 2013). Furthermore, Carson & Golinelli (2013) reported that by 1978, the number of inmates released every year from federal and state institutions was 142,000 offenders. The magnitude of mass imprisonment emerged over a decade later, as the number of offenders released from prison more than rose to well over 400,000, the authors advised. Then again, at the turn of the century, the number ascended to over 230,000, and in 2005, the United States released over 700,000 offenders, to the author’s amazement.
Second, the nature of the problem is “prisons do not seem to reduce the criminality of inmates, making offenders’ return to the community problematic” (Cullen & Jonson, 2017, p. 213). In reality, the reported recidivism rates consistently stay at an elevated rate. As a result, Langan & Levin (2002) research findings: in the same fashion, they studied 272,111 released offenders from 15 different states.
They reported that 67.5% of the sample had been rearrested for a new offense, 46% had been reconvicted, and 25.4% had been resentenced to prison within three years. Including technical violations, over half (51.8%) had been returned to jail. These released inmates had been charged with 744,480 new offenses during this period, including more than 100,000 violent crimes and 2,871 homicides. The cumulative percentage of rearrest thus was 29.9% for six months and 44.1% for one year; the rate then climbed more slowly to 59.2% for two years and 67.5% for three years. (214)
Public Policy
On April 8, 2008, President Bush’s Prison Re-Entry Initiative came into law as the Second Chance Act. However, more importantly, the President’s remarks ushered in a clear departure from “the punitive rhetoric that had long fused crime-related commentary among conservative pollical elites” (Cullen & Jonson, 2017, p. 220). Consequently, the initiative’s passage signaled that prisoner re-entry was a policy issue with complete bipartisan corroboration. Additionally, the public passionately favors policies that support prisoner re-entry programs. For instance, in a 2001 national survey, 92% of the respondents strongly agreed that inmates need treatment while in prison, while 88% agreed that supervised offenders living in the community need treatment as well, the authors stated.
Christian Worldview
The topic of re-entry is sure to be around for the foreseeable future with the United States leading the world prison inmate rating and subsequent releases. Undoubtedly, re-entry from prison back into the community comes with its challenges, worries, and fears of a new uncertain tomorrow. But the words from the Holy Bible proclaims, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
(King James Bible, 1769/2017, Matthew 18:21-22). To that end, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18).
Conclusion
The discussion thread identified the significant component of the questions about re-entry from prison into the community and the related programs associated with the process. The study discussed the halfway houses facilitating the transaction from jail to society by providing food, shelter, clothing, and training while seeking employment and permanent housing. The discussion also spoke about the Second Chance Act, implemented by President George Bush, supporting returning inmates back into the community. Also, a portion of the forum focused on the public support for the re-entry initiative, a bipartisan commitment. Lastly, this discussion post provided a Christian worldview section emphasizing the message that Jesus died on the cross for all humanity. Whosoever believes in him will never be alone, regardless of the situation.
References
Bush, G. W. (2004, January 20). Text of President Bush’s 2004 State of the Union Address. Washington Post, pp. 1-10. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/poliics/trans…
Carson, E. A., & Golinelli, D. (2013). Prisoners in 2012: Trends in admissions and releases, 1991-2012: Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice
Cullen, F. T., Jonson, C. L., & Nagin, D. S. (2017). Prisons Do Not Reduce Recidivism: The High Cost of Ignoring Science. The Prison Journal, 91(3_suppl), 48S-65S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885511415224
Glaze, L. E., & Herberman, E. J. (2013). Correctional populations in the United States, 2012. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)
Langan, P. A., & Levin, D. J. (2002). Recidivism of prisoners released in 1994. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
Read Less
0 comments