The Federal Reentry Council, an interagency group made up of 19 federal departments, was created to help the criminal justice system become more effective in helping formerly incarcerated persons transition successfully back into their communities. The FRC’s mission is threefold: to reduce recidivism and victimization, to help formerly incarcerated persons to become productive citizens, and to save taxpayers money by reducing the direct and collateral costs associated with incarceration. (see Reentry Central News Federal Interagency Reentry Council Commits to Improving Reentry 5/06/11) The newly-convened Federal Reentry Council minced no words when it made public its report on reentry earlier this month. The statistics were sobering:
One in 100 U.S. adults is behind bars
One in 15 African American men are incarcerated
Ninety - five percent of those who are locked up will be released back into the community
Each year more than 700,000 inmates are released from state and federal prisons
Nine million Americans cycle through local jails each year
Two out of three released prisoners will be rearrested within 3 years; half of those will be arrested for new crimes or technical violations
The U.S. spends $68 billion a year on corrections
While recognizing that public safety is a key issue of reentry, the Reentry Council also discussed other components of reentry, which are linked to public safety. The other issues highlighted by the Reentry Council include:
Employment: Two out of three men were working/financial contributors before incarceration. Incarceration substantially reduces earnings.
Public Health: Individuals released from prisons and jails represent a sizable share of the US population carrying communicable disease.
Housing: Homelessness is associated with a higher risk for incarceration, and incarceration contributes to an increased risk of homelessness.
Education: Of the 20 fastest growing occupations, 13 require postsecondary education. Only 22% of prisoners have any postsecondary education, compared with 51% of the general population.
Behavioral Health: Two-thirds of people in prison meet the criteria for substance abuse or dependence. 24% have a mental illness. Few receive needed treatment while incarcerated, or after returning home.
Family/Fatherhood: One in 28 American children has a parent behind bars. one in 9 African-American children has an incarcerated parent.
Community: A large number of incarcerated people come from, and return to, a relatively small number of already disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Juvenile Justice: Approximately 100.000 juveniles are released from custody facilities each year. Fifty percent have not completed 8th grade; 66% never return to school. Juvenile recidivism rates are estimated at 50 - 75%.
Veterans: Over 200,00 veterans are incarcerated in the nations prisons and jails. Among state prisoners, 30% of veterans were first time offenders, compared to 23% of other state prisoners.
Tribal: American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are incarcerated at higher rates than the general population. Additionally, Indian Country unemployment rates average 49%, with a high of up to 80%, depending on the reservation.
After identifying the barriers to successful reentry, the Federal Reentry Council is pledging to work toward finding the solutions necessary to eradicate these obstacles. The Reentry Council will reconvene in July. Community organizations that currently work on reentry issues are looking forward to the Council’s findings on coordinating and leveraging reentry resources, eliminating reentry myths, and promoting reentry as an issue that must be addressed.
Source: Federal Interagency Reentry Council Report May 2011
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