From RStreet:
This is part of the “Confronting the Women’s Incarceration Crisis” series, where we examine what is driving more women into the system and explore ways to reverse the trend. Read the introduction and view other posts here.
Reentry is the defining stage of involvement in the criminal justice system—the point at which success means real rehabilitation and accountability. Nearly 2.5 million women and girls are released from jails and prisons each year, reacquainting themselves with families, jobs, and communities. Their ability to rebuild their lives directly shapes outcomes for their children as well as for public safety and community stability. Yet persistent barriers and a lack of coordinated support routinely undermine long-term success, resulting in too many women returning to jail or prison for minor infractions or survival crimes.
Why Reentry Matters
Reentry isn’t just a bureaucratic process—it’s the ultimate measure of whether our justice system delivers on the promise of rehabilitation and supports women in being accountable to themselves, their families, and society. Most justice-involved women are mothers, and successful reentry allows children to regain their primary caregiver while improving economic and emotional stability and breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma. The failures are apparent: Up to 61 percent of women are rearrested within three years after release, often for technical violations rather than new crimes. Reentry presents an opportunity to facilitate restorative healing and empower women to meet obligations rather than trapping them into further justice involvement for reasons linked to poverty or untreated trauma. Continue reading
|
|
|
|
