Re Entry Proposal Essay

Introduction

In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 650,000 inmates are released from prisons each year and will return to their communities. Out of the 650,000 persons, an estimated three quarters of them have a history of substance abuse (Office of Justice Programs, 2004). To put specific figures to the above numbers, it is estimated that approximately 95% of all inmates will be eventually released from prison. Of the 95% that will be released, about 80% will be placed on some form of community supervision (Hughes et al., 2004). This group returns to the community looking for housing, employment, medical care and treatment, but often they are unable to get the assistance needed. The lack of pre-release planning and an overall lack of coordination between the various systems, often result in repeat offending and ultimately recidivism.

The American Bar Association states that it is imperative to prepare prisoners for release back into the community by starting re-entry from day one of the prison stay. Under the ABA’s recommendation, re-entry efforts should include in prison

In 2012, a study published by the San Diego Prisoner Reentry Program Criminal Justice Research Division found that reentry programs lead to a reduction in recidivism rates. It was found that the re-entry program reduced recidivism by 17 percent among non-violent felony offenders. It should be noted that a vast majority of persons with substance dependence or abuse serving time may fall under this category. Additionally, the state of Kansas reported in 2006 that they had a recidivism rate of 65 percent coming out of community supervision (probation/parole). By, 2009 upon implementing a re-entry program, it was noted that the recidivism rate of probationers and parolees was reduced to 48